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.

Tao Hyun

Over seventeen years ago, I was navigating life with persistent acne, undiagnosed eczema, and multiple skin conditions that left me feeling frustrated and overlooked. Conventional drugstore products offered no real relief, and it became clear that the skincare industry wasn’t made with people like me in mind. That frustration sparked a deep curiosity—and what began as personal research soon became a lifelong pursuit. Read More>>

Lorena Kichik

I started Kichik Studio because I saw the power of movement—Pilates, dance, and yoga—as more than just fitness. These practices are healing, empowering, and transformative, both physically and emotionally. After years of performing, teaching, and working with people of all ages and backgrounds, I felt a strong calling to create a space that reflected my values: community, inclusivity, creativity, and wellness. Read More>>

Ashley Teel

Starting my own business was about freedom—creative, personal, and professional. After 10 years of working within the constraints of traditional salons, I realized I had outgrown those walls. I needed a space that reflected me—my vision, my edge, my energy. I didn’t want to blend in. I wanted to break the mold, to offer something raw, real, and elevated all at once. Read More>>

Ms J7

“From a young age, I was inspired by the idea of ‘being the change.’ This guiding principle has shaped my life’s mission: to help heal and protect our planet through the transformative power of the performing arts. Through creative expression, I strive to raise awareness, foster empathy, and inspire meaningful action for a more sustainable and just world.” Read More>>

Ivan Ortiz

Well, I took over the business ownership, I never thought about owning a business until I was 36 years old. I had a passion for the medical field, so my dream was to be a Surgeon or a Psychiatrist. Circumstances took me in a different direction, However, the very one thing that made me start thinking about doing something and prepare for the future was, my kids. Read More>>

Renata Cambauva

I wanted to create a playful brand that would ignite joy, and at the same time design with sacred proportions to awaken within lovers of gemstones and jewelry a desire to live with intention and ritual. As previously working in the marketing and advertising industry I have paid attention to storytelling and the importance of connecting with people at a heart centered level where they could see themselves not just wearing something, but feeling seen by a brand. I often think about what healing my product brings to people. Read More>>

Alexander Burke

It never occurred to be to start a business. I got my first record deal at 14, hired by Second City Chicago at 18 touring the world, playing with my musical heroes, playing jazz in NYC and then composing for films in LA. I worked incredibly hard and somehow always fell into work but was never proactive with my career. I had great years and I had difficult years.  Read More>>

Maria

I started to think about creating a space that catered to specific needs that seemed to be absent along the pathway in building my career. Often times I worked at salons and something felt missing, maybe it didn’t offer education or there was a lack of community in the environment, a sort of every man for themselves type of feeling. Although renting a booth at salon means you are an independent entity I still craved togetherness in the environment. Read More>>

Monique Moreno

My thought process behind starting my business really came from my own experience as a young mom. I was in a position where I needed quality childcare for my daughter, and I couldn’t find a place that felt right. I was looking for a space where she would be loved, safe, and truly cared for—a place that felt like an extension of family. At that time, I didn’t have much support, and trying to find childcare that aligned with my values was incredibly difficult. Read More>>

Krissy G

Ive just always been passionate about media and creating memorable interview experiences. Starting my own media platform just allowed me to turn that passion into a profession, where I can use my voice with something that makes me happy Read More>>

Desiree Beimler

I’ve always sort of known that I wanted to own my own business one day. I grew up with parents who owned an auto repair shop, so I saw first hand all of the ups and downs that come with being a business owner. As I entered the workforce myself, at first I thought that the stress wasn’t worth it, but all of that changed once I found something that I was passionate about. Suddenly, all the stress was worth it to be able to do things my way and help clients in a way that feels authentic to who I am. Read More>>

Roy Henry

My thought process behind starting HibachiRoyale consisted of many. Mainly thinking “will I be able to do this alone”?

