What was your thought process behind starting your own business?

Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Simon Hunt | N/A

I met my wife in 2012 when we both lived in Dubai. I’m Australian and she’s English. Our entrapenurial journey started from a casual thought we had while staying in airbnbs ourselves during travel in 2013. Our initial thought was a basic one; “we could start an airbnb stay somewhere interesting ourselves one-day”. Shortly after having a few of these day-dreamy holiday chats over drinks, never with any real plans of where, how or when… we stumbled on a small castle in Scotland. Kilmartin Castle, built in 1550 seemed too good to be true. It was amazing and really cheap! Read more>>

Jeff Nisen | Musician & Music Studio Owner

For me it really happened naturally. I’ve been a lifelong musician, and have toured the country several times over. When I’m home in the South Bay I spend my days in our recording studio, Kona Town Recording, in Redondo Beach. Before it became a business, I used it as a shared rehearsal space with some other bands starting around 2011. Steadily we started doing some of our own recording out of there, and then eventually we turned the whole place into a full on recording studio business in about 2015. Today we have tons of clients and stay really busy. I do everything from songwriting, to producing, to booking bands, to running day-to-day operations. Read more>>

Mary Jane Check | Artist

While I’ve been painting for over 20 years and selling work occasionally, I was really spending that time looking to improve my skills and find my niche as an artist. Luckily, I finally found my style during the pandemic around the same time my youngest child was starting school. I really started focusing on the business side of my art because the alternative was getting a job. I started marketing myself, having booths at juried art fairs in my state, making print reproductions of my work, and getting to know the local art scene. Read more>>

Claire Uhar | Founder & CEO, OBSCURE

I’ve spent my career co-founding ventures or working alongside founders and executives on their most critical initiatives, spanning strategy, sales, and marketing. Through these experiences, I developed a knack for identifying the untapped potential in brands and projects—those hidden opportunities that, when discovered, can transform businesses. I realized I had a unique ability to craft the unexpected, and I wanted to bring my approach to a set of clients. I’ve found the more diverse our portfolio, the more complementary it becomes. Read more>>

Somya Munjal | Social entrepreneur dedicated to socioeconomic empowerment

I really believe that poverty is a human condition created by an inefficient economic system built with a theory of winners and losers and the winners lacking heart, intelligence, and empathy. This strong belief was further proven to me as I entered into the finance field in various corporate and institutional finance roles post-college. Youthful Savings is a theory of change company that believes in kind capitalism through bottom-up economics. It’s a mission-driven company that is a part of my soul, and the goal is that each youth we impact makes this mission stronger so the world is a kinder, more inclusive place for all. Read more>>

Jeanine El Melki | CEO of Jem Remodel & Construction Inc

My decision to start my own business was driven by a deep desire for independence and self-direction. After spending ten years in the country without a clear career path and lacking a formal degree, I felt an urgent need to create a better life for myself. While many might opt for the security of further education, I chose to take a leap of faith into entrepreneurship, recognizing the lucrative opportunities it offered in the United States. I firmly believe that a woman can achieve what a man can, often surpassing them in achievement, and I was determined to prove this to myself and others.  Read more>>

Morgan Seiter | Actor, Athlete, and Entrepreneur

I’m constantly generating new ideas, and I needed a way to channel that creativity into something tangible. Seiter Enterprises was born as a vehicle to bring these ideas to life and turn them into profitable ventures. It all started with real estate, but the business quickly evolved into a diverse enterprise with multiple divisions. Read more>>

Diana Tagirovna | TAGIROVNA_VID production

For me, it wasn’t a specific decision — more of a natural progression of my passion. I started filming back in 5th or 6th grade, and it has been a part of my life ever since. My parents were always supportive and never held me back. By the time I was 17, I had started earning money from my work and realized that my hobby could actually turn into a business. Around that time, I was invited to attend a videography school, and that’s when I began taking on larger projects. Read more>>

Sharone Hakman | Chef & Founder of Chef Hak’s

When I started Chef Hak’s, my thought process was driven by the idea of having more control of my own destiny. Working for someone else’s dream just stopped being fulfilling. My passion for bringing real, high-quality food to more people fueled this dream. I wanted to create products that were flavorful, approachable, and made with clean ingredients. Having grown up surrounded by my grandmother’s incredible cooking, my foundation was rooted in real, delicious, soul-comforting food. I eventually realized that my passion for food was more than just a hobby. Read more>>

Wykin Harris | Founder of SaintRose Agency & Creative Director

The thought process behind starting my own business came from a deep desire to build something meaningful where I could share opportunities and success with the people around me. My initial vision was inspired by Rob Dyrdek’s “Fantasy Factory.” He wasn’t just a skateboarder. He is a visionary who brought brands and networks together while creating financial opportunities for himself and his community. I admired his ability to not only grow as an entrepreneur but to also share that journey with others, creating a ripple effect of success. Read more>>

