Are you thinking about starting a business? If so, we think you’ll enjoy reading about how these seasoned entrepreneurs thought about the question when they were in your shoes.

Travis Andre Ross | Sweet Potato Distributor and Indie Film Producer

In regards to starting my own business, my thought process was pretty simple. “Why am I working for someone else when I can run their business better than they can?” But here’s more context that I’m going to be very open about. My dad left our family when I was 8 years old. We lived in a trailer park on a truck stop in the middle of nowhere… My mom worked 12 – 14 hours a day at a Dennys to keep the lights on in our mobile home. I had to become the man of the house at an early age. I eventually started using and selling low level drugs. Read more>>

Austin Isshac | Musician, Sound Engineer, and Producer

The idea behind Jung Records was to create a professional environment where artist’s can come in and receive top of the line production services and still leave with 100% of their musical rights. This is important to me because, Major Labels control a lot of aspects of an artist’s career. With Labels funding the music, touring, etc., they have a big say in what/how artist’s are releasing their music. Read more>>

Emily Rouse | Fashion Designer

Edgington Studio was founded in July 2020, a time during the COVID pandemic when borders were closed and people started to turn more towards having their clothing made domestically. I had started my clothing brand in August of 2019 and was ready to start production for the pieces I had been developing, but was not able to get a hold of the factories in NYC I had been planning with while I was living there. Read more>>

Angel Osorio | Co-Founder of Our Forever Weddings

One key aspect of the Wedding Photo & Video Industry that many new to it may not fully appreciate is the role that a highly skilled and professional team can play in bringing peace of mind to the couple on their Special Day. Preparation, expertise, and collaboration with other vendors to manage unexpected changes and adapt to various conditions are all crucial components in delivering stunning results, but the real VALUE for the couple lies in the Assurance and Confidence that comes from knowing their memories are in good hands. Read more>>

Yasar Chaudhary | Founder / C.E.O – LA Vodka

It was a big decision that required careful consideration and planning. Starting a business usually involves evaluating your skills, passions, and market demand to figure out a business idea that aligns with your strengths and interests. I think thats one of the biggest keys to the success of your business. I also consider the financial aspect of starting a business. Most individuals only consider the cost of the start up, but also consider the cost of my time. Read more>>

Susanne Puerschel | Co-Founder/ CEO R.I.S.E.

Let me start with that it really has taken me a long time to become a business owner. Not because I did not want to or I was questioning whether it is for me or not. I didn’t jump earlier because I though I wasn’t ready. I didn’t start because I believed friends that told me ” don’t do it, it’s to risky” more than I trusted my gut. Only when I had worked myself into a corner of complete burnout ( again) did I find courage to jump, because rock bottom was right there, I had nothing left to loose. And I knew I wanted different. Read more>>

Julie Boardman | Co-Founder of The Museum of Broadway

I grew up in an entrepreneurial family and like to think of myself as a bit of a “disruptor” — meaning I like to break the mold or create where something didn’t exist before. It seemed odd to me that there wasn’t a museum dedicated to Broadway when Broadway is the heartbeat of NYC and a major reason tourists visit the city. Now it is even more meaningful to bring the Museum of Broadway to life as NYC continues to rebuild after covid. Read more>>

Christian aka Kyam Stewart-Estrada | Podcaster and Producer

I desired to create a platform for all fans of sports to give their perspective of the game. This not only would we provide insight on sports topics, but also to help individuals in other fields to be recognized. The ability to utilize sports to teach the listeners how to communicate effectively even when others disagree. Read more>>

Dylan Saborio | Talent Manager & Founder at Colour Sound Talent Agency

Initially, i did not ever intend on starting a business but it materialized as i realized that i had a great interest in helping people and my love for music paved the way for me to enter the entertainment industry which catapulted me into influencer marketing and eventually talent representation as time went on. The thought process was simple from the begining, i wanted to help people and this was my way to do it. Read more>>

