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.

Jennifer Aguilar | Entrepreneur

I am not going to lie; starting a business is quite challenging, and I am not where I would love to be. Nevertheless, it has been an incredible journey, especially considering that I am the first in my family to take the leap of faith into entrepreneurship. Throughout this journey, Google has been my closest companion, providing me with invaluable information and insights. Read more>>

Kyle Valentine | Artist & Producer

Honestly, the initial spark to start this band didn’t take much thinking. My brother and I are both driven by our innate desire to create, so it was as simple as wanting to make music that we loved and wanting to share it with others in the hopes that it would do for them as much as it does for us. However, beyond that initial push was a lot of brain power, concepting, and experimenting to bring the band and brand to what it is today. Read more>>

Kateryna Keleberda | Makeup artist

“t was my dream to become a makeup artist and hairstylist, to show each woman how beautiful she can be. However, my parents didn’t support my idea and insisted that I pursue a good education first. As a result, I ended up attending Odessa State Economic University and spent many years working in an office job. Despite this, I never stopped watching beauty bloggers and tutorials, continuously fueling my passion for makeup. Read more>>

Maya Velcheva | Entrepreneur, Agency CEO & Marketing strategist

After accumulating more than five years of valuable career experience within the digital marketing sector, which included roles as an ad operations specialist at prominent online media outlets in the United States and Europe, as well as collaboration with non-profit organizations and global brands, I founded my agency in 2016. My driving motivation was to leverage this extensive experience and expertise to empower small and local businesses in realizing their marketing objectives. Read more>>

Big Daddy | Latin recording artist

life is like business, you must succeed Read more>>

Shreya Patel | Actress, Writer, Filmmaker, and Founder / Co-CEO of Window Dreams Productions Inc.

As a woman in the film industry, I often felt a disconnect with the stories that were being told. It felt like there was something missing—stories that mirrored my own experiences, stories that mattered deeply to me. So, Window Dreams Productions Inc. wasn’t just about business; it was about bringing authenticity and depth to the screen. I wanted to take the driver’s seat, to bring stories to life that not only reflected genuine experiences but also sparked conversations. Read more>>

Louis David Najar | Utopia_mfg owner – Chainstitcher – Craftsman – Photographer

Utopia happened quite organically. After an experience in the shoe industry, I started manufacturing leather goods with a desire to express my own creativity, and transitioned to embroidery through a passion for vintage garments. I find beauty in old durable things, especially leather, because of its ability to stand the test of time (if taken care of) and quality had always been an important topic for me as well. Read more>>

Fernanda Calloway | Intuitive Coach

I worked with a well-known producer in the music industry for a few years. My career was flourishing, and I was stuck at a crossroads. My role was terrific; so many people would do anything to have this role, to work with the people I was around. I wasn’t serving my purpose, though. I come from 3 generations of energy workers; they’re called curanderas. The messages I was getting from my higher power, my spirit guide, were so loud. Read more>>

Emily Hennelly | Women’s Strength & Empowerment Coach

In college, I had a coach who taught me the value of strength training and the importance of fitness beyond just physical appearance. His classes made me feel empowered and gave me newfound confidence that changed the way I viewed myself, both mentally and physically. This feeling inspired me to want to help other women who also struggle with body image, gym anxiety, and low self-esteem. Read more>>

Diana Campos | Founder

The thought process behind starting Fatima’s Baklawa, our business specializing in Homemade Style Northern African Desserts, was a heartfelt journey driven by a deep appreciation for my husband’s culture and his family’s culinary traditions, particularly the treasured recipes learned directly from his grandmother. I became enamored with the exquisite taste, the dedication to high-quality ingredients, and the profound sense of shared love and culture that these desserts represented. Read more>>

Sammy Jackson | Pastor

My thoughts were to encourage people to help themselves create movement to make a difference with themselves, and the things around them self. We should always be ready to challenge ourselves and the things around us. Let’s take the whole pie, not just piece of the pie. Consider others before yourself. Life is just not about having it your way. Read more>>

Bonnie Yi Hyde | Philanthropist & Real Estate professional

I’ve perpetually embodied an independent spirit, occasionally veering into the territory of being overly outspoken and forthright for those in positions of authority. My upbringing in mainland China often presented challenges in this regard. Fortunately, I was nurtured to possess the strength needed to pursue my genuine convictions, take actions I deemed right, and embark on the journeys destined for me. This journey has ultimately brought me to where I am today, as the proud owner of my own business, but above all, it has enabled me to courageously chase my dreams. Read more>>

