Taking Risk is essential, but how much, when and why? Taking risks effectively is as much of an art as it is a science and we’ve asked some of the brightest folks in the community to tell us about how they think about risk taking.

Marcus D. Newsome

I took a risk when I quit my security job to pursue art full-time. I put all my focus in learning animation at Santa Monica College to sharpen my skills in storytelling and animation. Read More>>

North Chen

I grew up playing sports. For a while, I even had dreams of making it pro. Risk was a natural part of my life for at least a decade. There was always the looming shadow of a potentially season-ending injury, a shadow that caught up to me more than once. But that didn’t mean playing scared; coach would put me on the field and I would give it my all. If I didn’t, I would’ve been a bad teammate. An undependable one. Read More>>

Dj Icy Ice

Growing up in a Filipino/Asian household, my parents had clear expectations for me to excel in school and pursue a prestigious career as a doctor, lawyer, or engineer. But from an early age, my true passion was always music. As a child, I played the violin, later transitioning to the saxophone and piano. Then, in middle school, a few friends introduced me to DJing, and everything changed. I had finally found an art form that I truly connected with. From that moment on, I knew this was my calling. Read More>>

Oliver Kiisa

Risk is a necessary one, a challenge that pushes me outside of my comfort zone. I’ve always seen life as full of challenges and opportunities, and there’s always risk involved. Every project I have produced, there’s risk involved that always requires to be evaluated. Read More>>

Chad Cooper

Risk equals opportunity. Obviously risks need to be assessed and vetted as much as possible but taking risk can be essential in terms of growing and innovating. Risk is a constant in business. The key is to try to minimize your downside risk in any situation. Read More>>

Jao Belandres

Risk has been a constant force in my life… both personally and professionally. I currently work as a project manager, I approach risk strategically, working backward from the end goal to identify potential obstacles and solutions. I see risk like a tree with endless branches, each one leading to different possibilities, and my job is to navigate those paths with intention. Read More>>

Don John

I’d describe myself as a cautious risk-taker, which might sound like a contradiction, but I see it as a balanced approach. There’s often a misconception that risk means taking a blind leap into the unknown. But to me, risk is much simpler—it’s pursuing something despite the possibility of failure. Every meaningful step in my life and career has involved some level of risk, but none of them were reckless. They were calculated bets on myself. Read More>>

Tarun Shetty

There was risk in everything I’ve done and created. (films/tv/podcast, even the auditions I’ve gone on.) Forget about commercial success, just the act of doing something creative involves risk. Especially now with social media, you are leaving your digital footprint in the universe. Read More>>

Tré Miller

Taking risks has played a vital role in my life. My parents have always taught me, “It’s better to try and fail than not try at all.” With that mentality, I’ve been blessed with so many great experiences and opportunities. I often find myself wrestling with my thoughts when it comes to decision-making, but that all comes with the idea of “trying something” or “taking a risk.” Read More>>

Brie Childers

I used to think of risk-taking as a risk I was taking, and it always warranted caution. I no longer agree with that perspective. Now I think of risks as something that I have to seek out and do with enthusiasm. Go big or go home. No risk, no reward. Read More>>

Mateo Carvajal

Taking risks has been the key to my journey. I was born and raised in Colombia, and when I moved to the U.S. at 21, boarding that plane felt like jumping off a cliff without knowing what lay beneath. I didn’t know a soul in Los Angeles. Read More>>

Cait Chock

I thrive on challenges and to me, taking a risk doesn’t feel as daunting as living with the regret of never just doing it. I’ve failed plenty in life, if I fail who really cares? My brain is weird in that I will be trapped with decision paralysis over small, inconsequential things (should I buy the pepperoni or sausage Hot Pockets lol), but as far as big, life directing decisions, I’ve always been willing to just be like, “send it!” I can’t explain that, but I think part of it is listening to your gut. Read More>>

Lara Kempke

This is a big question for me…I never, EVER thought of myself as brave or a risk-taker. If anything, for most of my life I thought I was a pretty fearful person. So it has been in my art that I first began taking risks. At the beginning, just calling myself an artist felt risky–the audacity! No art degree, no credentials. Who did I think I was? Read More>>

Blake Fox

I see risk as an essential part of success. If you’re not willing to step into the unknown, hold your breath, and take the leap, your chances of achieving something great are slim. As the saying goes, “No risk, no reward.” Read More>>

