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.

Cindy Dorfmann | Film/TV Producer, Writer, Podcast Host and Owner of Strong Island Films

I have spent my life and career taking risks that luckily have paid off! In my business (the entertainment business) it’s all about risk because every time you put yourself out there whether it’s a script, a film, a podcast, a new show, you are risking rejection.  Read more>>

Fernanda Romero | Actress, business owner

Is everything my motto in life is you only live once. There is no growth if you don’t get out of your comfort zone. Read more>>

Alexander Pasker | Choreographer, Dancer, Teacher, and Actor

Risk taking has played a huge role in my journey as a dancer and choreographer. Two big risk that I took were my moves to Chicago and Los Angeles. When I moved to Chicago I was fresh out of undergrad. I had $1200 to my name and a big dream. Read more>>

Vizzi Pozzi | Photographer & Filmmaker

In my own life and career, embracing risks has been a crucial factor. It’s like navigating uncharted waters – uncomfortable at times, but it pushes me to view life and my career from different angles. Read more>>

Rocky Vuong | Professional cleaner

Risk has been the secret ingredient that has helped me to build Calibre Cleaning. When I was 22, I was working in a call center, with no future plans for what I was going to do next. Read more>>

Faryl Amadeus | Filmmaker

I’m a cliff jumper. (Not literally, because I have a terrible fear of heights, plus I cherish being alive.) But FIGURATIVELY I love going to edge and jumping. Talking to other people is scary. Being on stage is scary. Singing is scary. Read more>>

Mark McClain Wilson | Actor, Director, Sound Designer, Writer

Generally speaking, I find that as long as the red flags on a project aren’t TOO troublesome, if it scares you WHILE intriguing you, it’s always worth going for. Because whether you succeed or fail, you’ve stretched the boundaries in both your personal and creative self.  Read more>>

Shon Swett | Cyclist & Creative

I see risk as a balance of freedom and chaos. It can be both terrifying and liberating. I took the risk to move to Los Angeles three years ago without knowing anyone or anything about the area. This move changed my life and accelerated my network and career in the cycling industry. Read more>>

Emma Draves | Dance Artist

I would say that choosing to be a dance artist – and choosing to remain a dance artist – carries a notable level of risk-taking in our society. Across human history, dance has served to build/bind Community, to honor Ritual and Spiritual practices, and – yes – to Entertain. Read more>>

Zora Fu | Environment Artist

I believe that risk inspires change, and it is important to take risks if we hope to gain different experiences and perspectives in life. I used to be afraid of taking risks and lacking control.  Read more>>

Mark Stephenson | Pastor, Harmony — Toluca Lake; Creative Artist; Co-Founder of The Excellence Agency

Without risk, there is no reward. Period. At least for what is worth having in your life and moving you forward to better yourself. This goes personally, as well as collectively. For one’s good and for the good of the whole, which can be an organization. Read more>>

Liquid Gold Burlesque | Production Company

With the current state of the economy and public health risk assessment, performing artists like ourselves and our peers are taking more risks than ever to launch live shows. Our first show ever was a major gamble, since we chose to produce a New Year’s Eve party at the height of the Omicron spike in a major metropolitan area.  Read more>>

Fumi Matsuura | Filmmaker / Art Production Assistant

Life is short. Yes, I know you might be sick of this quote but this idea has stuck in my head since I was young. Because of that, I always rushed myself in my entire life. Before decided to come to the U.S., I was working at an Advertising company in Japan, which is my home country. Read more>>

@HimNeverDem | Upcoming Comedian & Content Creator

Honestly , I think taking risk played a major part in my life- not only growing up but even as an adult. Coming from the small town of Alexandria, Louisiana- you never really hear of comedians other than the ones you see on TV and you never see people creating content.  Read more>>

Rain Rouhani | 3D and 2D character artist, Visual development artist and CG generalist

For me, taking risks has been an integral part of my personal and professional development. I firmly believe that without embracing these challenges, I would never have uncovered my true potential. Read more>>

