Are you a risk taker? Do you think you have a stronger appetite for risk relative to your friends and family? We asked some folks from the community about their approaches to risk and have shared their thoughts below.

Zhenghao Huang | Industrial Designer & Design Strategist

Risk management has been one of the most challenging aspects of my life and career. Every decision involves some level of sacrifice, often without realizing it at the moment. For me, it’s about balancing the expected gains against the risks, considering both short-term and long-term impacts as far as I can foresee and control. Read more>>

Alana Hayden | Creative travel designer, owner

The American traveler is highly sensitive to situations that occur outside the U.S. Whether it is political or physical, they are quick to avoid certain destinations. The travel industry is one of the first to feel the impact of a political rally, an outbreak of disease, a global event in a nearby country, or even reports of an isolated criminal incident. For 50 years, I’ve had to go with the flow. My approach to risk and just being in the travel industry might seem counterintuitive, but I’ve actually stayed relatively conservative, which I believe is why my business has thrived for 50 years. Read more>>

Raja Marhaba | Entrepreneur, Special Education Advocate, and Former Contractor

Risk taking is different for everyone. It really depends on how much risk the individual is willing to take in order to reach a goal. For me it was challenging as I owned a construction company with my former husband and we needed to obtain bonding in order to bid on higher value projects. This meant we had to guarantee that each construction project we bid on, and was awarded, were completed 100% satisfactory to the client. Read more>>

Matt Gourley | Podcaster, Actor, and Producer

I approach risk in a peculiar way, and that is: baby steps. Or perhaps better put, I think I take a lot of what I’ll very adorably call ‘micro-risks.’ I’m far too pragmatic to compromise certain standards in my life to take large, paradigm-shifting risks, but at the same time, I’ve found I like to challenge and surprise myself in some absurd ways during occasional low-stakes experiences. It might be in a work meeting, a podcast recording, or the worst of all encounters: small talk. It might come in the form of a non-sequitur, a strange joke with a purpose, or a zig when a zag won’t even noticed I zigged. Read more>>

Neha Kumar | Cofounder and COO of Full Glass Wine Co.

When it comes to risk-taking, I think of it like analyzing a deal. You assess the potential returns, consider the risks, and make calculated decisions based on the data at hand. But sometimes, even with all the analysis, you have to take a leap and trust in yourself. In my career, taking risks has been essential—it’s about having faith in your vision and the confidence to move forward, even when the outcome isn’t certain. Those bold decisions often lead to the most significant breakthroughs and growth. Read more>>

Sabrina Von Stock | Psychic Medium and Energy Healer

Embracing risk has been the center of my journey as a psychic, medium and energy healer. Taking risks is a choice, it’s a way of life. Each leap of faith has propelled me towards greater spiritual growth and deepen connections with my clients. Risk is imperative to self-awareness and empowerment. Each step into the unknown opens up new opportunities for transformation and inner wisdom. Read more>>

Yeakun Yoo | Media composer & CEO

For me, the biggest risk-taking decision was hiring employees and working on my projects together with them. When I first started my company, I was going through the COVID-19 pandemic, and I had a duty to take care of my wife and children. Like other composers, I couldn’t invest all my time in composing, and I had to divide my time between work and family. However, I couldn’t refuse the many requests for game, film, and animation music that came my way. Read more>>

Jihwan Jeon | Graphic Designer & Cultural Enthusiast

Taking risks has been a foundational aspect of my journey as a designer. Moving from South Korea to the United States to pursue my passion for design was one of the biggest risks I’ve taken. This choice was fueled by my long-standing fascination with American subculture, street culture, and fashion—areas that have inspired me for many years. Read more>>

Xindi Zhang | Indie Animation Filmmaker

Risk is an inevitable challenge, but also an opportunity. As an artist who constantly strives to incorporate new elements into my work, risk is a constant companion in my creative process. Sometimes, my inspiration leads me to experiment with untried methods or take on unpredictable workloads. These risks, which often increase the likelihood of failure, actually excite me even more because overcoming them often results in a significant breakthrough. Read more>>

Brianna Lynn | Content Creator, Social Media Agency Owner & Photographer

When it comes to taking risks, I firmly believe in trusting and following my intuition (hence both of my business names INTUITIVE SOCIAL and STUDIO INTUITIVE) — that’s what’s guided me to where I am today. I’ve learned that there’s no reward without risk, and as an entrepreneur, those risks have been crucial in building my experience. However, with time and experience, I’ve also developed a keen sense of when to proceed with caution or recognize a red flag, whether it’s in a project, a campaign, a new client, or an investment. Read more>>

Alex Creswell | Owner of Neighbors

Risk-taking is complex subject for me, especially as a white woman who comes from a place of privilege. I recognize that the ability to take risks is often a privilege in itself—one that not everyone has access to. I’d like to think this awareness has shaped how I approach risk in my life and career. Read more>>

Robin Jack Sarner | Abstract Artist

Being an artist is nothing but risk, being an abstract artist has much added risk. Not only do I take a leap of faith in creating something out of thin-air, but I take risk that no-one will like it. Whether it be on social media or in person, exposing one’s work feels like standing naked in a crowd. The risk of criticism and disgust can be real, but for me that kind of risk is the only thing that helps me grow as an artist. I thrive on it. Read more>>

Diane Strand | Multi-award-winning Serial Entrepreneur, Executive Producer, Best-Selling Author, Speaker, And Nonprofit Founder.

