Lori Jones is a name that resonates with purpose, perseverance, and transformation. A multi-award-winning entrepreneur, a single mother, and a servant-leader, she has masterfully turned setbacks into steppingstones. Known for her unwavering spirit and multifaceted talents, Lori is the Founder of Black•ology Coffee Company — a luxury minimalist brand rooted in Black culture, bold flavor, and unapologetic authenticity. Her story is not just about business; it’s about brewing confidence in every facet of life.
Born and raised in an environment where creativity, flavor, and connection thrived, Lori’s early years were filled with exploration — especially in the kitchen. That passion took shape in the form of a culinary career where she served as a head chef and a beloved member of her local community. Most notably, Lori served as the head chef at a sorority house at UNC Chapel Hill, where she curated seasonal menus, led a team, and created meals that felt like home to hundreds of young women. Her time there was filled with purpose and creativity — blending tradition with innovation.
But the unforeseen challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic turned her life upside down, laying her off from the food industry and placing her at a crossroads. What many might have seen as an end, Lori saw as a divine redirection.
From those ashes rose a powerful vision: Black•ology Coffee Company. What began as an idea brewed in resilience became a movement. A luxury coffee brand, yes, but also a coaching platform, a digital educational hub, and a tribute to culture and confidence. Lori has since grown her company into an international brand while mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs and giving back to her community in impactful ways. Her voice, once heard in kitchens and community halls, now echoes in boardrooms, podcasts, and motivational platforms worldwide.
Today, Lori continues to empower others through her current role as the Culinary Apprentice Program Manager and Instructor at Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. There, she serves unemployed, underemployed, and second-chance individuals by helping them gain culinary skills and confidence. Lori developed the program’s comprehensive curriculum — a course that earned accreditation from the American Culinary Federation (ACF), making it the only program of its kind in North Carolina. Through this transformative work, she continues to open doors to employment, empowerment, and lasting change.
From those ashes rose a powerful vision: Black•ology Coffee Company. What began as an idea brewed in resilience became a movement. A luxury coffee brand, yes, but also a coaching platform, a digital educational hub, and a tribute to culture and confidence. Lori has since grown her company into an international brand while mentoring aspiring entrepreneurs and giving back to her community in impactful ways. Her voice, once heard in kitchens and community halls, now echoes in boardrooms, podcasts, and motivational platforms worldwide.
Brewing Legacy in a Cup
Blackology Coffee Company was not created out of convenience — it was born in chaos. When Lori Jones was laid off during the pandemic, she didn’t retreat into despair. Instead, she found clarity in crisis. Coffee had always been more than a beverage in her home; it was a ritual of peace and prayer, a medium for storytelling, and a symbol of warmth. With no job but a deep sense of purpose, she launched her dream from her kitchen.
The concept was bold: a woman-owned, luxury minimalist coffee brand that celebrated low-acidity brews, cultural narratives, and soulful experiences. Black•ology became an extension of who Lori is — bold, intentional, and deeply rooted in service. From humble beginnings at local pop-ups, the brand grew organically into an internationally recognized name, with products that include premium beans, merchandise, coaching programs, and digital resources for aspiring entrepreneurs.
But beyond the cups and coaching lies Lori’s real genius: she didn’t just create a product; she created a movement. Black•ology gives back to nonprofits supporting survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault, and cancer research. The brand is a living testimony to the power of reinvention and the richness of Black identity, artistry, and entrepreneurship.
Her community impact expands even further through her role on the Board of Directors for Reintegration Support Network, where she works with youth ages 13 to 20 who are impacted by substance use, mental health challenges, and justice system involvement. Lori helps guide efforts that promote wellness, self-advocacy, healthy relationships, and positive community engagement — a natural extension of her mission to uplift, empower, and create safe spaces for transformation.
Balancing the Boardroom and the Breakfast Table
Running a business while raising two boys is not a task for the faint-hearted. Lori balances boardroom strategy with bedtime stories, customer calls with carpool duty. Her life is an intricate dance of structure and spontaneity, driven by faith and fortified by discipline. As a PTA Vice President and a devoted mother, she integrates her leadership at home and in business seamlessly.
Her daily schedule is anchored in intentionality. Digital planners like Motion App, time-blocking techniques, and prioritization frameworks allow her to allocate energy to what truly matters. Morning coffee on the patio serves as her sacred ritual — a quiet moment before a whirlwind day. Evenings are reserved for her children, personal reading, or movement, emphasizing the harmony she’s cultivated between ambition and peace.
What empowers her most is the decision to no longer walk alone. Lori no longer wears the badge of martyrdom. Instead, she’s learned to hire virtual assistants, lean on her community, and draw clear boundaries. This self-awareness and self-care have become essential components of her success. And through it all, her children witness not just a hardworking woman, but one who leads with heart, balance, and intention.
Feeding the Fire of Entrepreneurship
Lori’s appetite for business is not fueled by profit alone, it’s powered by purpose. Her love for entrepreneurship is anchored in the joy of solving problems, serving people, and creating meaningful change. Business, for her, is not just transactional; it’s transformational. Each product, service, or coaching session is another opportunity to plant seeds of confidence, creativity, and community.
She wears many hats founder, speaker, coach, culinary instructor, strategist and each one fits because she understands her why. “My business philosophy is rooted in legacy. Coffee is the product, but connection is the mission. I curate experiences, develop communities, and inspires confidence in those who may have lost sight of their greatness.”
