Shoot your shot? Take a chance? Society bombards us with messages, phrases, examples and stories of how taking risk is the key to success, but is anything ever that simple? We asked some of the brightest folks we know to tell us about how they think about risk. We’ve shared their responses below.

Tzu-Ni Guo

Honestly, I wasn’t always the type to take big risks. I overthink a lot. But as I’ve gained more experience, I’ve realized that embracing risk is often the key to growth.

To me, taking risks isn’t about being reckless; it’s about making bold, conscious choices that expand my comfort zone. When a strong idea hits me, I trust it and take a bigger leap, even if it feels scary. Read More>>

Jesse Taylor

It’s always been key for us to remember that there is no growth without risk. The risks you take for your business don’t have to be a major gamble. Starting a business is a minefield of risk to begin with. As business owners we try to look at it as an opportunity to evaluate where we want to go with our vision and not just walk through it all but hit the ground running.

It could be something as small as changing a recipe to changing your packaging to moving across the country to start anew. Every risk we’ve taken has lead us to a new understanding of what we can do and a new vision of where we can go with it all. There’s something magical that happens when you take chance on something you truly believe in. A pathway kind of opens up to a new level of understanding and reward. You’ll never know what you’re capable of until to rise to meet the challenge. Read More>>

 Kathryn Marino

Risk-taking isn’t just part of my journey—it’s the fuel that’s powered every bold move I’ve made.

When the potential is worth the risk, I always ask myself: How high can you jump? You can’t play it small your entire life. Growth, change, and evolution require risk—the daring kind that comes from choosing your own path, even when it goes against the grain. Read More>>

Yana Symonova

Risk has been a constant companion in my journey. From leaving Ukraine and starting over in Austria, to moving to the U.S. to build a new life and career from scratch—I’ve learned that growth only happens outside of your comfort zone. Taking risks has helped shape both my personal life and professional path.

Choosing to become a UGC creator wasn’t the “safe” route, but it allowed me to express myself, work with brands I love, and turn creativity into income. Whether it was launching my blog about immigration, travel, and language, or reaching out to international companies for collaborations—none of it would’ve happened without taking the first leap. Read More>>

Corey Hackett

Taking the risk to pursue fashion changed everything. I didn’t wait for certainty—I moved with faith and built something that reflects who I am. I’ve created my own lane, and I’ve learned that sometimes the only way to find your place in the world is to step boldly into the unknown. Read More>>

Xuecong Wang

Risk is inherent in my artistic practice and personal journey. My primary medium, watercolor, embodies risk in its very nature—it’s irreversible. Once the pigment touches the paper, it cannot be undone or easily corrected. Each brushstroke represents a decision that becomes permanent, a commitment that cannot be withdrawn. This aspect of watercolor has taught me to embrace uncertainty rather than fear it. Read More>>

Veronica Hohweiler

I view risk as a necessary part of growth. Every major step in my career — including my rise to the C-suite as Chief Events Officer at We Crush Events — involved stepping into uncertainty. I had to advocate for myself before I felt “ready” and trust that my dedication and vision would carry me through.

One of the biggest risks, especially as a woman, has been speaking up. We’re often conditioned to stay quiet, to not rock the boat. But I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about staying comfortable — it’s about using your voice, even when it’s uncomfortable. I once heard a quote at a conference that stuck with me: “How do I try and get myself fired a little bit every day?” That doesn’t mean being reckless — it means being bold enough to challenge ideas, push boundaries, and stand up for what you believe is right. Read More>>

Carol Seungwon Lee

Curating a performance space, especially for a people-driven collaborative art like theatre, inherently requires risks. The risk may be more physical in nature, with specific stunts or fight choreography like actions that can be physically demanding. For me, the risk in the field of theatre arts and my life as a theatre creative is in establishing an ensemble in the performance space. As a theatre manager and independent researcher, I define performance space to be physical spaces that welcome performers to engage in the collective act of creating, presenting, and engaging with a performance. Read More>>

Tatyana Chistikova

I believe that the ability and readiness to take risks is essential for any creative profession, because the very soul of it is often finding and perceiving untrodden risky paths. And that means there’s always a high chance it might not work the way you wanted, or that in a way you might loose – which should not stop you from trying. Because really sometimes you learn more from “failures” than from success. Read More>>

Wara Pornkulwat

Taking risks has always been a core part of my journey. From the moment I chose to pursue cinematography, I’ve trusted my instincts. Choosing to study film sparked a major argument with my family. Although I stood my ground and eventually won their support, I knew I had to prove that I could build a sustainable career in this field.

Growing up in the countryside of Thailand, my first major leap was moving to Bangkok—a place where I knew no one in the film industry. I started from the very bottom as a camera assistant. Driven by my dream of becoming a cinematographer, I eventually left that job to focus on building connections and gaining experience, working on low-budget commercials and music videos. Read More>>

Jingyuan (John) Li

Risk-taking has been incredibly important in both my life and career. I’m still learning to take more risks—it takes a lot of courage. But as a composer in an ever-evolving industry, taking risks is not just valuable, it’s essential. Over time, I’ve developed certain writing habits that help me work more efficiently, but I’ve also noticed they can make me too comfortable in specific styles. That comfort can limit creativity. Risk, on the other hand, challenges the brain to find new solutions and pushes us into unfamiliar territory where real growth happens. That’s often how innovation starts—by taking a leap. Read More>>