What Immigrants Teach Us About Entrepreneurship

Nearly 40 years ago, my parents immigrated to New Orleans from their native Palestine. They left their whole world behind, seeking a new life, with hopes of returning someday. Yet here they are, decades later — faithful lovers of this seductive city, like so many others we know.

In New Orleans, the influence of French, Irish, Spanish, Italian, German, African, and American Indians (the list goes on) is deep-rooted in our culture. But if you cross the Crescent City bridge and go beyond the magnanimous Mississippi River to the West Bank (‘across the river’ as locals say), or head in the other direction towards New Orleans East, you’ll find vibrant Latin, Arab, and Asian American communities nestled in enclaves. They’ve built their lives here, many have built businesses here, and most have become engrained in the city’s culture.

In my parents’ home, on any given Sunday, you can hear my father rooting relentlessly for our beloved Saints, yelling obscenities at the television in an outlandish mix of Arabic and English. I often tell friends that my mom’s kitchen is the only place in the city where you can find gumbo and grape leaves on the same table.

Such is life when cultures collide.

In conversations about my heritage, people often ask inquisitively how is it that Palestinians end up in New Orleans? I never really thought of it as unusual. Although the irony that my parents left the West Bank of Palestine to eventually settle in the West Bank of New Orleans, is not lost on me. But when posed with this question, I always answer that it was in the same way that immigrants settle in any other city; they join family, friends, or communities. But it’s almost always for the same reason.

Opportunity.

New Orleans has a history with a rich and complex past of immigrants who came in search of opportunity, and who have helped shape the cultural and economic landscape of the city.

In fact, between 1820 and 1860, more than 550,000 immigrants entered the United States through the port of New Orleans, making it second only to New York City.

My parents like so many immigrants, became entrepreneurs by necessity.

They started by opening a neighborhood shop in historic Algiers. Years later, they would open another in Mid City on North Broad street, just blocks away from the Jazz Festival grounds, and then another in the West Bank, eventually settling there. Together, slowly building on their success, they developed and sold several real estate businesses before retiring.

Throughout the years, I watched them work tirelessly through 15-hour days, with little time off, and without complaint. To live and to work was a privilege, according to them. There were constant reminders in our home that we had far too many things to be grateful for. They were living, breathing proof that hard work is the only way to achieve success. My childhood is rife with memories of my father righteously proclaiming his ideology of entrepreneurship to me and my siblings.

And while my childhood was anything but “average American”, I am immensely grateful for what my parents taught me. If you want something, you have to work for it. No excuses.

That’s an abbreviated version of only one story of the many immigrants who have built their livelihoods in our adored city. For many of them, this work ethic and attitude is instilled in their children. First-generation entrepreneurs have shared similar sentiments with me. They embody in many ways, what it really means to hustle. And those are the stories we’re after.

So, it is in that same spirit, that we introduce our stories on The Distillery this month celebrating those entrepreneurs. Our featured founder this month is Juley Le, creator of Upperlyne & Co., who has shared with us both the struggles and joys of being a first-generation daughter and entrepreneur. Determined to forge her own path, Le left a career in teaching and technology and has made a name for herself in digital media as an authority on style and design. She’s amassed a significant following on social media, and has worked with brands such as West Elm, Conde Nast, and Madewell, in the past year alone. And it’s just the beginning for this self-taught, lifestyle maven. This girl hustles.

We’re also telling the story of Bashar Wali, principal of Provenance Hotels, which is a fabulous collection spanning from the West Coast, all the way down to the crescent city. Wali, who immigrated from Syria to the United States in the late 1980s, applied for his first job as a bellboy at a hotel in Newtown, Massachusetts. The rest is history.

Their stories and others’ serve as a reminder to us of what the American dream is really about — anything is possible, if you’re willing to put in the work. We hope you’ll find them as inspiring as we do, and share your thoughts with us.

Until then, keep on hustling.