With every new venture, Lori applies a blend of heart and strategy. From website development to mastering SEO and digital marketing to designing elegant packaging and planning product launches, she approaches business like a seasoned artist. Her hunger lies not in scaling fast, but in scaling meaningfully — and in using every success to pull others up alongside her.
The Power That Fuels the Passion
At the center of Lori’s drive is a singular passion — helping others believe in themselves. Her journey hasn’t been easy —it’s been shaped by resilience, reinvention, and a deep desire to uplift others.. She’s been underestimated, overlooked, and overwhelmed. But it is precisely those experiences that sharpened her empathy and ignited her mission. Today, she’s a beacon for dreamers, underdogs, and late bloomers — showing that it’s never too late to bloom with brilliance. Today, that drive manifests not only through Black•ology Coffee Company but also through her ongoing work as a culinary instructor at Inter-Faith Food Shuttle.
In this role, Lori brings her full circle journey to life — empowering second-chance individuals with the culinary skills and confidence to reclaim their futures. It’s more than teaching knife skills or plating techniques. For Lori, it’s about mentoring with compassion, fostering self-worth, and opening doors to careers that might’ve once felt out of reach. The program she teaches in is the only one in North Carolina accredited by the American Culinary Federation — a testament to the depth, rigor, and heart she pours into the classroom.
What fuels her passion isn’t the spotlight — it’s the transformation she witnesses in others. Whether it’s helping a student land their first culinary job or watching an aspiring entrepreneur launch their coffee brand, Lori’s fire is stoked by the wins she helps create for others. “Helping others believe in themselves is my real job title,” she says.
Whether she’s brewing coffee, speaking on a podcast, or mentoring an emerging leader, Lori uses her story as a mirror for others to see their strength. “My message is rooted in confidence, cultural pride, and community transformation. I am a firm believer that confidence isn’t something you’re born with it’s something you build. And every sip of Black•ology is a reminder of that.” she says.
Her legacy is not just about the accolades or revenue; it’s about impact. It’s about helping that one mother who’s unsure, that young girl who’s doubting herself, or that entrepreneur struggling to begin. Lori’s passion is people — and her life is the proof of what happens when passion meets purpose.
Turning a Crisis into a Calling
While COVID-19 disrupted lives globally, for Lori, it was the catalyst to clarity. The layoff from her culinary career left her momentarily shaken but not shattered. She swiftly pivoted, pouring her energy into what she knew best: flavor, connection, and service. What emerged was a beautifully branded online coffee shop, powered by e-commerce, drop shipping, and a heart for healing.
She dove headfirst into learning — web design, SEO, branding, shipping logistics, grant writing, content creation. It was a crash course in digital entrepreneurship, and Lori passed with flying colors. More than just surviving the pandemic, she thrived — building a brand from her kitchen table that would later make waves in boardrooms and boutiques.
Her story during this season is a masterclass in resilience. She didn’t wait for perfect conditions. She moved with clarity, embraced the mess, and transformed fear into fuel. Today, every customer, mentee, and podcast listener feel that energy — the tenacity of a woman who turned pain into power.
Strength in Self, Growth in Grace
Lori’s strengths lie in her resilience, creativity, leadership, and deep sense of empathy. She is intuitive and intentional — always tuning in to the needs of her customers, community, and coaching clients. With an artist’s heart and a strategist’s mind, she builds spaces where people feel seen, served, and celebrated.
Her biggest growth came from understanding that doing it all isn’t sustainable. For years, she carried the weight alone — thinking it was the badge of a strong woman. But true strength, she’s learned, lies in trust, rest, and delegation. That evolution — from solo warrior to supported visionary — has made her a stronger, more impactful leader.
Her ability to reflect, adjust, and realign is what sets her apart. She’s not just building a brand — she’s building a blueprint for other leaders to follow.
Achievements That Reflect the Journey
Lori’s achievements are not merely awards — they’re affirmations of the legacy she’s creating. She has received the Woman Entrepreneur of the Year award twice, the International Lead Kindness Award, and the ACHI Woman Led Award. She’s been featured as a speaker on countless stages, selected for prestigious programs like Wells Fargo’s Equitable Access Boost Camp, and celebrated as a vendor at renowned events like Cars and Coffee Morrisville.
But her proudest achievements are personal: founding a purpose-driven business during a pandemic, volunteering over 10,000 hours to causes close to her heart, raising two incredible boys, and inspiring thousands through her voice and vision.
These milestones aren’t just hers — they’re moments she shares with every person she’s uplifted, mentored, or served along the way.
Wisdom for the Next Generation
Lori’s message to aspiring leaders is crystal clear: “Authenticity is your superpower. I encourage others to stop waiting for perfection and to start building from wherever they are. Show up consistently, lead with love, and build something that reflects your soul not just your resume.”
To Lori, “Leadership isn’t about titles it’s about transformation. It’s about who you lift, how you serve, and what kind of legacy you leave. My advice is both grounded and galvanizing listen more, love deeper, and never underestimate the power of your own story.”
A Final Brew of Wisdom
As Lori often says, “You are your greatest asset. My journey proves that success is more than money it’s meaning. It’s not about how far you go, but how much you bring with you. Whether you’re starting from scratch or starting over.” Lori’s message is simple: the world is waiting for your flavor. Don’t hold back.
Black•ology isn’t just a brand. It’s a declaration. A reminder that coffee can be a catalyst for change, culture, and confidence. And Lori Jones is the fearless visionary leading that charge — one bold brew at a time.