Julio Sanchez | Proud owner of Cardiff Vacations

My wife’s parents built a duplex in Cardiff-by-the-Sea; it was their home and the last place they lived. After they passed away, we came up with the idea to renovate and refurbish the condos to create a complex of luxury vacation rentals. My wife’s dream was to share with others the place built and loved by her parents. Read more>>

Rytham Singla | Photographer & Photoshop Artist

There was no thought process behind starting my own business. It is just a family thing. Read more>>

Kyle Langdon-Weyrich | President / CEO / Producer – Picture Esque

I embarked on the journey of founding Picture Esque with a clear purpose in mind. My primary goal was to establish a platform that would facilitate connections within the entertainment industry. In this fiercely competitive field, I firmly believe that everyone should have the opportunity to meet and collaborate, and I aimed to simplify this process for individuals. Read more>>

Tesha Smith | Entrepreneur and Wellness Instructor

I am a certified Breath Work, Sound Bath, Qi Gong, and Yoga Teacher and have been helping others in wellness, for over seven years. I found meditation when I started experiencing feelings of anxiety and depression. I searched for ways to feel better and was able to heal myself with breathwork and sound. As they say, “the rest is history.” Read more>>

Nini Amerlise | Canadian Supermodel, Actress & CEO of NA Management Inc

The Vision behind NA Management Inc is to provide Creatives and Models an Agency different than most when it comes down to core values and principles, as a faith based company we focus on producing an atmosphere of authenticity, integrity and true diversity to thrive for genuine global impact and restoration of representation. Read more>>

Dr. Austyn Yarbrough | Chiropractor & Functional Medicine Practitioner

My thought process before starting this business was to change the game in the health space. Throughout the years I have struggled with a rare neurological and autoimmune disorder that left me helpless and lost. I was going to numerous specialists that could not give me answers. After spending thousands of dollars lost, I knew I wanted to study holistic medicine. After working a year in a corporate setting I learned a lot. Read more>>

Brandon Big B The Chef” Tiffith | CEO of Big B The Chef & Top Dawg Ent. CMO”

My thought process behind starting ‘Big B The Chef’ was driven by a combination of passion, skill, and a desire to create something meaningful. I have always had a deep love for cooking and making money! I’ve spent years honing my culinary skills & have 5 degrees (a masters in business) to prove how much I love business. During this time, I realized that cooking wasn’t just a hobby for me; it was my true calling. Read more>>

Laura Moreau | Photographer

I used to work in the music industry. I had a position I loved, but sadly, in an abusive company. It was two years ago. I was working hard, I was burned out, I got fired, and then depression hit me. So obviously, I had nothing to lose, and I needed to get back on my feet. Photography is a passion and medicine for me, so I started to shoot a lot and didn’t think about starting my own business. Luckily, people liked my work, and I started getting hired more and more, which is how it started. Read more>>

Christopher Udoh | Cultural Entrepreneur, Curator, Artist

I was a shallow artist until I attended the Ubumuntu Art Festival at Kigali in the summer of 2017. There I saw first hand, the transformative nature of art and its ability to create a space for forgiveness, unity, peace and sustainable development. This festival was created every year as part of a healing campaign to the gruesome atrocities of the Rwandan genocide of 1994. The festival reminds the world of our shared humanity- tracing its core to the Ubuntu philosophy that “I am because you are and you are because I am, We are human together”. Read more>>

Frank Tirimacco | Actor & Director

What started it all for me was finding a good bunch of people that you can trust and work just as hard as you. I found a group of people that not only could see my vision as much as I could see theirs, but they loved making things as much as I did. To me, I want people to see that anything is possible with little to no equipment. You must have the grit and drive to make things because sadly, the industry won’t come to you and offer it. Read more>>

Ali Aydin | Founder & Creative Director at MOT Creative

The decision to start my own business, MOT Creative, was born out of a deep passion for visual storytelling and a desire to make a meaningful impact in the world of key art design for movies and TV shows. Having worked in the industry for several years and honed my skills, I felt that the time was right to take control of my creative vision and pursue projects that truly resonated with me. Read more>>

HATCH | Modern Japanese Restaurant

The three co-founders of HATCH are: Akarad Tachavatcharapa, Nara Latip, and Daniel Shemtob. Their mission is to make socializing as delicious as possible. By combining their Singaporean, Thai, Indonesian, and Jewish backgrounds, they frequently reference ingredients personal to their cultures to create playful dishes. Read more>>