Emily Chang | High School Student

During my freshman year of high school, I had a hard time finding research opportunities that were available in my community. During that summer, I decided to join a free online research program for high school female and genderqueer students called Talaria. In Talaria, I worked with a mentor to create a research paper about King Rail populations. I thoroughly enjoyed the mentor-student experience and from there I decided to create my own LA chapter for the program! Read more>>

Yubo Dong | Photographer and Studio Managing Partner

The whole process is rather serendipitous. My partner Zihui Song and I have been working as freelancers for a while, and pandemic kickstarted the demand for more remote contents. As more photo/video works comes to our way naturally, we decide to run as a team offering photographic services, as well as offering studio rental for other production teams. Read more>>

Andrea Cwik | Money Multiplier Strategist, Podcast Host & Speaker

After over 20 years working for various high-tech corporations in Silicon Valley, Andrea Cwik knew it was time to move on. While these years of growth and new experiences taught Andrea lots about being resourceful, working hard, and growing her personal wealth, in many ways she was left feeling as though she had not fully reached her potential; she wanted to step into more growth both financially and personally. Read more>>

Eztli Amaya | Organizer

Our group, fifth sun project is a grassroots organization that does community work in Las Vegas, which is Native land of the southern Paiute – Nuwuvi people. We started this group to keep accountability of being informed about social, environmental, cultural and political issues, working with our community to create a space where artists and activists can merge their concerns and ideas for events held locally. Read more>>

Kelsie Eckert | President of the Remedial Herstory Project and Coordinator of Social Studies Education at Plymouth State University

I had taught high school history for about five years, before I started to really begin to independently research the woman suffrage movement. I quickly realized there is so much more than I learned in my own history education. I also began to realize that there is all this women’s history outside of the suffrage movement that never gets taught about, not Justin secondary education, but at the college level! Colleges are failing future educators, but not requiring courses on diverse people and, frankly, the other half of the population. Read more>>

Carl Taylor | Producer / CEO Bridgetown Studio

Initially my thought process around Bridgetown was to use the space for myself when I’m not making music at my home studio. But it wasn’t long before I realized that there was a great opportunity to utilize the space in a way that could be more beneficial to other artists. From there, I started Bridgetown Studio and have been surprised at how much I enjoy being an entrepreneur in the music space. Read more>>

Navilla Burns | Secretary, Chromatic Brass Collective

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in awareness of the countless murders and police brutality toward unarmed Black citizens. As a result of these many injustices and amidst the protests following the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, and Breonna Taylor, several Black women gathered virtually to have a live-streamed conversation highlighting their experiences as brass players. This conversation led us to realize that we need our own community–our own artistic space. Read more>>

Jensen Victoria | Licensed Esthetician & Business Owner

I knew I wanted to start my own business because it offered the opportunity for massive growth, income, and flexibility. At many places I had previously worked I found myself thinking of ways I would do things differently, or the aesthetic I would personally go for, and what I would offer. I always put myself in the shoes of the owner of the business I worked for and yearned for the opportunity to execute my own vision of what success looks like. Read more>>

Tamanika Jackson | Therapeutic and relaxation

My thought process behind starting my mown business was inspired by wanting to become a doctor as a child and not accomplishing that goal. So I’ve always wanted to do something related to helping others get healing and I feel like I can provide relaxation as contribution to their healing Read more>>

The Blueprint Productions | Editorial and Commercial Production Company

We met on set a couple years ago and since then worked on many projects together for celebrities and international publications. Our group dynamic was quickly noticed by talent and their teams and we were highly regarded for our professionalism and creativity. We developed not only a business relationship, but a sisterhood and quickly became friends. After toying around with the idea of starting a company together, we took a leap of faith and we founded our commercial and editorial production company, The Blueprint Productions. Read more>>

