We reached out to some of our favorite entrepreneurs and asked them to think back and tell us about how they decided to start a business. Check out their responses below.

Rolando Garcia | Camera Rental House

My initial thought for starting Camera Kitchen Rentals was to provide a service that hasn’t been professionally established in this region of California. Most of northern California productions have to pick up rentals in the bay area which is a 2-hour venture from Sacramento on a good day or source it themself from independent filmmakers. Read more>>

Markeisha Hall, M.A. | IEP & Parent Coach

I wanted to create something that would fill an important need and make a positive impact. As someone who has had first-hand experience of raising a child with disabilities, I understand how difficult and emotionally challenging it can be for parents. I wanted to create something that could help alleviate some of that stress, so I developed the concept of my business which provides resources and support for moms raising kids with disabilities. Read more>>

Melanie Lee and Brooklyn Sample | Podcast Hosts and Producers

We have been producing and directing for theatre companies for the last ten years and realized we wanted to start our own creative community that would include other media that we also work in. These include our podcast, television development as well as top-notch theatre. Being busy moms of multiple children, it is important for us to make our own schedules as we build our own careers and balance family. Read more>>

Eric Miller | Content Creator and Proprietary Trader

Starting my own business was something I had been dreaming about for a long time. After years of working in the corporate world, I felt it was time to take control of my career and create something that would be both personally and professionally rewarding. It seemed like a natural step forward to me: taking my skillset from the corporate environment and combining it with the creativity and independence of running my own business. Read more>>

Brooks Betts | Reiki Master, Breathwork + Meditation Teacher, Intuitive Mentor + Writer

Despite an applauded ability to succeed in the traditional structures of education and corporate America, I always felt unaligned. But what did I do? Like many, I just worked harder, volunteered more and said yes to things I didn’t want to do, while wearing my burnout and “busy” as a badge of honor. During my early 30s I added motherhood to the list (x3!) and launched my own marketing business. Read more>>

Kari Negri | Property Management Company CEO

My company, SKY Properties, Inc. is a boutique-style property management company that I started when I was a single mom in a one-office suite. SKY Properties has since grown into a successful and award-winning property management company for the last 27 years! I attribute most of its success to old-fashioned, “roll up your sleeves” hard work, surrounding myself with good, positive people, and going above and beyond to stay up to date on technology, as well as the ever-changing property management laws. Read more>>

Hilda Centeno | Owner/Photographer of Centeno Portraits

After experiencing a lot of loss and sickness during Covid, my priorities shifted tremendously. On November 30th, 2020, I resigned my position as a Studio Manager for a very well known photography company that catered to high profile clientele. I gave my blood, sweat and tears to that job. Read more>>

Sarah Jane Murray | Photographer

When I made the leap and started my photography business I definitely wasn’t ready, but at the moment it felt like a now or never risk I needed to take. Being an actress was my sole purpose for over a decade. The hard part wasn’t making room for my new love, photography, but placing the performer in me on the back burner. In 2017 I was diagnosed with Melanoma. Read more>>

Marlon Toney | Tattoo Artist & Artist

I was looking to create a space reflecting my creativity and my art. A welcoming and intimate atmosphere in the heart of West Hollywood. Read more>>

Lan DeSoto | Makeup Artist and Photographer

I think the thought process behind starting a business was one that will resonate with many. It’s July of 2020- we had been quarantined for the better part of a year…right before the shelter in place was announced, my best friend and I had been playing around with her partners studio lighting equipment. Read more>>

Jake O’Donnell | CEO & Athlete Agent

When reflecting on my time as a former college athlete, I thought about the resources that would have elevated my game to new heights on and off the field. Wanting to make an impact on the sports and entertainment industry, I decided to put together a pool of resources not only to support myself and the business but to also support our athletes. Read more>>

Larissa Iwazaki and Giovanni Gambardella | Founders of Life Vibe Tribe

Starting our own business was something we both always dreamed of doing one day, but for a long time it always seemed like it would just be that: a dream. The reason being that, starting a business requires a lot of courage, strength and a positive growth mindset. Our thought process behind opening our own business was actually quite simple and it consisted of 3 main steps. Read more>>

Hana Jun Park | Designer & Maker

My main thought process behind starting my own business in the very beginning was to let go of my fears and anxieties and to at least give this a try even if I fail horribly in the end. Before I started this, I had a hard time actually letting go of my previous career, anxieties about wether or not this was the right path, and so much fear about starting my own business. I held on to this fear for over a year before I finally made the leap. Read more>>

John McDavid Lehman | Creative Director/Owner

If I am being 100% honest my process has never been “business” focused for it all began with a need and the idea that if I personally need “this” there must be a few other folks that are in need as well…and for the last ten years I have asked myself the same question before I jump into a new collection, “what do I need and what does the McMarden community need?” That is the core of our business model and has always been my starting point. Read more>>

