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.

Nic B | Fitness Trainer & Confidence Coach

I think one must have leadership qualities, commitment, passion, and consistency to be a business owner. It’s not an easy task but, I feel I’ve always had the skillset to start my own business. I became my own walking build board. I gave people what they needed by having what they wanted. Read more>> 

Alexis Frank | Transformation Coach & Business Strategist for Eldest Daughters

I always craved freedom beyond what a corporate job could give me. I didn’t like the idea of having to explain myself to a boss or constantly having to justify my decisions. Additionally, I never found my true calling within a corporate environment. As a generalist and Human Design Projector, I’m meant to guide people in many different ways and the corporate world has not yet scratched surface of the impact of employees like me. Read more>> 

Lisa Loggins | Actor, Director and Producer

I’ve been self employed since I was 25 years old. I always knew that I would be starting my own production company and creating my own content when the time was right. Then, the strike happened and the timing couldn’t have been more right. It gave me the opportunity to still create opportunities for myself and other artists. Read more>>

Zack Oliver | Founder

At this point in my career, I have started a few ventures. I am currently the Co-Founder and CFO of Matchpoint, a NIL (Name, Image, and Likeness) marketplace that generates contracts and processes payments for college athletes. About a year ago, I moved to LA from New York, and found myself lacking a community of like minded people, so I figured I would make my own. Read more>>

Yolanda Benning | Frankie Baby Fantastic / Fantastic Media Group

My thought process behind starting my own business was to combind my gifts and passions into a business that aligned with my purpose. It allows me to not only pursue something I’m passionate about but also make a meaningful impact through my work. Read more>> 

Thalita Bueno | Wardrobe stylist

I wanted to extend my fashion and artistic vision through a service where I could improve someone else’s life, so after lots of overthinking and self sabotage thoughts, I decided to take my knowledge and skills to start my styling business. Read more>>

Zach Tolchinsky | Filmmaker, Stop-Motion Artist, Creative Director

After spending a decade in the animation and stop-motion industry, I thought it time I start my own business geared towards tackling stories and projects that really inspire me. Over the years, I’ve acquired unique skills through a plethora of interesting jobs, and in the process, began creating personalized pieces for clients. Read more>> 

Lindsay Hurty | Self Development Educator

My career shifted when I became a mom. Parenthood dramatically changes life’s flow, and although I’d been a classroom educator before motherhood, I wanted to be all-in with my babes at home. By the time my third child was born, I was ready to plan my way back into my career, but going back to teaching high school English, as I had prior to motherhood, would have required full-time help with my kids. Read more>>

Devon Williams | Photographer

I originally started off with the mind that I didn’t want to work for another person besides my self . Growing up I always was a hustler so it transitioned into the mind of I wanna do this more with the things I love. Read more>>

Hailey Okula | RN New Grads CEO & Registered Nurse

My thought process stemmed from my own struggles as a newly graduated nursing student. I realized the lack of centralized resources for new grads in the nursing field and decided to fill that gap by creating RN New Grads. Never in a million years did I expect it to turn out to be what it is today! Read more>>

Michelle Ora Melamed | Jewish-Iranian LA Native

There’s a common cliche thrown around – that if you leave your 9-5, you end up working 24/7 – and while there is some merit to this argument, meaning that you are more likely to work around the clock, having your own business affords you the luxury of being in control on your own schedule that you would otherwise not be granted if working for a larger corporation. Read more>>

Gale West | Success Coach and Money Mentor

I’ve had my own business for over 30 years. Originally, it was because I had chronic fatigue and was not willing to go on disability, I could set my own hours and support myself at the same time. Read more>>

Julian and Cameron Harrison | Equestrian Show jumpers

We have been riding horses since 2020 during the height of the pandemic. As our love for working with our horses and competing began to grow, we thought that it would be great if we could start sharing that with other kids our age. We asked our mom to help start running our social media, but we get to come up with a lot of the video ideas. Read more>>

Adrian Narro | Musician, Composer, Post Production Editor & Recording Engineer

I run Mythos Post Production, my brand and studio specializing in a hybrid of soundtrack composition, recording, and a versatile range of post production enhancement services for entertainment/arts media. Read more>>

MAGZ YANG | Artist That Golfs

For over 7 years, I devoted my career and creative energy to Adidas, immersing myself in the world of material development and design. It was a privilege to contribute to a brand that resonates globally, creating products for athletes and enthusiasts all over the world. While I valued the experience, I craved the chance to express my own ideas. Read more>>