Kosta Kulundzic

When I decided to pursue an artistic career, risk was—and still is—a fundamental part of the journey. Whether it’s creating art as an artist, promoting it as a gallery director, or curating exhibitions, risk is always part of the process. You have to carve out your own path from scratch. Read More>>

Sarah And Vincent Mondragon

We believe that without risk, there is no reward. Taking risks is an essential part of our journey as business owners. Every day, we take calculated risks and bet on ourselves, knowing that it’s the only way to grow and push boundaries. Read More>>

John Brooks

Risk taking simply for its own sake seems foolish and pointless; taking calculated risks that are based in knowledge, experience, and thoughtfulness, however, is perhaps the only way to truly grow. That something must break — or certainly bend — in order for things to change seems like a law of nature we simply must accept. In my early life, until my mid-20s, Read More>>

Ryan Henderson

As an artist, I find that my most dangerous moments are when I am not taking a risk. Growing up, I feel like we are told what to do, what to say, and what to feel, and then when we become adults, it is expected for that formula, x+y=happiness, but we can never expect to be happy if we are just following orders. Read More>>

Tanya Kaye Lewis

I dreamt my whole life of seeing LA! Ever since growing-up in my small town, a Wisconsin-town…where my Father is President & Mayor, I DREAMT of California! And by taking risks, and many of them, led me to the place where even now CELEBRATING 3 years in LA later…STARS STILL DANCE IN MY EYES! I learned at a very young, Read More>>

Kayne Dynell

When it comes to risk, I’ve learned that defining what it means to me as an artist and creative is just as important as taking the leap itself. People always say, “Risk equals reward,” and while that’s true, I think one of the most overlooked risks is the internal one the hesitation, the self-doubt, the fear of just shooting your shot. Read More>>

Jennifer Hilt

Risk-taking, to me, is having the courage to follow your curiosity. I’d been writing genre fiction for twenty years as well as teaching fiction. During that process, I became interested in how tropes are used in writing. Five years ago, tropes were not the hot topic in fiction or the writing process we see today. Read More>>

Bryan-keyth Wilson

Risk-taking is at the heart of everything I do. As a playwright, entrepreneur, and creative visionary, I’ve learned that playing it safe doesn’t lead to breakthroughs—it leads to stagnation. Taking risks has shaped my career in ways I never could have imagined. From stepping into rooms where I was the only Black voice to founding businesses that push culture forward, every bold move I’ve made has been fueled by a deep belief in my purpose. Read More>>

Lindsey Sanchez

This past year I’ve really tried to dive into taking every risk and opportunity life threw at me. I often was one to feel like I wasn’t enough or just afraid, which I’m sure everyone goes through. But reminding yourself you are worth being the best version of yourself and taking that one leap to say yes could change your life. Read More>>

Shaney Poo

I feel like I’ve been taking risks my whole life ever since I was a teen. Looking back I realized these were more than just risks but they were all leaps of faith. To pursue a life in the music world is a risk on it’s own, because there truly never any certainty when it comes to the music business. One of my first major leaps of faith was when I was 19. Read More>>

Avetis Antaplyan

Risk is at the core of everything I do. One of the first big risks I took was leaving a cushy Director position at Kaplan, a Fortune 500 company, to join a struggling startup that I had to help rebuild. Most people thought I was crazy for walking away from stability, but I saw an opportunity to create something bigger. That decision set the tone for my entire career—betting on myself, embracing uncertainty, and building from the ground up. Read More>>

Patrick Thomas

I believe not taking risks will cause to have thoughts such as “what if?” Taking risks has allowed me to be free, have no regrets and jump for the moon with that possibility of falling in your face. But with all risks, you must have faith. And I believe I was put on this earth to use the gifts God gave me to make music. Read More>>

Brianna Rhodes

Risk is about resilience. Failure and setbacks are inevitable, so I ask myself: Which challenges can I handle? Where can I persevere and flourish when others might give up? What can I afford to lose if it doesn’t work out? Which situations might emotionally drain me or make me second-guess myself? Read More>>

Matthieu Samouiller

I love this subject. In my life, I believe that the greater the risk, the greater the chance. Here are a few examples. Read More>>

Chris Suchánek

I see risk as a necessary catalyst for growth, not something to fear. When I started Firm Media in the middle of an economic downturn, I knew it was a gamble, but I believed in my vision and the value I could bring. Taking calculated risks has always been part of my journey—whether launching new services, expanding into new markets, or stepping into podcasting. Read More>>