Kenneth Davis | Graphic and Web Designer

The thought process behind starting my own business was simple. I needed to stop providing my services for free or small fees to friends, and start offering my services to the world. I needed to take advantage of these skills that I have, and stop taking myself for granted. It came a time where I needed to realized that I was gifted, take advantage of these gifts. Read more>>

Johnny Jeltema Dave Abrams | Hospitality Owners & Operators

To be brutally honest, Dave and I both do best when we work for ourselves. Oddly enough (and, yes, ironic!), in this industry, that means we work the most when the general population is working the least (holidays, weekends, nights). With knowing we wanted to work for ourselves, we both know that we thrive when taking care of others. Read more>>

Don Estacio | Private Chef

As cliche as it sounds, I wanted to work a job that I loved. Owning a business is a job and I happen to be my own boss. It’s bittersweet sometimes. Read more>>

Jennifer Tripucka | Founder, The Local Girl Media Group

I’ve always been a connector, creative, and entrepreneur at heart — well before I started The Local Girl Media Group. Read more>>

Kathryn H. Ross | Freelance Copywriter, Editor, Author, and Professor

I started freelance writing when I was a sophomore in college, and that work carried me through to finishing my graduate program in 2018. After I got my Master’s, I thought it was time to get a steady “big girl” job, which meant a 9-5 at a company where I’d have a set number of hours each week and benefits. Read more>>

pauleen chakravorty | photographer

Honestly, the thought process behind my business is “crisis created passion as profession” I moved to USA in 2017, prior to that I was a Casting Director / Stylist & PR for the Indian Movie Industry. In fact I was the only Women Casting Director for the Telugu Movie Industry. I had 10+ years of experience and when I moved I thought finding job in the movie industry will be a walk in the park, until reality hit and I fell flat on my face. Read more>>

Leslie McKnight | Event Florist & Freelance Floral Designer

My thought process was two-fold. I have a family and at the time my kids were very young so I figured working for myself would be the best way to maintain the balance I wanted which included not needing daycare and still being available to do pick-ups and drop-offs from school. Read more>>

Ashley Boyle | Small Business Owner

I’ve always felt energized and aligned when creating, designing, decorating, and writing — and I’d often get positive feedback in those areas. But, I knew I didn’t have the schooling or professional experience to land an artistic job or career, so I wanted to create that opportunity for myself. Also, being a bit more shy and introverted in a society that tends to value extroverted and outgoing behavior, landing jobs, in general, was never an easy thing for me. Read more>>

Jeanel Alvarado | Shopping & Retail Expert

I was always passionate about the fashion industry, but particularly about the business side of things. I had started as a blogging about marketing and merchandising news and trends, and giving some insight into the strategy behind it. I even started consulting small boutiques on marketing strategies and by my last year of University had a team of 5 completing projects for a retail technology company. Read more>>

Kristin Chester | Business Owner and Founder

I started my first business out of necessity. I had been laid off from a corporate consulting job during the Financial Crisis and had to generate an income so I decided to start a PR firm. Read more>>

Leah Padgett | Online Health/Fitness Coach

I started WrkWithLeah with a goal and a mission to help women find their true confidence. Having confidence in myself has led me to where I am today, helped cultivate every positive aspect of my life, and has blessed me with so many opportunities. Read more>>

Arda Sitiprawet | Founder/Owner of SugarCube Marshmallows

Before I started SugarCube Marshmallows, I wanted to start a business that would be unique but also create an impact of some kind in the food community. SugarCube Marshmallows specializes in homemade small batch marshmallows with a focus on Asian flavors. Marshmallows have always been that iconic treat that people can enjoy in multiple ways and anytime of the year. Read more>>

Mandy Pacheco | CEO & Studio Manager

Ivy Studios began as Rose Studios LA that operated out of 7 locations. As a small team, my partner and I gave it our all but sacrificed our physical and mental health. The pause of the pandemic made me realize that my true passion was to provide a gorgeous urban backdrop for creatives while balancing my personal life. Read more>>

Brow Queen LA | PMU ARTIST & BROWLIST ( BROW STYLIST)

I Truly believe that everything we experience in life is setting us up for The next Chapter, wether thats a job you don”t exactly love going to everyday, or a career you spend years growing but you just don’t feel its going anywhere. Read more>>

Kiara Vaughn | Infuencer/Serial Entrepreneur

I was eager to make my own money, that could pay my bills. I was also scared to fail, i didnt have a job so i was relaying on my business to be successful enough to pay my bills. I didn’t really have much money to start up, so I couldn’t afford tl take a loss. I had to think of a Pan A, B & C . Read more>>