There is a wealth of academic research that suggests that differences in risk appetite are at the heart of differences in career and business trajectories. We wanted to go beyond the theory and ask real people from the community about their perspectives and experiences with risk and risk taking.

Edward L. Rubin | Fine Art Photographer

Nobody ever attained anything profound by playing it safe–especially artists. Risk taking is the name of the game, and at the heart of risk taking is flexible thinking. And flexible thinking means one is willing to change, to grow, to consider something new and untried, to expand one’s boundaries. And that, of course, means facing one’s fears–those voices in our head that say ‘no, be careful, you can’t do that.’ Those voices think that they are protecting us, but really, they aren’t. They are scared, and are trying to protect us from getting hurt. But guess what? They themselves are hurting us by holding us back from exploring and becoming authentically ourselves. Read more>>

B. Walter Will | Writer – The Yellow Pinto

I could answer that with an EMPHATIC AFFIRMATIVE to the role of risk and my career. I am an addict. Being an addict means every potential move I make can have a positive or negative consequence. I acknowledge I would not be to live without risk in my life. The Yellow Pinto, my novel, is about addiction to gambling, alcohol, drugs and sex. It deals unapologetically with these issues. There are great joys and many painful moments living life in this manner. I choose this path because it gives me a modicum of intense emotion like lightning bolts. Perhaps through these experiences, I have become more aware and a better person because of it. Read more>>

Audrey Babl | Makeup Artist

Since I was pretty young I knew I wanted to do makeup, but I grew up in a small town in Wisconsin so the only option for me there was to do bridal makeup. I worked in bridal for a few years and I liked it, but I knew I wanted to do more. I had an interest in doing makeup for film and in my mind the only way to do that was to move to LA. So three months after I graduated high school at 18 years old I moved to LA to go to school for makeup. This was probably the biggest risk I’ve made in my life, moving across the country alone to a big city at such a young age. However, this was also the best decision I could have made for my career, I have learned so much and had so many opportunities since. Read more>>

Rah Eleh | Artist and Performer

My parents were war refugees and activists, setting a precedent for how leaping into the unknown can drastically impact one’s life and future. I learned at a young age that no risk meant no reward, as the truism goes, and I’ve spent my life emulating their courage by taking bold creative risks. While being an artist may seem relatively trivial compared to fleeing war, I believe that being an artist is a risk in and of itself because it is a life filled with precarity and unpredictability. I have a very spontaneous and adventurous spirit that influences how I create art. Read more>>

Yara Herrera | Chef

I am a strong believer that without taking risks I wouldn’t be where I am today. Pursing a career in a competitive, white male dominated industry has presented unique challenges as well as opportunities. One of the biggest risks I took was moving across country from California to New York. At the time I’d never really lived anywhere other than the San Fernando Valley. When I was given the opportunity to move to New York to cook, I had many emotions but being terrified was at the top of the list. I was at a point in my career where I thought I was a good cook, but I felt like I still needed validation. New York has always been recognized for its culinary scene. Read more>>

Ivy Dominique J | Photographer & Model

I love taking risks. All I’ve done for the past 3 years is take risks. I’m taking a huge one next year. I think we need it to fuel that fire underneath us. What else to keep us motivated other than not knowing where we’ll end up. You really just have to keep going. I’ve learned to pivot instead of accepting failure and it’s make me successful. Risk brought me to LA and there’s so much I would have never experienced if I hadn’t come here. I think if you’re debating on whether or not you should do ‘that thing’, whatever it is.. you should absolutely do it. Wouldn’t you rather say you did it then look back in a few years wishing you’d started earlier? Read more>>

Jillian Romero Chaves | Founder & CEO Clara for Daters

Risk has been an intrinsic part of my life and career. I see it as a catalyst for growth and innovation. Leaving a toxic relationship was a significant personal risk, but it paved the way for Clara for Daters, a venture born out of a desire to empower individuals in their dating journeys. Professionally, every strategic move and innovation involves an element of risk, and embracing these challenges has been pivotal in shaping Clara for Daters into a platform that redefines how people approach meaningful connections. When I lean into risk I always remind myself. There is no failure. You either win or you learn. Read more>>

Sommer Mark | Interior Designer | Sommer Mark Creative

I have never been one to play it safe in life. I think that life is a series of decisions we make leading us to our designated path. I think when we take great risks, we grow, we become more resilient, more fulfilled and give ourselves the greatest reward we ever could. I know from experience that most risks come with a great deal of fear. A fear of the unknown and a fear of the “What if ?” I myself have never wanted to be a person questioning “What if ?” What if I had tried? What would life be like If I did take that leap of faith? What if it did all just work out as it should? Read more>>

King P | Jamaican-rooted Hip Hop Artist, saxophonist & actor

Taking risks are what separate people on their journey in life. Many or most people are scared to take risks and so they don’t. The small percentage of people that do take risk most of the time find great reward in their risk taking decisions. Like anyone else, for me it has been I win some or I lose some. One thing for certain if never know the outcome if I never try so I am a huge risk taker in quitting my career as a educator and coach to fully pursue my career as a music artist and actor! I also uprooted my family structure and moved from Florida to Los Angeles, California in pursuit of my dreams. Huge life changing risks! I say it’s worth it! Read more>>

Eddie Bailey | Filmmaker

In my opinion, there are two types of risks; a leap of faith, and a calculated risk. It had been a year since I graduated from Howard University, and I was living in Virginia with my mom trying to figure out my next move. I had always wanted to move to New York, so I decided to room with a classmate who was living in Brooklyn until I got on my feet. When I moved to Brooklyn, I had about $20 to my name. My bank account got closed because of non-payments, I didn’t have a cell phone, and I wasn’t entirely sure of how I would make it. I had a great counselor, Ms. Carol Dudley, who connected me with someone who had a boutique production company in New York, and I started interning. Read more>>