Reyes Perez & Esmeralda Arellano | Coffee Shop Owners

Before opening the coffee shop we had a cellphone business that we had opened since 1996 but after the closures during the pandemic of COVID-19 it began to decline and we knew it was time for the next chapter in our business careers. Through all those long days what sustained us through it all was looking forward to our coffee breaks, we use to drive to different cities just for a really good coffee and as we got older and were faced with this obstacle of our business ending we thought why can’t we be the coffee shop people drive far to go to. Read more>>

Adriana Gomez-Weston | Writer and Editor

When I thought about starting my own business, I thought of what I could do to contribute to others’ success. The Write Intentions began almost by accident. Over the years, people reached out to me for help with their resumes, pitches, and other written work—and my edits and guidance netted results. Hearing about how my clients got new jobs and got into publications really inspired me, so I decided to take my work to the next level. The Write Intentions is about using writing skills to also take others to the next level. Read more>>

Ayako Karasawa | Film&Commercial Producer

I started my production company Vivax Productions, LLC in August 2022 with my partner Carolyn l. Zhao. We were introduced by our common friend, and everything started with a dinner with Carolyn. We were both in the film industry, specializing in producing. As I got to know more about her, we realized that we both have very similar visions yet went through a very different route. I grew up watching movies, and spending most of my childhood in watching movies because my parents were very occupied with their work. Read more>>

Analeia Bella Madden | Fashion Designer & Illustrator

So crazy! I am just now starting my business! It feels really fast and scary, but also really exciting and empowering. (nervous laughter) There’s no way I can’t start my own business. My whole entire family are artistic entrepreneurs haha! It’s in my DNA! I’ve always had big dreams and ambitions and I am sooooo passionate about drawing and making clothes Read more>>

Dr. Tamitra Clark | Bestselling Author, Grief and Loss Educator, Community Advocate

The original thought process for my business was inspired and motivated by the challenging work environment I endured from 2014-2019. I had very little support from the executive team as I worked diligently to keep the organization afloat. In the process of doing this, I was approached by one of our partners who founded a non-profit working with senior veterans. I was asked if I could perform a series of workshops with them around apathy and wellness. Read more>>

Maria Melkonian-Maissian | Founder and Chief Brand Officer of Enove Agency

My decision to start my own business stemmed from a deep desire for change and a commitment to prioritizing what truly mattered to me. Several key factors shaped my thought process: Fulfilling Work-Life Balance: Working for companies had its benefits, but it often meant sacrificing precious time with my family. I realized that achieving a better work-life balance was a priority for me, especially as I wanted to be present for my family’s needs and milestones. Read more>>

Cooper Andrews | Owner of Z41 Film Lab & Filmmaker

Starting Z41 Film Lab felt like a very natural progression to my life. I started developing film because I wanted to cut costs on the high price of taking my film to labs, which then evolved into developing my friend’s film for a lot cheaper, which evolved into developing film for people at my school for a lot cheaper, which then eventually involved to a much wider audience via social media. The goal was and will always be to make developing film more accessible for everyone. Read more>>

Nicole // Nikolai Herman Lafuge // Lafuge | Designer, Co-Founder of Studio Colonnade

Nicole: I think Nikolai and I were both attracted to forging our own paths and going a bit rogue in the career-sense. Even now, our company is evolving and not easily defined. We do interiors, landscape design, furniture, textiles, lighting…we kinda want to try our hand at everything. We never knew we would end up going into business together; it happened organically. Our interests evolved together over the past 13 years and we couldn’t help but have opinions and edits to each other’s work. Read more>>

Shyam Sivaramakrishnan | Co-founder, BanyanBoard

Thanks for having us featured on this panel. When we started our business, our thought process was all about working in a job which matched our principles. If you had asked me 10 years back whether I wanted to be running my own business, I might have casually thought that would be fun, but would have been equally OK working for another business. But, having worked in multi-nationals and a start-up over the last 10+ years, I have come to the conclusion that there are fundamental principles that each of these businesses adhere to, that has played a large part in the current pressure to perform for the people in these businesses. Read more>>

Amira Hussein | Health coach & Owner of Shape Lounge

I wanted to create a wellness business where people could come and take care of many of. their health and fitness needs in one place. I envisioned a space where my clients could not only relax and enjoy their treatments, but also become educated and empowered in learning how to take care of their health in a natural, holistic manner.. I know time is precious, so I enjoy offering solutions that are not only effective, but time efficient, at a reasonable price point. Read more>>