Priscilla Santos Laura Manchester | Photographer & Videographer

Our videography and photography business, Las Dos Creative, was born from a shared passion for meaningful storytelling and capturing beautiful moments. It all started when our children became friends in preschool, which led to many conversations about creativity, photography, and social equity. With Laura’s background in TV and film and Priscilla’s expertise in photojournalism, we realized that we could combine our skills to create something unique and meaningful—capturing vibrant, authentic stories that reflect the diversity and beauty of life. Read more>>

Mark Ostrom | Chef & Owner of Black Belly Foods

It’s pretty simple. I lost my job as the Chef de Cuisine of a restaurant during the pandemic. I needed a job, but being a chef during this time was extremely challenging. The next best thing was to start a small business. My wife said, this is the time to give it a shot. I always keep a work file of all my recipes I have developed over the past 25 years of being a professional chef. It was time to put those recipes to work. I love all things in the culinary world. I wanted to have a restaurant, but with the pandemic restrictions that did not seem possible. I decide to do the next best thing in my mind, which was start a culinary business called Black Belly Foods that gave me options. Read more>>

Ariella Banayan | Designer & Realtor

I started my business at age 21 after just six months of experience at a design firm. During that time, I realized how overwhelming the processes of buying, selling, renovating, and designing homes could be. I saw a real opportunity to create a streamlined, full-service residential concierge that helps clients navigate these complexities with ease. My passion for home design, combined with my desire to support others, drove me to launch this business. I wanted to provide a positive, stress-free experience for clients, making their home journeys enjoyable and efficient. Read more>>

Dr. Deborah Villanueva, Dsw, Msw, Lcsw | Licensed Clinical Social Worker

When I decided to start my own practice, autonomy was at the forefront of my mind- both for myself and the clients I serve. As a clinician in the mental health field, I’ve found that being able to craft an environment where I can provide personalized care is invaluable. I wanted the freedom to innovate and design services that truly meet the needs of each individual. In particular, I recognized that many clients needed a flexible, accessible way to receive mental health care that would fit seamlessly into their busy lives. Whether due to work, family responsibilities, or just the reality of Los Angeles traffic, it’s not always possible to drive across town for an appointment. Read more>>

Somi Jun | Writer

My college counseling business began organically around 2016, when I graduated high school. I was helping my friends and family members with college applications at the same time as navigating the process myself. Read more>>

Frances Zafra | Owner, Creative Director & Principle Designer

There are a few avenues for how I got here.
The first was being honest with myself. The second was purely survival. Third was E.Jean Carroll. My career started as a Graphic Designer, focusing on publishing and events. Being a Graphic Designer involves long hours at a computer designing invitations, logos and whatnot but you don’t get to witness or partake in the action producing the final product. I realized this was counterintuitive to my being a very social person. A few years into this position, I told my boss at the time that I would like to be more involved in the production. Read more>>

Eli Pirian | Brand Owner

When I started Baciano, it wasn’t just about launching a clothing brand but about bringing a personal vision to life. Fashion has always been a huge part of my life, but I often felt like something was missing in the market. I wanted to create outerwear that didn’t just follow trends but genuinely resonated with women in their everyday lives. Something that made them feel both stylish and comfortable, no matter where they were headed. Read more>>

Zara Grigoryan | Event Planner/Coordinator

Starting my own business was a mix of excitement, fear, and determination. The thought process behind it was rooted in a desire for independence and the challenge of creating something from scratch. I had an idea I was passionate about and felt that bringing it to life required the freedom to make decisions on my own terms, without the limitations of working for someone else. Read more>>

Victor & Shiffon Drummond | Compassionate crystal artisans, devoted travelers, and nurturing healers

My journey towards starting my own business was deeply rooted in a desire to support those navigating the difficult path of grief. I wanted to create a space where people could find comfort through crystals and genuine human connection, addressing their emotional needs with care. Read more>> 

Kevin Lee | Event Planner

I didn’t want to continue following other people forever. I wanted the freedom to be my own creative, at full liberty of the path ahead of me. Read more>>

Dylan Alva | Musician and Creative Director

I started jamming with my bandmates the summer of 2014. We would meet at our friend’s house and cover Sublime, Black Flag, and Operation Ivy songs. We spent countless hours cutting our teeth and earning our stripes learning how to play our instruments. We started writing our own songs and took lots of inspiration from our friends who played in a band called Gold Vine. We would go see them play and were introduced to the local music scene and dreamt of playing these backyard gigs that seemed like Coachella to us. Read more>>

Dj Skip | Music Producer/Composer

After stepping away from DJing in 2017 due to mental health challenges, I transitioned from performing at massive events with over 400 attendees to working in the solitude of my studio as a music producer. I launched my own website, offering artists a space to purchase my beats. Since then, I’ve sold over 100 beats and forged meaningful relationships with artists, which have evolved into collaborative projects, resulting in albums and EPs. Read more>>