Taking Risk is essential, but how much, when and why? Taking risks effectively is as much of an art as it is a science and we’ve asked some of the brightest folks in the community to tell us about how they think about risk taking.

Thomas Desantis | Chef & Business Owner

Its simple… With no risk there is no reward. I know this sounds broad, as it is! I don’t mean take every risk you see, rather take risk that you see fit. Everyone has a different definition of risk and what is high risk vs low risk. I believe my base line for risk might be slightly higher then most, and contrary to my first line in have not necessarily received more reward. Read more>>

Jonaye Anderson | Actress & Producer

If we’re being completely honest, I think taking risks are always scary because you just never know what the outcome is. You don’t know if it will work or if won’t work. But taking those risks also makes you do things out of your comfort zone and that’s a place we can sometimes get too comfortable in. Everything you do requires some sort of risk, especially if you’re trying to elevate and be better. You have to trust the unknown. Read more>>

Faruk Amireh | Actor & Comedian

Risk has played a major role in my life and career. Without taking risk, I wouldn’t be where I am today. And the funny thing is, risk will follow you the rest of your life. To me risk is also a measure of faith. Whether in yourself, a higher power or whatever drives you to keep going. Read more>>

Maggie Parto | Actor & Producer

I’m a middle child that always had to swim faster and get better grades, graduate early so I could stand out and get more attention–so taking risks has been my natural although I have to say I have no idea where I get it from….wait I know…def from my Mom, she’s a badass…she is a lioness.! I will say at the same time taking risks have thought me some major life lessons….the thing is you just have to keep going and don’t look back! Read more>>

Asua Han | Film Director

As a director, my role involves a lot of risk-taking. Initially, it can be daunting because uncertainty and fear often accompany high-stakes decisions, especially when your job might be on the line. Read more>>

Grant Mueller | Marketing Campaign Manager

For better and worse, taking risks is something I learned to do from a young age. I was raised in Lee’s Summit, MO, better known to most outside of the 64081 as the town named at the beginning of the documentary Jesus Camp. For those that have seen that film, you probably have all the information you need and can just click out. Read more>>

Mataya Britton | Actress

I’d like to believe that I’ve always been a risk taker. It’s hard to embrace fear but I find that if you do it with open arms, things will eventually work out. A career in acting is always going to come with an element of risk, but it’s what I have always wanted to do deep down – it’s a part of me that’s as natural as breathing. Without risk there is no reward, and having the opportunity to freely express myself and my creative side is the best reward on earth. After I graduated high school I took the biggest risk of my life – moving from a small city in Canada to the Big Apple, alone, and then to Los Angeles after that. Read more>> 

Rebecca Kovach | Actor and Filmmaker

I think that I’ve grown more comfortable with taking risks and taking chances since I moved out to Los Angeles. I think for a lot of us, we were taught that if we go to college and get a degree and find a career, that we would be locked in to a long-term career path, and there would be no need for drastic changes. Now it’s 2024, and since I moved to Los Angeles, I have found that couldn’t be less accurate. Read more>>

The Drunken Stoner | Stand up Comedian, Producer & Sexy Monster

Everything’s a risk but is the risk worth the outcome.. . I knew that producing independent comedy shows would be directly competing with conventional comedy clubs. I feel comedy can be enjoyed anywhere. Putting on a show with cannabis, comedy and beer you get a lot more no’s than yes’s but my vision never changes. Read more>>

Jeremy Burrows-balka | Music Producer & Aspiring Artist

I think risk is misunderstood as something that generally should be avoided, but it’s honestly an ever-present part of everyone’s life. You can’t do anything without putting yourself at some degree of risk, even walking out your front door has its associated risks and dangers; I think It’s not about avoiding risk, but deciding what risks are worth it for you. That threshold can be very different for different people, and that’s ok. Read more>>

Dariia Balaban | Makeup artist & hairstylist

To me, risk-taking is about trusting my instincts and having confidence in my ability to handle whatever comes my way. When faced with a decision, I tend to think quickly and listen to my gut feelings. I believe that if I stay true to myself and my intuition, things will work out in the end. Read more>>