Eric Singleton | Black-owned business

Starting my own men’s clothing line was a dream I’d nurtured for years. I wanted to create stylish, high-quality clothing that would make men feel confident and comfortable. I saw a gap in the market for quality, well-designed pieces that catered to a diverse range of tastes. So, I decided to take the leap and turn my passion into a business, driven by a desire to help men look and feel their best. Read more>>

Greer Consulting Dr. Marissiko Wheaton-Greer and Vince Greer | Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Expert Consultants

Before getting married, we initially met as colleagues — both working in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion space. Each of us has a strong passion for addressing inequities and creating spaces where people of all identities and backgrounds can thrive. Before creating a shared business, we each had our own set of clients. As independent consultants, we facilitated similar work and at times when we collaborated on projects, it was just so easy. Working together is really natural for us since we speak the same language and both began our careers in higher education/academia. Read more>>

David Slay | Chef

I was born into a long line of entrepreneurial-spirited restaurateurs. Beyond my love for cooking, the allure of autonomy and shaping my own culinary vision is what drove me to create my own restaurants. From growing up with chefs to years spent in renowned kitchens working and training with the creme de la creme of culinary masterminds around the world, I craved the canvas of entrepreneurship where I could bring together the flavors, techniques and concepts from my experiences over the years. Read more>>

Satina Warner | Owner, Who Gon’ Say It

Hi there! The name of my company is Who Gon’ Say it? Yes you read that right 🙂 Have you ever been in a situation where something was so obvious and needed to be said, but no one wanted to call it out? – And the question becomes, “Who’s gonna say it?” In 2021 during the height of the pandemic, I was a Human Resources Supervisor working from home. I began seeing so many women starting businesses. Some were online boutiques, T-shirt businesses, cleaning, consulting, coaching businesses…you name it! Read more>>

Nathan Allen | Managing Owner

My husband and I started Underdog Bookstore with our future kids in mind. We looked at our jobs, we looked at our community, and we looked at anti-LGBTQ sentiment growing in both our state and our nation and decided that we needed to make sure that we were making our community safe for our future kids. So, I quit my job and invested into making a safe space in my city. Underdog Bookstore focuses on the voices of those who we consider underdogs – underrepresented authors, small presses, and local vendors. Read more>>

Isaiah Moore | Actor & Manager

When I embarked on the journey of creating “IRMTALENT,” my thought process was rooted in a deep understanding of the challenges that creative individuals often face when expressing their passions and hobbies. I envisioned a platform where people could freely embrace their true selves, whether immersing themselves in another world as a character, honing their acting skills, or showcasing their modeling talents. Read more>>

Nick Crooks | Physical Therapist & Educator

Growing up, I was quite athletic. Being very competitive in sports, I suffered multiple injuries. This gave me my first introduction to physical therapy. Even as a teenager, I remember thinking that there had to be better methods of therapy than what I was being prescribed, as the results from treatment were often marginal.  My burgeoning baseball career ended prematurely due to an ongoing shoulder injury that was never properly treated and rehabilitated. Read more>>

Tanya Scott | Pilates Instructor/Studio Owner

It was during the first 6 months of quarantine, and I wanted to be able to continue doing Pilates with my clients, especially during quarantine. It was a dream of mine to set up an outdoor studio in my yard for years. When the studio where I worked had to close down because of Covid restrictions, she sold her apparatus and I bought a Reformer. I had a deck built, covered it with a gazebo, and brought my clients to the backyard studio! Read more>>

Lauren Naomi | Yoga Instructor & Event Curator

I wanted to share my experiences in throughout my wellness journey and create safe spaces for people to connect doing things that resonate. I’ve been in my wellness practice for a few years and the most anchoring part was being in community with other people and learning through their experience. Post pandemic my habits had changed and I really enjoyed doing wellness activités such as yoga. Connecting with people after class was different due to cultural shifts and apprehension from Covid. Read more>>

MARC GRAUE | Voice Actor, Producer, Studio Owner

I started my studios, Marc Graue Voice Over & Post, in East Hollywood, in a guest house behind a landlord that couldn’t understand what all these voice over people and Celebs were doing coming and going. I’m sure he was convinced I was selling drugs or something. Half the house was a recording studio, complete with booth and I did well enough there to move into a commercial building in Hollywood that eventually tripled in size and when the area got a little too rough I moved the studios to Burbank where they’ve been for the past 40 plus years! Read more>>

Shala Rosa | Artist, Designer, poet

Being passionate about my art and it’s process to do what I am doing today. Read more>>