Khila James is the founder of OVIDIA., a Bronx-born and first-generation American entrepreneur whose work is rooted in economic justice, digital infrastructure, and practical support for women of color who are building businesses without privilege or shortcuts. Her career began before she ever identified as an entrepreneur. In college, she created SHE Muse, a campus community that started as a space to talk beauty and creativity and quickly became a hub for ambition, community-building, and opportunity for women of color.

SHE Muse grew far beyond its original idea. The organization secured sponsorships from BET, Curls, and Vera Bradley, hosted sold-out events, and created annual prom makeover giveaways for young girls who could not afford the experience. Students began coming to Khila for help with everything from forming LLCs to designing websites. Without realizing it, she had become a trusted advisor long before she ever planned to.

Those early experiences revealed something important. When women of color have access to knowledge, support, and structure, they build extraordinary things. The issue has never been talent or effort. The issue has always been access.

Khila went on to build several ventures, including a consulting company that supported more than three hundred small business owners and a product line that generated more than six hundred thousand dollars in revenue in two years. Her physical product, The Bougie Lifestyle Planner, sold more than one thousand units in a single day on Black Friday. Across her businesses, she generated more than three million dollars in combined revenue and served over forty thousand digital customers before turning twenty-five. These results came with late nights, hands-on fulfillment, unexpected challenges, and real lessons in risk, protection, and resilience.

Those lessons exposed the enormous gap between what founders are told and what they need. Many early-stage women of color entrepreneurs are navigating underfunding, misinformation, and an online ecosystem filled with inexperienced coaches who charge thousands for generic advice. Khila created OVIDIA. as the antidote. The platform offers credible tools, legal literacy, funding guidance, and marketing clarity rooted in real experience instead of gatekeeping.

Khila is now a Juris Doctor candidate at Brooklyn Law School, focusing on commercial law, startup law, and the legal architecture behind business formation and growth. Her professional background includes serving as a Judicial Intern for the United States Bankruptcy Court for the Eastern District of New York, a Legal and Compliance Intern at Bloomberg L.P., and a Law Clerk in the Office of General Counsel at John Jay College. She serves as President of the Women of Color Alliance, is a Merit Scholarship recipient, a Diversity Fellow with the New York City Bar Association, a National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges Fellow, an International Business Law Fellow through the Dennis J. Block Center, and a member of Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society.

Her work reflects a rare blend of lived experience, legal training, marketing expertise, and a deep commitment to helping overlooked founders build structurally sound, fundable, and sustainable businesses. Khila is known for her ability to take complex business concepts and translate them into accessible, actionable steps that entrepreneurs can use regardless of their starting budget.

She is guided by a simple belief. Women of color do not need more inspiration. They need access. OVIDIA. exists to create it.

Areas of Expertise

Startup and Business Development: Business formation, early-stage strategy, funding readiness, compliance foundations, risk awareness, and growth planning for emerging founders.

Marketing and Brand Strategy: Brand identity development, consumer psychology, digital presence building, copy and messaging clarity, advertising insights, and community-centered storytelling.

AI for Business: Practical AI workflows for content, operations, marketing, automation, and decision-making for small businesses that need efficiency and affordability.

Education

Brooklyn Law School

Juris Doctor Candidate (Completing additional certificates in Business Law and Entrepreneurship Law as part of the JD program)

Merit Scholarship Recipient

President, Women of Color Alliance

St. John’s University

Bachelor of Science in Communication Arts

Student Entrepreneurship Award Recipient

Professional Experience

Judicial Intern, United States Bankruptcy Court, Eastern District of New York

Legal and Compliance Intern, Bloomberg L.P.

Law Clerk, Office of General Counsel, John Jay College of Criminal Justice

Notable Achievements

• First Place, James and Eileen Christmas Business Plan Competition
• President, Women of Color Alliance, Brooklyn Law School
• Phi Delta Phi International Legal Honor Society Member
• Diversity Fellow, New York City Bar Association
• National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges Fellow
• International Business Law Fellow, Dennis J. Block Center
• Merit Scholarship Recipient, Brooklyn Law School
• Student Entrepreneurship Award, St. John’s University
• Waterfront Scholar, The Waterfront Alliance awarded for my research on green spaces in The Bronx
• Generated over three million dollars in combined revenue before the age of twenty-five
• Served more than forty thousand digital customers across ventures
• Secured brand partnerships with BET, Curls, and Vera Bradley through SHE Muse

Licenses and Certifications

Accredited Legal Professional, National Association for Legal Support Professionals

Board Certified Credit Consultant, Credit Consultants Association

International Professional Makeup Artist, QC Makeup Academy

Press & Speaking Engagements

[Upcoming | February 2026] Northeast Black Law Students Association Regional Conference

Panel titled More Than Counsel: Careers Beyond Traditional Lawyering, discussing non-linear career paths, legal-adjacent roles, and entrepreneurship as a law student.

BaddieCon by Baddies in Tech

Session on practical AI for entrepreneurs and how small business owners can use accessible AI tools to streamline marketing, content, and operations.

Black PowHER Business Conference

Virtual summit panel on funding for small business owners, covering grants, microloans, loan-readiness, revenue-based financing, and MCAs, with a focus on accessible paths to capital for underfunded founders.

Business of Social Media — TESS Digital’s Entrepreneur Society at St. John’s University

Session on building a trustworthy personal brand, growing an engaged social media following, and creating content that strengthens credibility.

2nd Annual Black Women Magic Panel — Dope Dame

Panel discussion on seeing the magic in yourself as a Black woman and transforming self-belief into a successful, purpose-driven business.

A Seat at the Table: Women’s History Month Conversation

Panel hosted by the Division of Youth and Family Services for young girls in New York City’s child welfare and CPS programming. The conversation focused on identity, ambition, self-advocacy, and navigating educational and career pathways as a young woman of color.

“The Bougie Behind the Brand," AFRO American Newspapers

A feature on Khila’s journey building The Bougie Business Brand, her roots in the Bronx, the creation of SHE Muse, and her work helping women entrepreneurs launch and grow their businesses.

“Marketing Strategies From The Top: ‘Create an extremely specific audience’ With Khila James," Authority Magazine

An in depth interview on Khila’s approach to marketing, e commerce growth, audience building, and the non intuitive strategies that helped her build multiple six figure brands at a young age.

For speaking engagements, press, and general inquiries:

Testimonials

Disclaimer: Every testimonial featured on this page was shared voluntarily. No payments, incentives, or compensation were provided for any review.