There is a wealth of academic research that suggests that differences in risk appetite are at the heart of differences in career and business trajectories. We wanted to go beyond the theory and ask real people from the community about their perspectives and experiences with risk and risk taking.

Janet Robin | Professional Musician

Risk is important in my career as a musician. You have to be willing to try new things and be open to new ideas, otherwise you’ll stay stagnant. Especially as an artist, you want to always be creating something “new” – maybe a little different style from what your used to playing or writing. This helps you grow not only as a better musician, but also as a person. Read more>>

Ashley Caballero | Event Planner & Designer

Risk was an action that made my stomach drop. Knowing that risk could cause the chance of unfortunate outcome made it harder to imagine the potential gain. In fact we take risks every day in our decision making process, but it was much harder to take risks for my business. When it was my turn to take a risk it didn’t come with a 100% guarantee, but I took the risk anyways. Read more>>

GIOVANNA | Singer & Recording Artist

Sounds so cliché, but risk is necessary for reward. I know that well so far on my journey; having faith in yourself and the path of your life is nothing short of crucial. It was a major risk for me personally to move out here on my own last year after deciding against signing my first deal; I only knew a handful of producers I worked with prior to moving and just fully bet on myself to make things shake how they’d need to. The inner knowingness of who you are and why you do what you do is everything when it comes to taking risks. Read more>>

Travis Barron | Photographer | Videographer | Graphic Designer | Music Producer

When you look at artistry as a career, there is no direct path to success. How you measure success is a dynamic question of its own. If financial success is your end game goal, then going to a prestigious school, learning the trade secrets and educating yourself in the precise ways of design and its value to marketing structures, can be an approach that truly can fast track you to financial success. Read more>>

Stephanie Kheder & Jessica Gallup | Owners, Coven + Cloche

Creativity is all about risks — taking the chance to conceptualize and execute something not knowing the outcome or response. Letting go of the risk, going faithfully in the direction of our vision, knowing there are people just like us out there and there’s something for everyone; we are a spiritual, esoteric, witchy, hippie, mindfullness head shop and love making beautiful things that we think fit the different personalities and versions of our type. Read more>>

yoli Shen | Concept artist

I personally view risks as opportunities. I changed my career directions 2 time in the past. I entered the industry as an 3d animator then I worked as producer then I am now a concept artist. Especially when I decided that I wanted to be a concept artist, there are chances that I can never succeed. I didn’t have good foundation, neither extensive drawing nor painting experience. Read more>>

Destany Silverback | Business Development, Silverback Audio

Risks are essential. Any gainful step I ever took forward was a huge risk, but the percieved value always outweighed the risk. I’ve read books about success and finance and all of them tend to say the same thing. The best time to take a leap forward is when your scared, and when you know it makes sense to you, but to nobody else. We all have heard that starting a business is risky, but let’s try a different mental perspective. Read more>>

Camy Anthony | Founder & CEO of Culture Curated LA

I’ve always felt if you don’t risk anything, your’e risking even more; and I’m definitely guilty of playing things safe because of fear; but it took me a long time to accept that fear will always keep you stagnant. Ive learned that anything that involves putting yourself outside your comfort zone your’e taking a chance. Read more>>

Joe Woolf | Curator of art inspired by the lyrics of legendary songwriters

I think some people are hard-wired to be risk averse whereas others get turned on by it. I love taking calculated risks, personally and professionally. I can’t imagine living life and making choices based on fear and worry of what might happen if I fail. How boring! My philosophy when it comes to risk taking is: Don’t be afraid to fail. Read more>>

Vivian Rayos | Artist Manager & Founder of Switchboard Management

The way I think about risk is by asking myself, is the risk I’m taking aligning with where and what I want to be? If it ultimately feels right on the inside, I’m usually one to take that leap of faith. My career started by taking an immense risk, I entirely changed career paths just ten months after graduating college. Read more>>

Julia Dean | Photographer/Writer/Educator/Director of The L.A. Project

Not by design, but rather by devotion, I seem to take on photographic ventures that require more risks and uncertainly than not. But when I have a plan worth believing in, I carry enough conviction for an army. Lack of money has never dulled my vision. My recipe for success? Good people who believe in you. I surround myself with talented, loyal friends who help me make things happen. Read more>>

Shemariah J. Arki, EdD | Educator. Activist. Organizer.

Risk, for those of us who identify as Black, is everywhere. Each day that I am alive, that I am in my right mind (at least able to function), that I am able to see and hug my sons, that I can call my mom, I’ve escaped death. That is the life I am forced to live as a person of the global majority in the United States. Read more>>

Tina Huang | Actor/Writer/Director/Producer

Risk taking is everything! If I hadn’t taken any risks, I wouldn’t have a career or the life I enjoy. Deciding to be an actor when I didn’t have a lot examples of Asian American actors growing up, was a risk. I had to believe I’d be able to carve an avenue for myself. Going to my first audition, moving to Los Angeles, starting a theatre company (AmmunitionTheatre.com), starting a production company (1to1productions.com), stepping foot on the stage, all involve taking a risk. Read more>>

Linda Taylor | Musician, Guitarist, Producer and Composer

I think of risk as the opposite of apathy. The idea of trying, taking the swing versus not, what have I got to lose? Sure, releasing an album that costs thousands to produce may be met with a resounding silence, putting myself out there can, has, and will be met with a thousand yawns, but what’s the alternative? I learn from mistakes and failures as much as successes, so in that light it never feels like a risk. It just feels like an effort. Read more>>

Mara Gold | Mental Health Coach/Case Manager

When I think back to my relationship with risk after college, at the very beginning of my career, I was eager to get “to the top” right away. I saw what I believed to be THEE path to go on and took it. I love my enthusiasm for that early me and at that age, that’s what fit. As I grew in my career, I felt some discomfort but couldn’t define it and didn’t have a vision of what to do, so stayed in the position I was at. Read more>>