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.

Gayathri SR

I started sculpting at the age of five and made tiny sculptures with so much detail that it surprised everyone around me. I didn’t return to it until I was 25, when I made a small sculpture as a farewell gift for a friend. That one simple gesture reignited my passion for sculpting. Read More>>

Mai Che

Before becoming a stay-at-home mom, I worked as an events specialist, and I truly loved it. Being behind the scenes—coordinating with hotel staff, kitchen teams, sales departments, and clients—was incredibly fulfilling. There’s something special about watching an event come together from start to finish. The energy, the excitement, and the joy of people celebrating meaningful moments always inspired me. Read More>>

Debbie Bean

Starting my own studio came from a deep need to create, but sustaining it has always relied on discipline. After years of working behind the scenes in the art world, I wanted to make something tangible with my hands again. Stained glass had been a childhood passion, and returning to it felt instinctive. Read More>>

Claudine Francois

My decision to start my own business came from watching a consistent pattern, both in my own life and in the lives of other high-performing women. I spent years in high-pressure corporate environments where performance, data, and results mattered. Read More>>

Phnam Bagley

I had worked at several design studios before, and those experiences taught me a great deal about how a studio operates: what works well, what doesn’t, and what has room for improvement. I’ve always paid close attention to the business side of design and to how design shapes the future. Read More>>

Camila Rosa

I started my own business from a desire for independence and a deep urge to follow my dream of working with art and illustration. It became a natural extension of my creative practice, allowing me to shape my own path and collaborate with people and brands that align with my values. Read More>>

Yuhang Shao

Before I entered the Frost School of Music, I didn’t have formal composition training, even though I’d studied trumpet and music fundamentals from a young age. Choosing to become a freelance musician — and eventually a composer — was actually a decision I struggled with for a long time. Read More>>

Heather Brown

When I founded Body By Design, my mission was simple: to make a meaningful impact by helping as many people as possible find comfort and relief from pain. Read More>>

Evan Pham

I started my own practice because I wanted alignment between how I think physical therapy should be delivered and how it actually operates day to day. Early in my career, I believed in helping as many people in pain as I can was the best way to make a difference as a physical therapist. However, I felt a growing disconnect between incentives and outcomes. Read More>>

Krista Lee

To answer this I need to give a little context of who I am as a person. My whole life I never felt very confident in myself or good enough in anything. When I was in high school trying to choose what I wanted to major in college I felt so much anxiety because I had no idea what my future should look like. Read More>>

Adlai’ Hayes

I’ve always seen business differently. Where some see a job, I see a system. Where others see a task, I see a blueprint. My journey into entrepreneurship wasn’t a sudden shift, but a calculated evolution. I spent years within the halls of Corporate America with a specific mission: to deconstruct the mechanics of success. Read More>>

Dominique Aumua

I wanted to build financial freedom but also a legacy within my family to know nothing is impossible without God. That anyone can build something from ground up if you’re willing to put in the work. Read More>>

Shakinah Fulton

The idea for Shakinah’s Glory Homes really grew out of my own lived experience. I became a mother at 16, and while being a teenager is already hard enough, adding motherhood on top of that was overwhelming in ways I didn’t expect. I didn’t have many answers, I didn’t always know what to do, and navigating school, identity, and responsibility at the same time took a real toll on my mental health.  Read More>>

Alphonso Jones

Creating Generational wealth was at the forefront of starting my own business. As the eldest of all my siblings, I always felt the pressure of setting a good example for them. I was the first to graduate college on my maternal and paternal side of my family.  Read More>>

Nicky Lal

Throughout my life, I’ve set intentions that guide who I am and who I’m becoming. I always knew I wanted to own my own business—something that never felt like work, something I could wake up excited to do every day. I also knew I wanted a career that allowed me to interact with people, build meaningful connections, and create a space where others could feel supported. Read More>>

Stephanie Graziano

I always felt like an entrepreneur, even while working for someone else. My approach to responsibility was always as though it was my job to make things work in a way that reached the goals. So naturally, I absolutely love having my own business.  Read More>>

Christina “Tina” Karras

The brand began in a small apartment kitchen in Orange County, where I discovered that baking was more than a hobby. It became a way to honor the small, meaningful moments that bring people together. Read More>>

Sandi Flores

Growing up, my mom was always really creative and used to have her own booth at craft shows until she passed in 2007. I believe it was attending these shows that inspired me with the idea of owning my own little shop, and would randomly daydream about it when I would see vacant stores but always thought of it as “just a fun idea”.  Read More>>

Lindsay Benitez

I started my Leadership Training & Speaking business because I have always been passionate about helping to develop leaders, raising awareness around the importance of inclusive environments, and helping individuals recognize their own strengths. After 15 years in Human Resources in fast-paced industries, I saw firsthand how much potential is lost when leaders don’t have the tools and awareness they need to create meaningful careers and lives for themselves. Read More>>