Mac | Professor & Coach

I think about a risk as an opportunity to challenge myself to level up. Without risk, there is no reward, and that has been something that rings very true for each venture I’ve ever taken on. New experiences are always risky initially but always work out for our benefit, whether in lesson form or reward. If we don’t take risks, we will remain stagnant. It’s funny, though, because in my experience throughout my life and career journey, when I’ve played it “safe,” I always end up dissatisfied with the results and stuck in either a job or situation that always felt like settling. When I take risks, I feel more fulfilled, and there is always growth in the process of taking risks. I learn more about myself, how far I’ve come, and where I am going. Read more>>

Stacy Dymalski | writer, author, and standup comic

I work in the entertainment industry as an independent story consultant. I help anyone from studio executives to retired people find, write, and share their stories in the form of books and movies. I also am a standup comic in Los Angeles, and I’m onstage somewhere (either in a show or an open mic) at least five nights a week. Taking risks is at the very heart of what I do. I could get a 9-to-5 job working in an office, in return for a steady paycheck. But then I wouldn’t have the energy or time to pursue what I really want to do, which is screenwriting and standup comedy. I have faith in myself that I will figure out a way to making a living doing only what I love. And so far, it’s working. Read more>>

Steven Silverstein | Fashion and Abstract Photographer

I grew up in Los Angeles and after attending Art Center worked as a product photographer for a few fashion and beauty catalog clients. In 1972, I went to Paris but only stayed a year. I couldn’t make it as a photographer there but it was an awakening and I came back to Los Angeles to make a new portfolio. I worked for the music labels shooting album covers to stay afloat and left again for Paris in 1975 with about twenty 35mm fashion slides that fit in my shirt pocket. My singular goal was to work as a fashion editorial photographer for French magazines. It was a big risk going back, especially at that time, when there weren’t many Americans there. Read more>>

Courtney Wilkins | Founder & Creative Director, Uprise Magazine

That even the slightest impact is still an impact. It takes courage to live outside expectations and challenge the norm or status quote, especially when following a dream. My dad congratulated me not too long ago, jokingly saying he needed a return on his investment, i.e., me! But it made me think back to when he wanted me to major in engineering; he literally sent me to an engineering program with Google. But just thinking back to that made me realize when I kept telling everyone how I wanted to go to school for Fashion Design and Fashion Merchandising at North Carolina A&T State University or when I decided to pack up all my things in five suitcases and move to California to follow my dream again to pursue my Masters in Fashion Journalism at Academy of Art University. Read more>>

Ariana Cimino | Illustrator

The way I think about taking risks is that in life we should all take risks even if we are afraid to because it could lead to success and happiness. Taking risks, even small ones, is needed in order to progress in life. Pursuing a career in art is a big risk I took. I was hesitant about what I wanted to do with my life career wise. I always loved to draw and paint as a child. I would doodle on any paper that was in front of me, even school work and my teachers would either praise my drawings or tell me to focus on my actual school work. In middle school I began to draw frequently and the art I was making reflected how I was feeling. As I got older people began to ask me “what do you want to be when you grow up?” or “what do you want to study in college?” Read more>>

Lisa Phillips Visca | Writer, producer and script consultant

Am I a risk taker?… ever since I can remember. I’ve always pushed the envelope, always pushed myself no matter what the challenge. Like in 7th grade, I produced and directed the play, “Our Town” with no experience and won an award. At 19, I was the fashion coordinator at Burdine’s in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., lead a group of teens for a Charity walkathon with 100-degree temps. Only one student and I made it to the 20-mile finish line. For many years, my mission has been to write varied projects and send enticing e-mails to get producers to read them. In 2017, I sent my play, “The Italians” to Michelle Danner, the Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Edgemar Center for the Arts in Santa Monica, Ca. Read more>>

Meredith Wiksell | Photographer

For me, taking risks is both fun and exhilarating, and terrifying. And it’s somewhere between the two feelings that I try to land. It is natural to be fearful about taking a risk, but I am more fearful about not taking it in the first placing and finding out what something could become if I would just take a leap. My whole business was started off of taking a risk – quitting a salaried job to make no money while I started my photography business. There’s no lie that I have had moments of fear (maybe even slight reconsidering), but I have enjoyed every minute of the process. Read more>>

Grace Tuzon | Actress, Content Creator & Entrepreneur

Risk taking is a huge part of my career as an actress, content creator, and entrepreneur. Everyday I’m faced with risks, whether they’re auditioning for different roles that force me to step out of my comfort zone, accepting or rejecting jobs for brands, or making risky choices to grow a business. I believe the risks I take pushes me to go beyond my boundaries in order to grow and reach new heights in everything I do. I’m also aware that taking risks do not always end in success. It doesn’t always pan out the way I imagined it to be. But there’s always a lesson to learn through the little bumps on the road to give me a better understanding on how to move forward. Read more>>

Laura Medeiros | Film Producer

As a film producer, I firmly believe that embracing risks is crucial, especially when entering the industry. Personally, I consider it pivotal to have the courage to showcase your work. In the highly competitive film industry, gaining any form of recognition is essential to stand out. Regrettably, I observe many young filmmakers hesitating to share their creations at film festivals due to a lack of confidence in their work’s quality. From my perspective, irrespective of your film’s quality, it’s imperative to expose your work to the world. Nothing is more disheartening than witnessing a film remain unseen and unshared. Read more>>