Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Kris Jung | Singer/ Guitar player, Co-Writer & Author

Our band, MAL, came together out of a necessity to make original music in 2012. We are all creatives with similar influences like Jane’s Addiction, Rush, Faith No More, Failure, The Smashing Pumpkins, Black Sabbath, Queens of the Stone Age, Sonic Youth, and more, with the desire and passion to express ourselves through our music. Myself, Kris Jung, vocals & guitar, drummer Brendan Reynolds, and bass player, Peter Hollywood have been connected through various music scenes in the L.A. southland for years. Read more>>

Vito San Filippo | Real Estate Agent

I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur, a business owner and to be able to work for myself. When I first started my Real Estate journey as a Real Estate Agent in 2016, I knew that I would be able to create that opportunity as long as I worked hard and put in the time & effort. Read more>>

Sam Yang | Educator & Multimedia Photographer

I was working as an educator and a school administrator in the Northeast when COVID-19 hit the states. With an empty campus, I decided to pick up photography again which, as someone who has been doing it as a hobby, was not too hard to do. I have been using a camera on and off since middle school and I was a photographer for my high school. As soon as I began taking photos of empty towns and businesses again, I realized these small mom-and-pop shop owners and even the town government might need those photos later when they re-open to boost business. I began taking note of where I went and looked them up online to offer free business photos when they do indeed reopen. It was at the same time when my COVID class of students graduated—and with that, a need for graduation photos (outside with masks). I began getting inquiries to do portraits because people also need fresh photos for their job search after being laid off. So there I was: photographer by hobby turned into a pretty serious deal in the small college town that I lived in. There was a need for photos, and there was me, who just happened to have picked up a camera out of boredom. The good thing was my initial clients were so impressed by my photos that they could not believe that I hadn’t been doing photography for a long time, which spiked my motivation. Read more>>

Mychal Sorensen | Photographer, Videographer & Animator

I knew I wanted to start my own business because I wanted to have full creative control over the projects I pursued. Nothing brings me more joy than diving head-first into a fun project that I was able to conceive and execute from start to finish! Read more>>

David Turcios | Mentor & Co-Founder of Sigue Sports Institute

My thought process behind starting my own business was that I realized, as a coach, the impact I could have on my players was limited, and there was a bigger issue that needed to be addressed. Read more>>

Rasheeda Ellis | Mood Servant Apothecary Founder

The thought process behind starting my business was to create a lifestyle brand of products that would be considered an essential part of my customers daily routine that was exclusively available in local farmers markets and organic grocery stores. The very first product that we introduced to the market was the body balm candles that were clean enough to burn and use as a moisturizing body balm. Read more>>

Aamira Garba | Ceo & Winemaker

The LoveLee journey began with me making the first-time choice to prioritize myself. As a young mom and executive, I had immersed myself in the demands of the world, inadvertently neglecting my own needs. I reached a point where I no longer recognized the essence of who I was. I pondered on the dreams of the little girl within me and questioned what I enjoyed beyond my roles as a mother and professional. When did I stop having fun? Read more>>

Eduardo De Benito | Creative Art Visual Director

The main thought is to think differently from the rest of the agencies and studios, something complicated because the market, clients and momentum make the majority adapt their capabilities to their needs, think outside the box to communicate differently and with different formats. Read more>>

Erinn Askin | Owner and Clinical Director of OTEIM Pediatric Occupational Therapy

I have 4 children, one of which we have struggled with her whole life. When we put her in public school for kindergarten it was a true disaster. After that we realized that we needed to seek an educational setting that best fit her not just what was closest to our house. After placing her in a smaller setting with more social emotional support we realized with the support of the school that she wasn’t just a difficult child, what she was struggling with was actually clinical and ultimately she was diagnosed with severe ADHD. Once I started talking to other parents about it I was made aware that there are SO many kids and families struggling at home with no idea what to do to support their child. I started utilizing my therapy tricks that I had relied on as a profession with my daughter including creating a social skills group for her and implementing biofeedback which she responded to very well. Eventually people started noticing a vast improvement in her behavior and attitude and began asking me to see their own children and that is where my business began to help other families who were struggling in the same ways as we were. What we offer in my practice is social skills training and support for kids who are doing relatively well academically but struggle with strong emotions and behavior that people outside their family don’t really see. Families usually deal with this in private and in silence so we strive to make access to help for each child and family supportive and accessible. Read more>>

Hoza Rodriguez | Designer/creative director

The goal was to dress people around the world who simply want to feel & look good. Take ordinary garments and turn them completely upside-down, transforming them into new & innovative designs. I wanted to elevate everyday looks, all without breaking people’s budgets or spending a ton. Read more>>