Lani Fox | Owner of Rosemallow Artisanal & Research Scientist

Born out of the darkness of pandemic lockdowns, Rosemallow Artisanal was launched in the summer of 2022, as a sweet way to celebrate beauty and the delectable flavors of California’s natural bounty. During the grocery shortages my young kiddos wanted marshmallows and I could not find them anywhere. So I decided to make them, starting with a simple vanilla marshmallow. This homemade marshmallow was so good. Read more>>

Ary Satish | Stage & Screen Actor

In my case, as an actor, my business is my brand and my brand is myself. So when I first knew that acting was the career for me, it became clear – through observing what other up-and-coming actors were doing – that I first needed to brand myself as “Ary, the actor”. Let people know that yes this is still “Ary, the person”, but also now show the new brand of “Ary, the actor.” Read more>>

Chloe Bautista | Hairstylist

I always wanted to start my own business, I just didn’t know in what. I always had an entrepreneurial spirit. I started out doing graphic design and project management, but I didn’t find it too fulfilling for my life. When I started doing hair, I loved learning and getting my hands in hair. It pushed myself to be just as good as all the other stylists and colorist eventually making my way as a Colorist at Salon Benjamin. Read more>>

Malia Carvalho | Tantric Transformation Coach

In the beginning, the thought process was rather to let go of thought and order and drop into observation and vision. Much of the time us humans like to chart out all the logical steps of what we are going to do before we have even dreamed of the big picture! In Alice in Wonderland the Cheshire cat asks Alice which way she is going, to which she states “I don’t know”, and the cat replies, “Well, then it doesn’t really matter.” Read more>>

Veronica Roy | Actor & Writer

My thought process behind starting this campaign went as such: -Scrolling through my favorite author’s Instagram (Patricia Briggs @mercys.garage) and seeing the announcement that her Mercy Thompson Series has been optioned by Amazon Prime. -Jumps with joy & excitement -Remembers the story of how Elijah Wood got the role of Frodo. Read more>>

Mitchella (Mitch) Gilbert | CEO and Co-founder of OYA Femtech Apparel

No one in my family has been an entrepreneur, and I’ve always loved innovation and technology. Initially, I always thought I would be a partner at my consulting firm, but then I was recruited to the business school and had the good fortune of going to UCLA Anderson. During this program, my teammates and I worked on a school project together for two years and were looking for our moment to shine in this program. They helped you figure out how to start a business, and I knew I wanted to create a business in fashion, and LA made the most sense. Read more>>

Ryan Lopez | Lord Empanada

I grew up working in the food and beverage industry my entire adult life, working in every genre from dive bars to Michelin star restaurants. When the pandemic hit, I was laid off from my General Manager position along with the majority of the restaurant and bar work force in the world. Seeing that the only restaurants allowed to essentially survive during the lockdown were the ones that offered take out, Read more>>

Onyx Keesha | Producer & Director

There had always been an entrepreneur spirit in my home growing up. My Dad owned a trucking company when I was younger and then when I was in middle school he opened a successful photography studio. So there was never a doubt in my mind that my art could be a viable business. I started my first business as a senior in High School. Read more>>

Sabrina Cupid | Influencer & Costume Designer

I had several reasons behind wanting to start my own business. My first thought was to create a legacy. I am taking everything I love to do and I marketing it. People are seeing the real Sabrina I have always been afraid to show. I am a artist, I love to cook, dance and glam up. This is Sabrina. Working for other companies sometimes would leave me feeling stressed, undervalued, overworked, underpaid and unappreciated. Read more>>

Amy Cohn | CEO of Joydays

Early in my career, I worked in product innovation, digital strategy, marketing and growth for top brands including Disney, Oprah, Sony, Dapper Labs and telemedicine company Heal. I also acted as a mentor for many female founded startups. In the summer of 2020, I received a colon cancer diagnosis that changed my life, and forced me to adopt a low-glycemic diet (In clinical trials, a low glycemic diet has been shown to help decrease the chance of cancer coming back and improve the survival in patients with colon cancer). Read more>>