Joshua Harrison | Director of Photography

Being a cinematographer is both creative and a managerial job. I love taking risks on an artistic side that push the boundaries and open up something new and different. From a management perspective especially when it comes to crew safety I’m not willing to take on risk that could get someone hurt. Crew safety is my main concern and a close second is achieving what the director wants. Creatively I love taking risks that will yield results that elevate the project and push us towards compelling visuals. Ultimately we are storytellers and its crucial that we deliver the most engaging narrative we can. Read more>>

Sean Madden | Novelist

I grew up playing the board game “Risk” so whence I refined into a mature adult I couldn’t help but gloat an appetite for conniving varietals. I’m pleased to make risk’s acquaintance, I’ve worked a desk job in corporate finance for 13 picket fenced years, and I didn’t begin living until I went hell’s bells and buckets of sludge on my Microsoft Word processor. My existence is in a tryst with it. Life summates to one’s expenditure of time and squeezing in writing roughly 3,600 pages over the past 14 years on the heels of a full-time stress obsessed career has been an unfashionably punctual party pooper, I’ve sacrificed all of mine doing this. Read more>>

Artem Korolev | Entrepreneur, Intentional Living Coach

To answer this question about risk-taking, I’ll share a pivotal moment in my life from two and a half years ago. I had built a successful career as a well-known and popular TV presenter in Russia. My journey began at just 15 years old when I started working for local networks. By 19, I was with MTV, and I remained there until I was 32, during which time MTV evolved into an even larger channel in Russia. Read more>>

Rachel Posler | Comedian & Actress

Risk has been a big part of my life since I was 18 and only wanted to be in the creative field. All freelances every single day are taking risks. I’ve embraced many risks with various side hustles. I work as a part-time barista to invest significant time and energy into my passion projects, such as building my social media presence and pursuing a comedy career. While a full-time job would provide greater financial stability, I recognize that it could impede my progress toward achieving my creative goals. Read more>> 

Barbara Jimenez | Tattoo Artist (Barbara Tattooer)

I view risk as a necessary part of growth and opportunity. As a tattoo artist, taking risks has been crucial to my journey. Moving to new cities to pursue my career meant leaving behind stable jobs, friends, and family. Read more>>

Christopher Rivera | Artist

I believe that to achieve that which you never have you have to go where you never have before. Begin new habits and take a new path to discover new concepts and rewards. Read more>>

Taya Egorova | Dancer, Choreographer & Instructor

I believe that without risk there is no success. I realized early on that «playing it safe» wouldn’t get me far in life because millions of people desire the same thing as I. Consistency, effort, and intelligence are important, but without enough courage to take risks, they don’t mean anything.  Read more>>

Audrey Brown | Actor and Painter

I believe risk taking is imperative. Risk lead me from the start of my career in New York 10 years ago, even though I had never been before, to starting completely over and moving to Los Angeles last year. I noticed I thrive in it. Especially when I go at it alone. It really shows what you’re capable of and is a testament to what drives you to get to that next chapter, that next project which promotes your growth as a person and artist in more ways than you can imagine. Read more>>

Bay Davis | Poet, Model, Culture Curator

Risk taking is threaded through most parts of not only my work/career and artistry but existence. I fell into modeling, culture curation, and poetry after my work in abolition and general political education. So many intersections of my identity and life have been met with “that’s not possible” or “not anything that makes money” I’ve been told that liberation work or poetry is not real work or even my existence as a black trans woman is incorrect. Read more>>

Ryan Daneshrad | Attorney

As a business owner, I’ve learned that taking risks is not just important—it’s essential for growth. In the fast-paced world of business, playing it safe can often mean getting left behind. It’s the risks we take that lead to breakthroughs, whether it’s entering a new market, starting a new marketing campaign, or investing in innovative technologies. Read more>>

Daniela Lozano | Actress, Songwriter and Creator

Risk taking is what brought me here, to this country and to this point in my life. Ever since I took the plane LIMA – LAX, I knew I was stepping out of my comfort zone and stepping into the unknown. It’s been almost 3 years since I took the biggest risk of my life, coming to Los Angeles to pursue a goal, and I couldn’t feel more proud of the growth that I have had not only as a professional but as a human being. Read more>>

Cassia Dawn | Singer/Songwriter

I think people consider risk taking in extremes. Either it’s praised or considered foolish. Risk taking for me has been incremental. I started playing music at open mics when I was 14, played my first paid show when I was 15 at my local farmers market, put out my first album at 19, went to music school at 24, moved to Nashville at 28, put out singles every month when I was 30/31. It wasn’t one big risk all at once. Read more>>