Wald Chaya | Actor, Director & Founder of Studio For Performing Arts LA & Moonlit Wings Productions

Opening Studio For Performing Arts LA and founding Moonlit Wings Productions stemmed from recognizing the challenges actors and creatives face in transitioning from academia to the film and TV job market. Despite extensive BFA training, I experienced gaps that I aim to streamline for others, providing real-world resources through programs both in LA and online. Read more>>

Joseph Bradford lll | President and Founder of B.A.R.E. Truth Inc

I started my own business because growing up we were homeless in Kansas City Missouri and I didn’t want to complain about all of the issues I see. I decided to put actions behind the hardship. Read more>>

Richard & Melissa Stewart | Owners: MotherLode Made Enterprises LLC (including SpiceStash, Goatdog Graphics, Black Hat Apothecary, Reinventing Vintage & MotherHex WaxWorks)

Melissa: has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. Her childhood games consisted of playing ‘office’ and creating invoices and quoting jobs for ‘people’. As I grew up, I just always knew I would work for myself. Granted I had to work at regular jobs, but I always had at least one side gig going at any given time. I spent over 25 years honing my skills and learning new ones, all of which have come in handy with this endeavor. When she met Rich and they moved to his hometown of Groveland in 2019, it were at the beginning of the Covid situation, and they saw it as an opportunity to launch their first business SpiceStash. It was an instant hit and they started adding other small businesses to the lineup. Goatdog Graphics was next, then Melissa resurrected her original love, Reinventing Vintage. After that came Black Hat Apothecary and then they opened our shop, MotherLode Made, in 2022 and shortly thereafter, added MotherHex WaxWorks. Read more>>

Jiaoyang Li | interdisciplinary artist & art director

My venture blurs the lines between commerce and artistry, embodying a fusion where art infuses life, and community engagement transforms into an archive and artwork in itself. Inspired by my idol, Mr. Chen Tong, the visionary artist, pioneer publisher and founder of Guangzhou’s Borges Bookstore, who once showcased the bookstore as an art piece at the Venice Biennale. This endeavor is more than a business; it’s an experimental amalgamation of a bookstore, a publishing studio, and an art space. It operates not on conventional business strategies, but on the principles of artistic expression, challenging the norms and redefining the essence of a business in the art world. Read more>>

Renny Hunter | Media Agency Owner

I’ve always known I wanted to be my own boss, it was just a matter of learning the steps that took place before getting there. Growing up it seemed like a distant dream but through the age of technology, it was made apparent to me very quickly that although daunting, it wasn’t SO far fetched! When the opportunity presented itself to leap, I leapt! Read more>>

Jônia Queen | Raiz Brazil Director, Choreographer and Dancer

My thought process for starting my own business came from my passion of being a Dance Artist, and the growth of my passion for Samba Dance and the desire to represent the art and culture from my birth country that is Brazil. As a professional Samba Dancer I danced for other entertainment companies before I started mine and since I am also a Choreographer and Samba Teacher, I started craving to be able to fully express myself as a Samba Artist, creating , directing and performing. Of course with that , came also the administration of the business that included booking, negotiating, writing the contracts and the marketing and customer service. Read more>> 

Javoe Rôkour | Artist Development Specialist, Label owner & TV personality

When I started in the music business it was all from the love of the music I never thought of starting all the businesses I have now. Eventually after being in the game it was only right to properly elevate to that next level. After consulting thousands of artists I wanted to create an all-in-one place for artists to learn the information they need to successfully navigate through the music industry effectively. So I created an ecosystem within my businesses for artists to thrive. Read more>>

Dennis Roy Coronel | Wedding Photographer

What began as an endeavor to earn a paycheck quickly turned into a journey into passion, self-discovery, art, and business ownership. Read more>>

Julia Wells | Pleasure devotee, community builder, CEO

I remember growing up when anyone would ask me what I wanted to do(once we got past the astronaut and fashion designer moments) I always just answered “I’m not sure but I just know I want to help people”. Read more>>

Chris Erb | Founder and Managing Partner at Tripleclix

I spent almost two decades leading marketing teams in the gaming industry on brands like Dungeons & Dragons, Pokemon and EA SPORTS. When I left EA and joined Legendary Pictures I saw a ton of agencies supporting the entertainment industry but never had that support in gaming. So I left Legendary and started Tripleclix to essentially build a marketing agency that would support the gaming industry similar to what was being done for films and TV. Read more>>

AFSOON GHAZVINIAN | Doctor of Pharmacy & Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner

My calling in life is to help busy professional women maintain their healthy and vitality, and dare I say, substantially boost their energy and performance as they transition to midlife. Read more>>

Jackleen Rodriguez | Co-Founder & Creative Director for Spanish Sin Pena

My business partner, Wendy Ramirez and I are both inspired by our own struggles with Spanish and desire to serve our comunidad. Read more>>

Sergio Hernandez | Audio Engineer, Music producer, and Entrepreneur.

