In our experience, most folks, including ourselves don’t have enough of an understanding of risk and the role it plays in our lives and careers and so we have made a concerted effort as a team to have conversations about risk with our interviewees. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Jess Weihe

I think risk-taking is important, but needs to be done so, strategically. You know the sayings … “If you don’t ask, the answer is always ‘no.’” “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” We’ve all heard them.

I think there’s a real merit and importance to stretching beyond our comfort zones and not boxing ourselves into the roles we are expected to play, professionally and personally. That doesn’t mean I recommend putting everything on the line, every time, for the sake of “you only live once,” but I certainly believe in taking a leap of faith here and there, especially when the impact can be measurable. Read More>>

Francesca Gold

Living life is a risk and doing anything outside of the norm is risky! As much as one can plan when launching a business or shifting careers, there’s always a level of risk due to the nature of life and all of the variables associated with it. Add in being a business owner and you’re in for a wild ride! The best advice I can give anyone opening a business or starting a new career is to think things through, write out some key benchmark goals, and know that the reality of what will unfold is never, ever what you had in mind Read More>>

Dahéli Hall

I’ve always had one dream: to write, perform, and produce my own work. That dream took me to NYU Tisch to study theater and later to USC, where I got an MFA in Film & Television…two of the most intense entertainment cities—New York and L.A.—with no guarantees.

Risk, for me, is the cost of doing something original. Every meaningful pivot in my career came from leaping before the net appeared— Like turning my fertility journey into a solo comedy show, SPADURA, and touring it before I had funding, turning it into a docu-comedy film while still living it. There’s no roadmap, especially as a Black woman telling stories that don’t fit the industry’s template. Read More>> 

LUOYA TU

Looking back, I realize that I am undoubtedly a risk-taker.

Before I made the leap, I was on an upward trajectory in my architectural career in Beijing. However, I chose to leave everything I had built behind, using my life savings and a substantial personal loan to enroll in the graduate program at UCLA. Trusting my instincts, I started from scratch in the U.S. after graduation, seizing any opportunities to survive during the 2008 financial crisis, when it was extremely challenging for a foreigner on a visa to find an entry-level architectural designer job. Read More>>

Tristan Marley Lai

My stubborn self would never settle for anything ordinary. If I am doing the same thing, there is something wrong with me. Taking risks is what pushed me forward to where I am today. However, I don’t think I will ever be able to shake off the dreadful feeling of taking a leap of faith by taking risks like going to film school or rejecting a directing deal from one of the biggest energy drink companies in the world. In my first term of film school, my Grandma told me she would not be able to afford my tuition at ArtCenter College of Design if I couldn’t get loans or scholarships. Read More>>

Nicole Benson

Risk often carries a negative connotation—uncertainty, fear, and potential failure. But I see it differently. To me, risk is a beautiful and necessary way to learn. It’s through risk that we begin to understand how to manage loss, how to truly celebrate victories—big or small—and how to develop patience as we wait for outcomes to unfold. Read More>>

David

Actually, I believe it would be riskier to NOT work for myself. Working for someone else, your future is in their hands—your job security, income, growth, and even your time. That doesn’t work with me. I’d rather take control, even if it comes with uncertainty. Starting the company wasn’t about entrepreneurship — it was about taking control.  Read More>>

Crissy

I think of risk as a constant companion — not something to avoid, but something that has shaped every season of my life. From moving countries to leaving stable jobs, becoming a mother, and starting my own business, risk has been at the center of every major decision I’ve made.

For me, taking risks is a form of honesty. It’s saying, “I know I’m meant for more, and I trust myself enough to go after it.” I’m not someone who stays stuck in situations that don’t feel aligned. I’d rather face uncertainty than settle for a version of life that’s safe but unfulfilling. Read More>>

Alexander Gardose

Risk’s for me is a tricky thing, I believe that if you’re focused on a task and you’re set on it, whether it has to interfere with personal life or just everything going on during that period of time, if you truly are set on that task go for it. As someone who dropped out and completely walked away from choosing to go to college, I took that risk and went into Real Estate to start my Business and kick off my career at such a young age. Being a realtor at 20 years old definitely has it’s risks and having to push myself beyond my limits I feel that I need to do more to not only survive but to make it to where I wanna be.  Read More>>

Ian Thorn

I think my career has thrived off risk.
Becoming a barber at 32 was a risk.
Moving to LA at 35 was a risk.
Every time I’ve taken a leap I’ve learned to fly. You can’t grow if you don’t take risks. It’s worked out for me so far so I’m going to continue doing so Read More>>

Genine “G9” Alexander

Taking a risk can be scary, and you may feel like if you take the risk and it fails, you’ll be sad and depressed about it. You’ll feel some way about something not happening as you wanted it to, but a part of risk-taking is learning as well. Because the only time you’ll take a risk is when you really believe in something, and I really believe in my career, so I’m willing to take the risk and see the outcome – the fruits of my labor. But if it didn’t work out, I would also see the lesson in that, and that’s how I look at life and my career. Read More>>

Lauren Beauchamp

Deciding to pursue a career in fitness, social media, and entrepreneurship was terrifying, but deep down I knew I was meant for more than just playing it safe.

I was working a corporate job when I got laid off, and that unexpected moment pushed me into teaching barre and pilates full-time — something I had always done on the side and genuinely loved. After a few months, I realized I never wanted to go back to corporate life. I wanted to build something of my own, to work for myself, and to pour my energy into creating a brand and business that aligned with my passions. Read More>>

James M. Perry

Taking the plunge to invest in myself was a bold step, but leaving my 9-to-5 job to chase my dreams? That was the biggest leap of all. It wasn’t just about the stability of a regular paycheck; it was about the freedom I craved to network and unleash my creativity. Embracing entrepreneurship has been my personal game-changer. As a director and writer, I thrive on the ability to draw inspiration from any place and every moment. This journey enables me to explore my passions, wherever I may find myself fully. Read More>>