Risks generate a lot of fear for me. But yet, at the same time, I push myself to take risks because I truly believe the magic happens outside your comfort zone. My biggest reward has come from my biggest risks. My partner in life and business, Scott Strand, is a much bigger risk-taker than I am. He pushes me to leave my comfort zone and take the big leaps of faith. And every time I do take a risk, it has paid off. Read more>>

Amia Serrano | Fashion Stylist

I risked my job security as a Department of Justice employee by resigning and pursuing a career as a freelance fashion stylist with zero job security. That has been the biggest risk I’ve taken in my career to date! Although it’s been a rollercoaster of a journey, I don’t regret making that decision. If I didn’t, I would be stuck with a huge ‘what if’ over my head and stayed playing it safe. Of course think about the risk before taking it, but we all have to take at least one in our lives. Read more>>

Courtney Williams | Author & Digital Creator

I honestly believe taking a risk can be the best thing you can do for yourself. I’ve taken a lot, especially in the last few years. Being from a small town in Louisiana it would’ve been very easy to put myself in a box. I didn’t know how much life was outside of the boundaries I was used to. In 2021 after college I moved to Atlanta. In 2023 I moved to Los Angeles. The things that I’ve experienced because of those 2 major risks have been incredible. If there’s ever a time where I have a choice of taking a risk or not, I will always take it. Read more>>

Saint Ahmad | Performer/Musician

Risk taking is about having the confidence to do or make something happen that may not be widely excepted; going against the grain. Life would be pretty boring if everyone was the same. The risk takers are the ones that keep it interesting, moving. Read more>>

Mandi Bom | bodyworker / energyworker

Risk-taking: how do you think about risk, what role has taking risks played in your life/career? This definition resonates with me:
the exquisite risk – being willing to leap into the unknown to sacrifice ‘gravity’ and ‘control’; giving full presence to the/your/a path;
“I meet this life with my whole body” (Tara Brach, PhD.) Read more>>

khush Patel

Risk-taking has been an integral part of my journey, particularly in my career as a photographer. My decision to pursue photography wasn’t just a leap into the unknown; it was a calculated risk driven by passion, a desire for creative fulfillment, and the belief that my work could resonate with others. Read more>>

Melissa Volido

I’m a strong believer in that there’s no growth in comfortability. My entire journey as a content creator started with taking a risk, and I’ve continued to see that every time I take a risk is when my career thrives. Read more>>

Walt Benda

I view risks as an opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and achieve something new . I grew up somewhat shy, so speaking up and going after something I want is something I had to learn and teach myself. Read more>>

Adeline Ward

I believe in healthy risk taking. I think that deciding to take a risk in one’s life or career is a personal choice. Though, for me, it’s one that’s served me very well. While I have skinned my knees (physically and figuratively) too many times to count, the payoff for taking risks has always been greater. Every time we take a risk, we have a new reference point to counter the fear that says, “I can’t do this”. Learning to navigate through this fear has been an
invaluable tool for me because it allowed me to confront my worst case scenarios.  Read more>>

Heather Evans

Anything you do takes risk. I heard this quote once that says, “Faith is spelled R-I-S-K” and it stuck with me! You truly have to have BELIEVE in what you are doing and GO FOR IT. For me this has played out in many different ways. I’m a Singer/Songwriter and I take risks on the daily. haha!! Anytime I dream up an album or have a crazy concept, think of a powerful visual for a music video, I have to risk a ton. Most of the time I am pretty confident in my abilities to make it happen, but there are sometimes it feels really daunting and heavy. Read more>>

Antony Post

There’s no point to a life without risk, let alone a career. If there’s no risk, then what you’re doing has already been done. Art is about pushing us forward, confronting us to imagine a future we haven’t thought about yet. I find a security in risk funny enough because no great work of art came from a place of rest. It’s uncomfortable and anxious yet ultimately cathartic and rewarding. It’s also important to trust your own equilibrium. Read more>>

Shannon Daneshrad

Risk-taking is a nuanced concept that I approach with careful consideration and balance. I believe in taking risks in moderation, without overthinking or underthinking them. Sometimes, less thinking and more doing is essential. As humans, we often get in our own way, filled with insecurities, self-doubts, and fears that don’t necessarily align with reality. Taking risks includes betting on oneself, even against the negativity in our minds. Read more>>

Santiago Warren

I LOVE RISKS. I’ve always felt that risks are necessary for growth, it’s hard to grow inside comfort. When you take risks, you open yourself up to new experiences, opportunities, and perspectives that wouldn’t be available if you stayed within the confines of what’s familiar. While risks can be daunting, they are integral to pushing boundaries and achieving meaningful progress. SO GO OUT THERE AND TAKE THE RISK, I promise it’ll be alright. Read more>>