A multi-faceted director, producer, writer, actor and businesswoman, Kanithea Powell began her career in the arts as one of the founding members of the Orlando Black Theatre, that city’s first African-American theater company. She directed, produced and performed in several plays before taking her creative acumen to Atlanta, where she founded Qwest Films, a motion picture company, in 2003. Now located in Washington, D.C., Qwest is one of the most successful lesbian-owned production houses; Powell’s latest release, Finding Juliet, has appeared in more than 13 film festivals. This award-winning entrepreneur has also launched Qwestfilms.com, Qwest Productions and Qwest Casting to complement the original brand, and will soon unveil Qwest TV. Powell suggests that budding entrepreneurs should “be audacious in your goal setting, and surround yourself with great people who make you feel that you, too, can be great.”