Katie Cobbs | Social Media Developer

Initially, I thought having my own business would mean freedom 24/7, but I was definitely wrong on that one. My mom was actually the one who started the business in the beginning. She continues to inspire me! In 2020 she was diagnosed with breast cancer, so along with helping her through the early stages of that process, I ended up joining and we eventually turned the business into “Magnolia Roots Marketing & Media” Read more>>

Michelle Newman | Award Winning Podcast Host & Producer

All I wanted to do was write and talk, so I was drawn to podcasting as a career. I’d been a visual artist in the photography/video industry and was burnt out. “Newman Media” started as a podcast management company. I was going to handle the technical side of other people’s podcasts. Read more>>

Patti Kane | DJ, mentor, producer, owner, CEO, student

After the pandemic, I starting thinking about disposable we are as employees while owners continue their cashflow. I want to be sure I am able to sustain myself and possible help others if the economy makes it necessary. Read more>>

Dustin Tuttle | Builder/maker

I just like the idea of working for and answering to myself. Creating my own schedule is important too. Read more>>

A.T. Etzweiler | Film Director & Editor

Creating my own business was not my original intent after graduating. I was dead set on finding the stable 9-5 that everyone is craving after college. It was not until the Dean of my film school at the time, Tom Halleen, approached me and told me that I had a lot of potential as a filmmaker in the industry. Read more>> 

Valerie Danna | Executive Communications Strategist

Female leaders often lack confidence or clarity when they communicate, particularly in times of transition or growth. They need a thought partner when they are ready to rise to the executive level of a corporation, launch their dream business or expand their established company. Read more>>

Michael Doyle | Cinematographer and Partner in Fluxgate LLC

Growing up my grandfather had a surveying business where I assisted him. He had a room full of maps and a truck full of gear, and it showed me that it’s possible for someone to own their own business. Then, meeting Greg Harriott in college and discovering that our approaches to the work, and to collaborating with people was very similar, we very quickly agreed to form a partnership. Read more>>

Barbara Wiseman | Co-Founder and President of LAWRENCE ANTHONY EARTH ORGANIZATION

In 2003, world renowned conservationist, Dr. Lawrence Anthony, asked me to help him start an international environmental non-profit. He was on his way back from having spent 5 1/2 months in Baghdad to rescue the animals of the Baghdad Zoo at the beginning of the war in Iraq. Read more>>

Kharifi Hind | Illustrator, graphic artist, and cultural mediator

To be honest, I didn’t know I could start on my own, but I must admit I was well surrounded. I am an illustrator and I have always enjoyed drawing what pleased and inspired me. My friends, my family, and even the people who followed me on Instagram or Facebook at the time believed in me and thought I could go far with my illustrations. And for that, I am grateful. Read more>>

Francesco Pollice and Fiona Burbank n/a | Entrepreneurs

We both were working in the fashion industry but had a mutual passion for coffee. We decided to start our own coffee business to be able to work on a project together. We loved the idea of blending the coffee culture from Francesco’s Italian heritage and modernizing it for our local LA clientele. Read more>>

Patrique Addison, LCSW | Therapist

I worked for a non-profit agency for over 7 years and I loved working with people on an individual level. But I had a burgeoning entrepreneurial spirit and I wanted more agency over my work with clients. This led me into creating my own business where I can still support people on their healing journeys. Read more>>

Pam Matew | Director & Entrepreneur

The thought process behind starting my own business was simple – I was looking for a space where I could practice my craft as a director, looked everywhere, found nothing and created it myself. After a director or filmmaker graduates college or film school, where do they go to keep honing their skill? Read more>>

Cintia Saravia | Visual Merchandiser and Pet Fashionista

Working as a visual merchandiser for the past 8 years has given me the opportunity to learn about commercial branding and merchandising. In my line of work, we are able to use our creativity in order to bring a mood board to life. Whether it be changing out whole departments rooms in order to create a more seasonal appropriate trend, to commercial changes in the windows and mannequins. Read more>>

Avram Mandell | Founder and Curator of Impactful Experiences

When I started off Tzedek America, I had some burning questions on my mind: What really gets me going? Where do I shine brightest? And how can I turn those strengths into something truly meaningful? These questions set the stage for what would become my life’s mission. Read more>>

Pratibha Salian | Makeup Artist/Coach/Educator

Starting a business needs commitment, planning, sacrifice and a strong sense of Passion and Purpose: when I moved to USA, I was driven by a deep passion for Makeup, understanding each and every products the why’s and What’s? And then when I started understanding every detail about this I fell in love with it. Read more>>