Freise Brothers | Commercial Directors

I think anyone who has been able to make a career in the production world has founded a good part of their lives on taking risks. Obviously it’s a very cutthroat industry with so many talented people out there that you are constantly competing against, so landing each gig is a feat in and of itself.  Read more>>

Katie Daugherty | Administrative Assistant at Chez Noir, Cat Mom, Chef

I would say that I took one of the biggest risks of my life this last year. For the first fifteen years of my career, I worked in marketing. I partnered with every type of business imaginable, from small local start-ups to nationally recognized music organizations. Read more>>

Dashayna ‘Dash’ Brown | Writer & Cannabis and Community Professional

Risk is absolutely necessary in life. I don’t think we can expand or evolve without them. They involve some level of faith, and trusting the unknown. My journey to taking impactful calculated risks began as a teenager. It may be clichè but doing my big chop in high school literally put the battery in my back to keep leaping into unchartered territory. Read more>>

toni forge | Cannabis Consultant and Attorney

Historically, I’ve never been a risk taker in business. I was one in my personal life. In 2016, I finally got the courage to step out and start my own consulting business. I initially had a partner. She left the business within the first year. For some reason, I believed I needed a partner to make the business work. Read more>>

Kelli Huarte | Media Production & Marketing Executive

Risk-taking is not just a strategy for me; it’s a way of life. Regret weighs far heavier to me than the fear of taking risks. I view risk as an essential ingredient for growth and success. Each risk I’ve taken has been a leap of faith, guided by my unwavering belief in God’s plan for me. Read more>>

James Pratt | Actor : Director : Auctioneer

Taking risks has been instrumental for me, both from a personal growth standpoint, but also embracing that there is a certain level of excitement in living your life when you get out of your comfort zone and take risks to achieve big goals. Read more>>

Dianna Lawrence | Custom Content Producer

This is THE question I think about a lot and has evolved as I’ve gotten older. I’ve always tended to lean into taking bigger risks whenever a certain aspect of my life felt a bit too comfortable or if a rare opportunity arose that I had an inkling I might regret later in life. Read more>>

Ridhi Bhalla | Filmmaker

I think risk taking is an essential part of any career. If you want to grow as a creative, risks are a necessity. It has encouraged me to expand my horizons and explore new ideas. Every project I have done has involved some form of risk of trying something new. Read more>>

Haeun You | Keyboardist & Music Producer

I view risk as an opportunity to progress further along your journey. It can be daunting when you lack knowledge about the potential outcomes and sacrifices involved. Fear often holds people back from taking risks, but as the saying goes, “high risk, high return.” Read more>>

Dean Gonzalez | Film Editor

Just being in the film industry is a risk. I was always told you should go into business cause that is a safe bet. I feel nothing is a safe bet anymore so you gotta go with what makes you happy. I’ve always loved art, whether it’s film, music, writing etc… You have to just take a chance at the life you want to live. Read more>>

Carmen Gonzalez | CNG STUDIO Owner /Director

Being able to take risks can allow you to win big when they pay off but can also set you back a bit if they don’t pay off in the end. But in business you must be able to take risks in order to continue to grow, Read more>>

Joshua Reguillo | singer songwriter

I believe risks are necessary to grow mentally and spiritually. New experiences come with new knowledge which is why I risked moving to LA from NYC on my own. I knew I didn’t know much about LA and didn’t have any solid plans laid out but I took the chance for the that exact reason of drowning and gaining new knowledge.  Read more>>

Jasmine Bell | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist

2023 was definitely a year of change for me. I had worked in the community mental health field for about five years, worked as a therapist for eight years, and worked in the mental health field for about 13 years before I decided to take a chance on myself by leaving a stable job in order to open my private practice. Read more>>

Sandra Monty | Visual Art I Production Designer

Risk taking is thrilling! It’s been vital in my life and career, pushing me beyond limits, unlocking creativity, and broadening my horizons. Embracing risks has led me to unexpected successes and brought out talents I never knew I had.  Read more>>

