In our experience, most folks, including ourselves don’t have enough of an understanding of risk and the role it plays in our lives and careers and so we have made a concerted effort as a team to have conversations about risk with our interviewees. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Paola Zamudio | Founder + Designer @ npz studio+ , Creative Director + Lead Desginer @ Bell works

As an entrepreneur I feel that it’s important to take risks, always keep challenging yourself and not settling . I feel that my greatest achievements have come from taking risks and doing things out of my comfort zone. My family took a huge risk when we all move to this country, as immigrants you always feel a little out of place and out of your comfort zone which can be a blessing in disguise because for me that experience of the unknown allows me to have the confidence to take risks. I moved to NYC 12 years with a bag full of dreams, which sounds cliché but it’s how I got things done, taking risks not being afraid and just doing what I love dong every day. Read more>>

Erin Gleason Alvarez | Mediator, Arbitrator & Special Master

As a lawyer, I was trained to assess and manage risk. I’ve always worked in disputes – as a litigator initially and now as a mediator and arbitrator. It has always been my job to help other people identify risk and how to either manage or avoid it. From a business perspective, risk management is a necessity in order for companies to grow, promote efficiencies, and manage cost. Read more>>

Lisa Bolden | Filmmaker, Photographer, Writer, Actor and Editor

Risk has been a consistent force in my adventure with filmmaking. I think I’m a risky human, but without the need to skydive or gamble. My risks come in the form of instability. Picking up and moving cross-country on a whim, spending my last dollars on a new camera without the promise of new work, shooting on the back of motorcycle in the middle of a thunderstorm. Read more>>

J.T. Boyd | Author, CFO, Leadership, Business & Relationship Consultant, Certified Life Coach

When I think of risk, I simply think of it as a point of reflection. It’s an opportunity to access current life status, ultimate life goals, and all the decisions you’ve made thus far to get to the present. It’s a moment, where you’re able to ask yourself the question, “Do I still want more, do I still want better?” If the answer to that question is no, then there is nothing additional that needs to be done. Read more>>

Ray Foreman | Actor & Producer

When it comes to risk taking I really think about two main things, what can I gain from this and of course what can I lose from this. you know? basically the pros and cons of taking said risk. Risk taking has actually played a huge role in my career. I am originally from Denver, Colorado born and raised and moved to Los Angeles about seven years ago. Now before I moved I was working as a house keeper at the Four Seasons Denver and to be honest I was depressed. Read more>>

Evelyn Sanchez | Portrait Photographer

Growing up I don’t think I was much of a risk taker, sometimes til this day I will doubt something because I get scared. One of the biggest risks I have taken so far in my life is moving across the country alone (with my partner). I left Los Angeles and came to New York City not knowing anything or anyone here. There was moments when I thought what if this doesn’t work out? Today I look at this big move as the best thing I’ve done. Moving across the country has helped my business and me as a person. I’ve been able to grow my career in ways I don’t think I would have if I did not take a risk. Read more>>

Bryn Bell | Illustrator and Writer

I believe that artists are constantly taking a risk by pursuing a creative career. Similarly, I believe that as an artist, it is vital I take risks in my work. Artwork is inherently personal, and no matter the content or perceivability of the artist’s intentions, there is risk in sharing that piece with the world, but I suspect that that vulnerability is what draws audiences most. In my life, risk has presented itself most as the act of pursuing my creative ambitions, and every risk I have taken has led to me becoming more myself. Read more>>

Ryne Belanger | Photographer

Ive never really thought about change or trying something new as a “risk”. A new experience will either be great or lesson that will help you in the future. Taking the risk of leaving a 9-5 job has been scary, you don’t know if things are going to work out, if clientele is going to come through, but if you work hard enough I believe anyone can do it. Pursuing my passion has opened so many doors, and gave me the freedom to do whatever I want. Having complete control over my time is what I’m most grateful for. Not to be cliche, but I don’t like a human life that slaves away to not have a chance to enjoy the things around it. Taking risks has been the greatest thing Ive ever done. Read more>>

Fabrizio BriKan | Singer songwriter & Actor

There’s not a single great story of success that didn’t come with a risk, and I’m absolutely sure that there’s a lot more things to learn from risks than monotony, even if it’s a mistake. I consider that I’ve taken 2 big risks in my life, the first one was moving from Guanajuato, MX (where I’m originally from) to Los Angeles. It was a very tedious process that made reconsider my decision many times, but having been here for 2 years already I can say that there’s nothing in the world that if change for the things I’ve learned being here, and the experiences that I’ve had, Read more>>

Tania Torres | Illustrator & Artist

I’d like to say I’m fairly new to taking risks. Most of my life, in particular with art, I’ve kept my decisions personal and low-risk. However, every time i’ve taken a major risk since growing into adulthood it’s taught me about self-discipline and vulnerability. I think most importantly, taking risks have to happen in order to live a life with no regrets, so I’m working on taking on more. Read more>>

Dorri Buchholtz | Sculptor

I have always been a big risk taker and have felt that risks are opportunities. Fear has never really played a roll in my life decisions. That’s not to say that I don’t at times feel fearful but I never let that stop me because great growth occurs when we are out of our comfort zones. Early in my career I took a huge risk and left my job at a world renowned tennis academy to start my own sports medicine and sports performance practice. Read more>>

Lisa Carey | Founder of Intentfully FiT

To me, the risk comes from not taking the risk. The only way I grow and feel my most awake is when I’m out of my comfort zone to be part of something bigger. I really just think it’s more about following my heart and seeing where that takes me. I guess I got that perspective from being a competitive figure skater at a young age. I did a lot of falling and getting back up, and I still couldn’t get enough. Read more>>