I was intimidated by the industry and my experience with working for other companies similar to mine. I knew cooking and entertainment was my passion. I dreamed of having my own business and doing what I love instead of working under a different company. Read More>>

Jim Miller

The thought process behind starting my own business was not a natural one immediately, at least for this business. My whole life since I was a little kid had been centered around music: creating music, arranging music, drums, guitars, keyboards, singing, and vocals. Drumming since I was 8. After high school, still entirely music-focused, I went to Columbia College for film school to remain in a creative space. After that I transferred to a business school and accidentally took an accounting course.  Read More>>

Jean-Pierre Isbouts

For many years I had a long and fruitful career as an executive with a major international media company, but as a scholar and filmmaker I missed creating books and films on my own. As a result, in 1994 I took the plunge and established Pantheon Studios as an independent media company in Santa Monica, and my former employer was kind enough to give me a major project to start things off. Over the subsequent 30 years, I have been very fortunate to be able to work with leading publishers like National Geographic and major studios like Disney to create the type of books and films I wanted to produce. Read More>>

Eliza Leigh

Sama Ka Na was born in the heart of the pandemic—during a time of uncertainty, when my then-husband, a professional chef, lost his job as restaurants began to shut down. I knew I had to do something. I started posting photos of his food online, and soon, family and friends began placing orders. To make it easier, I organized meetups in different cities where customers could pick up their meals directly from me. Read More>>

Alinne Allahverdian

I’ve always been obsessed with how brands show up — not just online, but in the real world where people actually engage, react, and remember. I started Backdrop Builder because I saw an opportunity to help brands create physical experiences that are as strategic and impactful as their digital ones. Read More>>

DeJane’ Robinson

My journey into real estate really began in 2018 when I stepped into the world of property management. At the time, I didn’t fully realize it would spark something bigger, but I quickly discovered that I not only enjoyed the work—I was genuinely good at it. That experience showed me that real estate was a space where I could thrive. Read More>>

Monika Quintero

I had a young son and a baby on the way and was in the process of taking classes towards nursing school. I wanted to continue to work while i went to school, but do it from home to be there for my boys. I had always been a fan of vintage and band tees and i started slashing them into cute sexy upcycled tops and selling them on ebay. The bids for them were wild.  Read More>>

Samuel Salcedo

Starting my own practice was both a professional aspiration and a deeply personal mission. I wanted to create something that reflected not only my surgical philosophy but also the values I hold dear—integrity, innovation, and individualized care. After years of working within larger systems, I saw the limitations patients often faced: long wait times, impersonal interactions, and a lack of continuity in their care journey. Read More>>

Kris Herbert

There comes a moment in life when you reach a crossroads—one path leads to a life spent building someone else’s dream, the other to building your own. For most of my early years, I worked tirelessly to prove my worth to others, hoping that effort alone would earn recognition, stability, or even fulfillment. But instead, I found myself a replaceable piece in someone else’s machine—used, discarded, and left wondering what it was all for. Read More>>

Christian Toscano

Starting my own midwifery practice was less of a business decision and more of a revolutionary act—a reclamation of care rooted in body literacy, equity, and radical sexual healthcare. My thought process began with a simple but powerful question: What if everyone had access to sexual healthcare that sought to heal the root cause of their issues and support their health goals? Read More>>

“To Live And Let Die In L.A.”

Hello, we are Neil McNally and Steve Kilcullen, and we’re the founders of the James Bond 007 social and film club “To Live and Let Die in L.A.”

The thought process behind it was a simple one. We wanted to bring the James Bond lifestyle and film adventures back to Los Angeles. For a city that is the movie capital of the world, the 007 way of thinking and approach to the finer things in life was something that was sorely lacking.  Read More>>

Nareh

I started Coffee & Creation for me; so cliché, I know. I love coffee, coffee culture, and the creativity that thrives within coffee shops. They have always been a safe space for me, a space I can unwind and create. In college, I spent a lot of time in coffee shops (shocker!). I lived at home with a big loud family so coffee shops became my home away from home. Read More>>

Nishit Badani

Starting my own business came from a mix of passion, purpose, and a drive for independence. I saw a clear gap in the market for high-quality, customized window treatments with great service, and I knew I could deliver that better than what was out there. I’ve always believed in building something of my own — not just to create income, but to create impact. I wanted to have control over the customer experience, the quality of products, and ultimately, the brand I stand behind.  Read More>>

Octavio Carlin

A little backstory. I started in theatre as a child and grew up thinking I was going to work as an actor, when I moved to Los Angeles in 1990, I discover the behind the scenes of moviemaking and with time I ended up doing wardrobe and from there started doing costume design. Not long after I was studying fashion design and I knew I wanted to have my own clothing line. Read More>>