The first step to starting a business is deciding to start a business. They say the first step is the hardest and in our experience this is especially true when it comes to starting a business. Getting over the mental roadblocks can be tough, often harder to overcome than the challenges you’ll face once you actually start the business. Fellow entrepreneurs share their thoughts below.

Rachel Engels | Marriage and Family Therapist, Couples Coach, and Host of the Married to the Industry Podcast

I have always been interested in what makes relationships tick. I knew I wanted to be a marriage and family therapist early on, but when my husband and I moved out to LA so that he could pursue a career in the entertainment industry, helping people thrive in marriage took on a new importance for me. Read more>>

Lupita Castillejos | OWNER Red Wine Tour Baja

Fragment the historical stigma of being only seen as a violated border, Baja California and its people have done unstoppable work to obtain recognition and in this last decade fruits have been harvested that fill us with pride, now we are a border port with a gastronomy and wine awarded at a national and international level,  Read more>>

Parker Macy | Owner, Creme Tangerine Records

Record shops are the most impactful part of my youth. All of my focus was on the shop and the treasures they seemed to dig up. After working in a slowly-failing Record Store for five years, I wanted to take the lessons I’d learned and try to do something that was manageable on a smaller scale. Read more>>

Patricia Morales | HAIR AND ACCESSORY DESIGNER

I ALWAYS WANTED A CREATIVE SPACE FOR ARTIST, FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME THAT LOVE TO CREATE AND COLLABORATE ON MAKING BEAUTIFUL ART, AND THINGS. THAT WAS MY GOAL IN STARTING LA MORALES! A PLACE I CAN DISPLAY AND EXHIBIT THE WORK I HAVE DONE OVER THE YEARS, AND ALSO INSPIRE OTHERS TO KEEP GOING AND FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS. Read more>>

Elizabeth Sims | Principal Designer, CALAFIA Home Design

After working as an MFA-educated studio artist and arts educator for over a decade, I began taking on interior design projects to indulge a long-standing passion. These projects were initially for friends and family who knew and liked my taste and wanted something special.  Read more>>

Antrom Kury | Multi-Instrumentalist and Composer

Being raised by two artistic and entrepreneurial parents profoundly influenced my journey towards a career in music and art. Despite the inevitable trials and uncertainties inherent in forging one’s own path, I’ve discovered that the rewards of pursuing creativity and heeding one’s intuition far surpass the challenges.  Read more>>

Jaida Henley | Singer Songwriter and Media Business Owner

I have been an entrepreneur since I was a kid. I grew up with my dad and aunts constantly couponing and then selling it at the flea market. Whenever I would go with my dad, he would offer me 10% of his sales if I bagged and kept him company. Read more>>

Hailey Barragan | Owner and creator of Get strong, personal trainer, strength coach, and mom

I grew up in a time where women wanted to shrink themselves to fit in and to be accepted. Everyone was constantly dieting, cutting out carbs, and wanting to lose weight to get as skinny as possible because that was the norm. As I got into the gym and lifting, I started to feel how empowering strength was. Read more>>

Natalie Sperling | Therapist

After working in the mental health field for about 10 years I became completely burnt out. I kept feeling at odds with industry standards in terms of expected case load, patient care/advocacy, and pay. I realized that in order to be able to show up for my patients in a meaningful way, I had to find freedom and fulfillment in my career again.  Read more>>

Cathy Campo | Founder, The Hollywood Assistant / Ex-Netflix / Incoming MBA Candidate

In addressing one of Hollywood’s most pressing issues—the industry’s inherent inaccessibility—I recognized a need for change. Historically, the entertainment sector has maintained a closed loop, privileging those from connections and affluent backgrounds that can afford the unpaid internships and minimum wage entry-level roles. Read more>>

Katie Wilkerson | Production Designer, Author, & Entrepreneur

The idea to start my own business was born out of a desire to provide a stable, controlled environment for both myself and my community. My father owned his own business, and growing up I saw him work like a dog every day to provide for my mother, my three siblings, and I. Read more>>

Ani Wells | Sustainable Fashion Consultant & Story Teller

I always wanted to be a buyer for a large department store, but as that dream became within reach, I realized that no one was asking questions about where our clothes were coming from, how they were made, and what impact they had. Read more>>

Stephanie Silva | Baker

It all started out as a passion project and turned into something so much more beautiful. I love being in the kitchen and creating art, that’s why sourdough was introduced to me. I started baking for my family and loved ones, word spread fairly quick, and before I knew it, I was crafting beautiful loaves all for my community, and simply silva was born. Read more>>

Dolly Meckler | Entrepreneur & Digital Creative

The end goal for me is having the space to always be learning. I never want to feel bored, comfortable, or underutilized. I’ve had a number of typical 9-5 jobs where I’ve gotten burnt out. I felt very burned by corporations, that my skills weren’t used efficiently, and that I had so much more to offer that my bosses and workplaces weren’t seeing. Read more>>

Erin Berman | Patina Artist/Business Owner

I was working at a fine art foundry at the time. I realized that the art foundry industry was very male dominant and chauvinistic. Women had only a certain place in the hierarchy of the foundry and got paid way less than the male counterparts. Read more>>

