What role has risk played in your life and career?
How do you think about risk? What role has taking risks played in your life/career? Check out responses from hidden gems from our community below.
Laurence Walsh-Hodson
For me, risk is deeply tied to purpose. I don’t take risks lightly—but when something moves me at a soul level, I’m willing to stake everything on it. Three years ago, I watched my brother, a ballroom dance instructor, perform a Paso Doble with Mia Schaikewitz, a wheelchair user. Her grace, strength, and presence were mesmerizing. In that moment, the idea for BALLROOM was born.
I saw an opportunity to tell a story that hadn’t been told—a story about resilience, healing, and transformation after trauma. I wrote BALLROOM from a deeply personal place. Read More>>
Alejandra Hermida
In my experience, taking risks often leads to new opportunities. Embracing uncertainty encourages change and opens up doors.
In my professional practice, this mindset has allowed me to work across various disciplines within the design and art world. Most recently, it has led me to explore new tools and processes such as 3d printing with ceramics, which challenged me but enriched my artistic process. Read More>>
Gerardo
I see risk as necessary. Whether in business or any form of art, you have to put yourself out there. For many reasons we all get insecure about putting ourselves out there, but it’s necessary for success. Opening yourself up to criticism is part of the journey. I think when it’s all said and done, most people will regret what they didn’t do versus what they did do. Regret is often a heavier burden than failure, failure is growth, failure is experience, failure is risk, but ultimately failure is an opportunity to try and do it better. Read More>>
Jamie Aronson
My entire adult life has been taking one risk after another. I’ve seen from others that playing it safe is an illusion, as life can be painfully unpredictable. I told myself if life is going to be challenging no matter what, I might as well put that effort towards pursuing what I want most. Anything else just isn’t worth the struggle to me! I made a decision years ago that my sense of success is based on how aligned I feel with my passion and purpose. I feel fulfilled when I know I’m on that path, and risk is often a major player in this game. I have been known to shift/ pivot/ make adjustments in most areas of my life and as often as it takes (sometimes every few months) until it feels like the right fit. Read More>>
Hudson Mateus
I’m a Brazilian tattoo artist and I’ve been doing this professionally for 12 years. In my country I had already conquered my clientele and been recognized as an artist. Risking myself in a new country, in a new culture was to completely leave the comfort zone. I could imagine that it wouldn’t be easy but I knew that this would be very important for my career and would make me a better artist. Read More>>
Louis Goodman Jr
Embracing risk has been fundamental to my journey in modeling and acting. The world of performance is inherently unpredictable, and stepping outside of my comfort zone has allowed me to grow both personally and professionally.
In modeling, the competition is fierce, and opportunities can often come down to a leap of faith. When I first started, I risked putting myself out there—attending auditions and casting calls, even when I felt uncertain about my chances. Each time I took that risk, I learned something new about the industry and myself. Whether it was trying a new look or style that felt unfamiliar, or taking on projects that pushed my boundaries, I found that the rewards often outweighed the fears. Read More>>
Wandi (Lexie) Zhang
me, taking risks is essential in both art and life. As a fashion photographer, every creative decision comes with uncertainty — from choosing an unconventional concept to working with new collaborators. But it’s in those uncertain spaces that the most meaningful and striking work emerges. Read More>>
Amol Ramani
Growing up, I was always considered to be a problem child. I would refuse to conform to set standards, I’d always love to find workarounds, take the road less travelled. As I grew older, I realized that the problem wasn’t me, in fact it wasn’t anyone. People who play it safe aren’t wrong, they would rather go for the more secure option where returns are guaranteed. Me? I know my formulae but I refuse to be formulaic. I love taking risks. That’s partly because I don’t see risk as a taboo. To me, it is a way of discovering something new about myself that I wouldn’t be able to otherwise. Read More>>