Rose Stoller | Musician & Songwriter

I think I take risks often. I like the challenge, I like the failure, and I know that I will need to fail many times before nailing something, so my attitude is that I better get those flops out of the way sooner rather than later. Read more>>

Shannon Leigh | Owner/Photographer of FOCUS and Legend Boudoir by Shannon Leigh

Making the decision to pursue my business is the biggest risk I have ever taken. I was diagnosed with multiple autoimmune conditions at a young age. It changed all of my plans and highly affected my decision making. I played it very safe and chose work that was dependable and predictable. Even though I did all sorts of creative things in my spare time, from painting to dance to photography, I always chose straightforward income methods. Then Covid happened. Read more>>

Myles Ross and Melynda Mryvang | Director, Producer

Myles: Hello – I’m Myles Ross. I’m director, and Melynda is the producer of the feature film “The House”. It’s the story of a group of teens, who, after a freak car crash and the death of their friends, assume all hope is lost… until they discover a mysterious revive serum that can bring their dead back to life… but only one of them. I wrote & directed it, and me and my team (including producer Melynda Myrvang) shot it on a micro-budget, with a cast of 6 actors, a crew of only 13, in just 5 days of principal photography, and I’m happy to say we’ve now got a few film festival wins under our belt. Read more>>

Lukasz Yoder | Pianist, model, reality tv star

I’m a strong believer in regretting the things done rather than those not done. After all, failure is a matter of perception: if I learn from my mistakes, I never failed, I grew. Spending many hours sitting alone in a dimly lit room, pursuing a career where supply tends to outpace demand, was inherently risky. Being a classical pianist is tough- there is fierce competition for relatively few opportunities. Deciding to pursue modeling, a career viewed with suspicion, was also risky. Are awesome photos of my chiseled abs really worth jeopardizing relationships with the older, often conservative audience that tends to attend classical piano concerts? All of these risks however, pale in comparison to my participation in HBO’s hit reality tv series Fboy Island. Read more>>

Ingrid Sanchez | Director of Photography

I think risk taking has had a huge impact in my career and life. I also think that risk taking is a calculated decision that is based off of what your end goal is v.s current limitations, and generally it takes a lot of self confidence and street smarts. Risk taking brings you to places you never thought you’d be, but also sometimes feels like the exact right spot to be. Read more>>

Jude Shih | Multimedia Composer, Sound designer

In retrospect, it is a path full of risky decisions and leaps of faith for me. While everything sums up my current career as a composer, in the past 15 years, I have been through several decisive moments that have drastically altered my career path, gradually shaping me into who I am. Spending my entire childhood and teenage years in Taiwan, I fell in love with astrophysics after reading “A Brief History of Time” by Stephen Hawking. Despite the tremendous pressure of the Taiwanese high school entrance exam, Read more>>

Jacobus Uys | Enthusiasit Architect | Yoga Instructor | Daily Doodler

The biggest risk you can take is not doing something. That is already a 100% failure rate. The attempt is the success, not reaching the so-called “end goal”. It is something I have battled with immensely, through my climbing, martial arts, and professional journeys. Focusing on starting as the whole point. Read more>>

Tomomi Okubo | Bridal designer & Pattern maker

I have taken two big risks in my life: the first, when I moved to New York from Japan at age 27, without even knowing the language. And the second, when I quit my full-time job to launch my own business. I believe that whenever you want change in your life, you must take some risks. Otherwise, your circumstances will always stay as they are. Things might not end up how you expected after taking a big chance, but for me, I’ve met new people and I’ve experienced things I couldn’t before. Of course, it feels stressful to face something new, but at the same time, I enjoy seeing what happens. Read more>>

Resa Mishina | Actor, Dancer, Singer, Gymnast
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This business is full of taking risks, and I believe that nothing substantial comes from a safe choice. It was a big risk for me to move from Japan to America for college and to stay in order to pursue a career as an actor. Every time that I audition, I consider it as taking risks. You have to be so vulnerable to do the work and put yourself out there for people to judge your performance. All you have is your training and instincts as an actor, and you just hope that your interpretation somehow aligns with the casting’s or director’s view. Read more>>

Alejandra Ramos Riera | Actress, Playwright, Director

I believe that a huge component of being an artist has to do with taking risks. Being a risk-taker can make a difference in your career and can definitely put you on another level. Taking risks it’s exactly what it is, the outcome won’t necessarily be what you wanted but it will push you, teach you and help you get out of comfort zones. Artists learn to live with uncertainty. There’s always more questions than answers and most of the time you move forward trusting your instincts being your gut one of the most certain thing you’ll have. Read more>>

Semaj Miller | Story-Teller- (Actor, Director, Writer)

I’ll share this poem, it sums up how I now think of risks… “Come to the edge,” he said. “We can’t, we’re afraid!” they responded. “Come to the edge,” he said. “We can’t, We will fall!” they responded. “Come to the edge,” he said.
And so they came. And he pushed them. And they flew.” ― Guillaume Apollinaire Read more>>

Maricruz Menchero | Actress. Architect. Artist.

I just looked up risk in the dictionary and was surprised to see all the negative connotations associated with the word. “The possibility of loss or injury. Someone or something that creates a hazard. The chance that an investment will lose value” (Merriam-Webster). This is pretty incredible. Our dictionaries do a wonderful job of reinforcing the value of security, hinting that anything that steers us away from comfortability and certainty is nothing short of hazardous. Read more>>