April Maxey | Writer / Director

For me, risk taking is a crucial and formative part of being an artist. Often my most rewarding work is that in which I have taken the most risk. Trying something bold may carry the risk of it not working out exactly the way I’d imagined, but it also carries the potential of opportunity, new ideas, pushing boundaries, or even working out better than I thought. Read more>>

Thomas Augusto dos Santos Claro | Actor & Artist

I believe risk taking is something every person should do in life, and multiple times. I know that it’s much easier said than done, and it can be scary, of course, but after overcoming the challenges, the reward can be so much bigger than the fear of taking the first step towards the risk. Read more>>

Andrea Fantauzzi | Actor & Filmmaker

As an Actor and Filmmaker, in my opinion, I believe taking risks is essential. However, before anything else, preparation is the key to success. I am a firm believer in training and from the producer side, there are always going to be “fires” that you are going to need to put out throughout the course of production.  Read more>>

Chloe Saavedra | Musician/drummer

Taking risks is vital in every aspect of making music. If I’m not taking risks, then I’m playing it safe, and that is antithetical to art. Read more>>

CITYBOI BBQ | BBQ Sauce Producer

To us risks are the only avenue to success. Success to the CITYBOI team is only achieved through doing something uncomfortable. We took our first risk starting a business, and then doing our first event, then bottling our sauce during the uncertainty of the pandemic, etc. Read more>>

Nourah Al Hasawi | Film Producer & Director

Taking risks has played a pivotal role in shaping my life and career, particularly when I decided to pursue filmmaking as a career path. Growing up in Kuwait, where traditional career paths such as medicine, law, and politics were more prevalent, I felt compelled to follow my passion for the arts and filmmaking. Read more>>

Mason LeCompte | Stand up Comedian

I risked everything, when I decided to pack up my few belongings that would fit into my station wagon, take out a bunch of credit cards and drive cross country from Va Beach Virginia to Los Angeles, California. I left my comfortable lifestyle, all my friends and family to pursue my dreams.  Read more>>

Myron Clifton | Author, Digital Magazine publisher, Blogger

Risk is important to success and personal fulfillment. I’ve sought risk and embraced risk in my career and personal development & endeavors. From job changes, state to state moves, and ultimately decisions to leave corporate America and pursue other equally fulfilling challenges. Read more>>

Songlan Wu | Technical Designer & Textile Artist

I can’t say I love risk, that’s not true. I would take risk when life comes to no correct answers which has been quite common to my situations as me in the age of early to mid 20s. Read more>>

Armin Nasseri | Award-winning Filmmaker/Actor

I have always been a risk taker since my early adulthood. Anytime you make an independent film and you fund it yourself, it’s a huge risk. When you take a chance on reaching out to strangers, whether if the work relationship is successful or not, it’s still a risk.  Read more>>

Haley Copello | Singer/entrepreneur

Risk-taking is an integral part of my journey as a musician, shaping both my life and career. I’ve always approached risk with a blend of determination and belief in myself, investing significant amounts of personal funds into recordings and live performances.  Read more>>

Angie Yoh | Hair Stylist

I was born the fourth of nine children in my hometown of Bouna, Ivory Coast. Coming from such a large household meant I had to grow up quick and adopt responsibility for myself and my younger siblings. I moved to the city Abidjan when I was eleven years old.  Read more>>

Ellis Stump | Screenwriter & Playwright

Risk-taking has driven and backdropped my entire life, from the moment I decided to leave my small town and conservative community in Amish Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to pursue a preposterous dream in the most chaotic cities and industry. Read more>>

Carmela D’Arienzo | Marketer and Resident Fangirl

Risk taking is not about taking the road less traveled by as much as it is about betting on yourself. As a first generation college student, I remember the first big risk I took was deciding where I wanted to go to school and what I wanted to study.  Read more>>

Spyder Dobrofsky | Director of Down Below” w/ Eric Roberts

You can’t pursue a career in entertainment, a career in Hollywood, or specifically a career in screenwriting and directing without getting comfortable with risk taking. Risk taking is art. Period. Read more>>