I just put my head down, listened to the coaches themselves, learned, and then executed. I never really had a plan to build a business until I met with a very close friend of mine around 8 years ago, and got my feet wet. I joined businesses just so I can be able to understand their mindsets, terms, goals, and understanding the fundamentals of building a real business. I’ve joined personal development workshops so I can challenge myself for possible alternatives in my life. Read more>>

Robert McGowan | Realtor & Photographer & Stunt Driver

Let me start off by saying, I have worked for many different people doing so many different things over the years. I have always absorbed certain parts of management styles that I liked and disliked and its really helped form who I am and how I do business today. My family have always been folks that work for themselves, I am a much better manager of others and myself than I have been a good employee for sure. I find it more motivating working in silence and having strategic partnerships at my disposal as opposed to having someone looking over my shoulder and critiquing things before they are finished. The opposite side of the coin however is to make sure you’re always moving forward and never becoming stagnant, there is noone else to motivate you but yourself so it is a double edged sword. I’ve always been a “Learn from others mistakes” kind of person so I am super observant of other people and business around me at all times absorbing what I can. Even when a business has nothing to do with yours, you can always learn something new from how people interact with each other, any business is relationships first and foremost. Also always diversify; Never put all your eggs in one basket ;| Read more>>

Alisha Cory | Awakening Guide, Healer & Artist

I had so many ideas spinning around in my head for years, but it all started to come together over the last couple years of intense spiritual awakenings. I realized that my purpose was rooted in both the things that come most naturally to me, as well as the trauma’s and challenges that I have learned to alchemize in my journey. This landed me in the beautiful space of being an awakening guide and energy healer, incorporating my aesthetic and art into different expressions of the business. Read more>>

Alexz Roze | Creative Portrait & Fashion Photographer

The thought process behind starting my photography business was simply “I want more out of life”. It may sound cliché, but I’ve always been someone who believed that life should be epic. From spontaneous trips to meeting famous people at exclusive events I wanted it all and I can tell you, the sales job I had at the time wasn’t going to get me there. Once the Covid pandemic hit in 2020 I know I had an opportunity at the life I only dreamed about. Starting my own business was definitely scary though. Losing the security of a consistent paycheck every week was a hard pill to swallow. However knowing what I know now I would never go back. Read more>>

Gefen Skolnick | Founder and CEO oof Couplet Coffee

I was always a huge coffee drinker, many people’s coffee fanatic friend. I was waiting to see people come up with a great concept for the next generation of coffee drinkers, something fun, funky, and approachable. I grew impatient and started tinkering with the idea of Couplet Coffee, and then it became reality! Read more>>

Liza Gee | Wedding and Family Photographer

I have always loved photography, and done it as a hobby since I was a little kid. When I was in high school people started asking me to do paid shoots for them and I would just when I was asked to. I went to college and studied music education, and then after completing my degree decided I didn’t actually want to teach music. I wanted to be a stay-at-home mom, and also support my husband in his career goals. So the thought process was essentially “We have to make more money if we are going to survive and give our kids the life we want to, but it’s also important to us to have a parent at home at least for the next few years. So what could I do to accomplish both of those?” I started trying to get more photoshoots, and then a real business was born! Read more>>

Emma Gray | art dealer/ artist

It was less of a ‘business’ decision and more of an intuitive decision – following leads, feeling and a let’s try this attitude ! Read more>>

Jen & Angelo Perfecto | Owner of Yummytahosorbetes

The idea for my business formed when my daughter Atasha kept asking for taho when we came back from our trip in the Philippines; she had grown fond of it during our vacation. Being a sweet tooth myself and having experience in making desserts for family and friends, I used my passion to start my business in 2019. In fact, I even sold taho kits during the COVID-19 pandemic to help provide for my family during that difficult time. Now, I am glad I am able to keep my business running — spreading delight through beloved Filipino treats. Read more>>

Paulina Stankiewicz | EXECUTIVE COACH, LEADERSHIP ADVISOR, BUSINESS MENTOR AND ALL-AROUND GROWTH MAVEN MBA, PCC, CPCC, CPQC

After I left my last well paid and prestigious corporate job, I went on a 6 months sailing journey and I had plenty of time and space to think. I have already started coaching during that time but didn’t think of starting my own business yet, and definitely not thinking of moving to coaching full time. Somewhere during the all day long passage from port to port, I had a realisation that I would not be coming back to corporate, and I would start my business instead. It was purpose driven decision and I haven’t regretted it ever since. Read more>>