Pandora Spirakis

Risk, in many ways, has been the key to my success so far. Risk, courage and faith. I don’t think I have ever achieved anything worthwhile without taking at least a couple big risks along the way. I don’t think anyone has if I am being completely honest. I think to accomplish anything great your tolerance for risk has to be quite high. It follows suit that the faith you have in yourself has to be quite high too. Read more>>

Levi Linton

I’ve always embraced the challenge of stepping into opportunities where I may not have felt fully prepared or qualified. These moments of uncertainty have proven to be more invaluable than words can express. As a freelance professional in the entertainment industry, risk-taking isn’t just encouraged—it’s essential. In a field where you’re often one among many, advancing your career frequently requires taking bold risks. Read more>>

Marycarmen Portillo

Risks have been everything to me. If you want to make art you need to make bold decisions. To take a bold decision you must trust yourself and your gut. To trust yourself and your gut, you have to know yourself and love yourself. And art helps to grow, to know, to add, to realize, to accept. So it’s kind of like a full cycle! Read more>>

Uriel Bernard

I see risk as a possibility for life-changing evolution in art and life. Taking risks is what has brought me to where I am currently as an artist and creative. The biggest risk in the past couple years for me was leaving my starting position at a division one school in South Carolina. I left high-level competitive sports with much promise, for my desire of creative career paths. This was the greatest and most fruitful risk I have taken in recent years. This propelled me into becoming an artist and clothing, designer, exhibiting in Cuba and creating collections for major companies. Read more>>

Brent Ameneyro

I owe every aspect of my success to taking risks. Going back to school to get my MFA after a decade long break from being a student is a specific example of a risk I took, but there is a larger risk “theory” that I think is important to address. A poet takes a risk every time they write a poem and every time they publish or perform a poem. To be an artist—a true artist that innovates and carves new pathways into the greater collective consciousness—one must be prepared to live a high-risk life. Read more>> 

Jillian Jordyn

I think taking risks are really important for your growth. Playing it safe will never get you what you truly want in life. A year ago i took a huge risk and moved to LA from New York all my myself. It was scary but it definitely paid off. I booked and filmed a movie called The Floaters coming out soon. I’ve also grown a tremendous amount which never would have happened without the move. Read more>>

Ayushi Khurana

My father once said, “When you pick a tough road, one that’s risky, the real prize isn’t just getting to the end—it’s in the crazy ride itself, where you’re knee-deep in every twist and turn.” That is probably why I can’t resist taking risks. For me, taking risks is a process of finding yourself. Whether I’ve failed or succeeded, each risk has taught me something new. Sometimes, I’ve had to face some awkward truths; other times, I’ve just added it to my self-improvement list. But in the end, all these wild rides have somehow made me a better, slightly more amusing version of myself. Read more>>

Jasmine Bhatti

You can’t afford not to be risky if you want to succeed. It requires a mix of logic and intuition, but there is nothing to gain by playing it safe and playing small. If I wouldn’t have taken the risk to start my business, I wouldn’t be where I am at today. It’s hard to take the leap, but if you plan things out right, you can help mitigate challenges if things don’t go as planned or things just fail. It’s also important to think of failure as a lesson and this is a potential outcome when taking a risk. Read more>>

Soraya Garré

I approach risk taking as an exciting adventure, a way to push myself forward, overcome fears and grow. It gives me the adrenaline I sometimes need to go the extra mile towards my goals. Further is the limit! Pursuing acting/filmmaking is a gamble in itself and I don’t think you can embrace this career without accepting the uncertainty that goes with it and learning to manage stress. Taking chances teaches you to live outside your comfort zone and keep learning, evolving and widen your horizon. You jump, you fall, you get back up and hopefully you get to experience life to the fullest doing what you love! Read more>>

Fifteen0eight

We started Fifteen0eight in 2021 with nothing but a vision and quickly realized that no one would take us seriously if we didn’t have something to show for it. We spent our entire first year together in the studio every night from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., after full days of classes at Berklee College of Music. Naturally, the first year of college is crucial for making friends, going out, exploring the city, and having fun—but we didn’t do any of that. Read more>>