Francesca Sayan | Owner Creator of the best miniature artisan cheesecakes and bodybuilding boss babe

I wanted to build something that allowed me a creative outlet, that I enjoyed doing, that would bring others joy and could become a family owned business and a legacy all in its own. I want a success where I can have the financial freedom to get out of life all that I can and be able to look back and say I did that. Read more>>

Rozella Marie Mahjhrin | True Complexion Founder / DEI Trainer

Since its establishment in 2015, True Complexion (TC) has been a labor of love for me, born from a deep-seated desire to create a safe space where individuals with disabilities and differences can openly share their stories. My initial vision was to shift the focus from conditions to people, empowering each individual to shine their own unique light, free from stereotypes and preconceptions. Read more>>

Alicia Quintero | Author|Presenter|Keynote

Every successful business idea emerges from a pressing need. As entrepreneurs, we pinpoint a challenge that resonates with us on a molecular level. Our minds instinctively pivot towards crafting solutions. In my case, I started Novels and Resources by A.C.  Read more>>

Jeff Abella | Moka Origins Co-Founder and Social Entrepreneur

My business partner and I spent a decade living and working in Cameroon before launching our venture. During that time, we collaborated with cacao and coffee farmers who struggled to earn a fair income for their produce. Motivated by a desire to prioritize people over profits, we founded Moka to introduce a new supply chain model that puts the well-being of individuals first. Read more>>

Audrey Fuller | Surface Designer & Illustrator

What a fun question. And I have to laugh because I don’t think it was a ” thought process” per say for me in the beginning. I’d say my business definitely was born from a hobby and love for simply doing what I love to do: draw, write, create, doodle, sketch, design. It wasn’t until more and more friends were asking me to design something for them or illustrate for them, that I really started thinking: Okay, I can do this! I can make this more than just a “little hobby”. Read more>>

Pedro Tavares | Filmmaker

Believing in myself. I’ve been residing in Los Angeles since 2012. During this time, I’ve been striving to secure representation for my scripts and ultimately see one of them produced. Unfortunately, breaking into the film industry has proven to be challenging. Read more>>

ROXY LAVAEE | MANUFACTURING & IMPORTING SPECIALIST, CO-OWNER OF TRUST MD

TrustMD was created by real women who believe in the truth behind science. Two ambitious young moms, 29 years of age, decided to partner up for a common cause. After having children, they noticed the effects of life and motherhood had started to take a toll on their skin. Read more>>

Ebony McKnight | Founder/Owner & Human Resources Consultant

In 2016, the entrepreneurial spirit was born during my time as an HR Business Partner at Payscout. The leadership team was dynamic and thrived based on the hearts and minds of its operational results driven talent. Read more>>

Tameka Cooper | Founder / Senior Buyer

I wanted to provide a fashion experience that was unique and timeless. A brand that stood out from the rest. I wanted to make fashion fun and interesting again. Many brands play it safe with following the trends , I wanted to set them. Read more>>

Uzo Ejikeme | Designer

My thought process behind starting my own business was influenced by my desire to create. I had all these ideas and I thought I could find a way to share them and maybe make some money while doing it. Read more>>

Cedric Solice | Business owner in the area of leadership and organizational development

Originally, I just wanted to legitimize a platform that would allow me to continue to be a public speaker. I was being afforded local opportunities, and I really enjoyed operating in that space. It is where I feel most comfortable and most impactful.  Read more>>

Kierra Harris | Self taught home cook & Small event caterer

To be completely honest, I never imagined myself owning a business. I began teaching myself how to cook after going off to college. A bit of a late start, I know! Back then my college didn’t offer meal plans, so instead of gaining the freshman 15, I lost it!  Read more>>

Sarita Mahinay | Reiki Practitioner and Ceramic Artist

My business practice has developed organically after moving to Los Angeles October 2019 shortly before the Pandemic. I received my BFA in Ceramics and Creative writing in 2011. Like many Millennials with a creative degree, graduating during the slump in the economy led me to bouncing around trying to figure out how to shape my life. Read more>>

Emily Lewis | Nurse & Co-Founder of Bluem

Starting my own thing? It really came from this unique spot I found myself in. I had the opportunity to help run an online community of nurses, and we kept hearing the same request. Nurses everywhere were desperate to get the real scoop on hospitals, which was nearly impossible without an insider’s perspective. Read more>>

Kristina McInnis | Ceo of kcmconnect pr and marketing agency

One piece of conventional advice in PR and marketing that I disagree with is the notion that “any publicity is good publicity.” While it’s true that garnering attention can sometimes be beneficial for brand visibility, not all publicity is inherently positive. Read more>>

Prerna Chawla | Production Designer & Set Decorator

That you have to suffer for your art. As artists we are supposed to reflect what we see, be a keen observer of the human condition and be vulnerable. That can come from pain, but can also come from other emotions. To weave a tapestry of the human experience, we need all these different threads within ourselves- suffering is but one of them. Read more>>

Maddi Rachael | Performer & Haunt Industry Professional

One aspect of the haunted attraction industry that many outsiders might not realize is just how vast and multifaceted it truly is. Beyond the stereotypical images of spooky mazes during Halloween season, this industry provides a huge array of experiences and opportunities for anyone involved. Read more>>