Deciding to start a business is an unusual decision. It’s often considered irrational and yet for many it’s the best decision they’ve ever made. So we asked folks to think back to when they were starting their businesses and to tell us about their decision making process.

Lauret Odesanya

The thought process behind starting our business was rooted in our desire for more. Personally, more control of my time, more purpose in what I do, and more lasting impact. I’ve always wanted better than what corporate America had to offer in terms of freedom, fulfillment, and ownership. More importantly, we wanted to create something for our children. A legacy that reflects hard work, independence, and vision. Read More>>

Ashley Gossett

1. Passion for Entertaining: My love for entertaining family gatherings sparked the initial interest in baking and creating desserts. This passion served as a foundational motivation.

2. Desire for Improvement: I recognized my desire to enhance my baking skills. The intention to impress my family encouraged me to practice and refine my techniques.

3. Positive Feedback Loop: The enthusiastic reactions from my family acted as positive reinforcement. Their enjoyment and encouragement motivated me to continue honing my craft. Read More>>

Hazel Hartfield

BLK Fashion Group started from a clear gap we saw in the fashion industry, especially for minority creatives. So many talented designers and professionals are creating incredible work but lack access to the resources, networks, and platforms that help turn passion into sustainable success. We kept asking ourselves: Where’s the consistent support system for us?

Our thought process was, Let’s build a space where we can grow, connect, and collaborate. We wanted to create something beyond networking that offers professional development opportunities, financial support, mentorship, a platform to showcase their creativity, and a sense of community. Read More>>

Vincent Morales

I come from a family of restauranteurs. For years I tried working the corporate world, warehouses, oil fields amongst other things. It always seemed to be a bit lack luster, like it always had a ceiling on it. When you own your own business I feel like you can take it as far as your efforts allow. I like that challenge, the adrenaline, the unknown. Can it be scary? Sure. But I feel like the reward from creating something that people love can be worth it. Read More>>

Ekaksh Bansal

In today’s time and age of a fast-paced world, everyone regardless of age, has a device during dinner time. Few who intentionally put them away are also in a rush to finish and get back quickly. Connection and bonding over regular conversations about the world seem long lost. General learning is just not a dinner table conversation in households. Children find it boring, and parents are not able to simplify their knowledge to the level of a child. More often than not, they don’t even know where to start. This made me think that learning and growth should not be limited to classrooms. Read More>>

Joann Cuccurullo

My journey into Pilates came after years in the real estate world. I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart, but I also saw a need in the Pilates industry: a space where instructors—especially women—could thrive financially and professionally under one roof, instead of hustling between multiple studios.
That vision became the foundation for Classic Pilates. Over a decade later, I’m proud of how far it’s come. Read More>>

Abdullah Riaz

For me, it started with a feeling I couldn’t ignore. I’ve always been drawn to stories — especially the kind that get overlooked. And I realized a lot of small businesses, especially in our communities, had powerful stories but lacked the visuals and strategy to match. I wanted to change that. Starting my own business wasn’t about chasing money at first — it was about building something that made people feel seen, that elevated them. I had skills in design, media, and tech, and I knew if I combined those with purpose, I could create something meaningful. The more I leaned into that vision, the more it made sense to bet on myself. Read More>>

Amanda Telthorst

I started Nectar and Nurture after walking through my own breastfeeding journey with my daughter, Josephine.

Josephine was born at 34 weeks and spent 15 days in the NICU. Breastfeeding was something I deeply desired, but I was offered no support to get her to the breast. Read More>>

Kase Wisdom

The main reason I started VulgarPR because I saw how most promoters run things from a musician standpoint, and I felt that I could do better as far as making the bands feel like they are important. They are there to play a show and the people that are coming are there for them. Not you the promoter and I feel like alot blur the lines. On top of that I saw how promoters were doing things on the marketing side and I felt that the methods used were outdated. So I took things into my own hands with the help and wisdom of others and started to learn the business. Read More>>

Scott Cooper

Primarily it was getting out of the conventional workforce and having the ability to spend my time working on or contributing primarily to my artwork. After a hiatus from my corporate graphic design career, I searched for another one, but after working unhappily in a corporate atmosphere for a few years, I was looking for something new and different, and was really struggling to find somewhere I genuinely wanted to work. Read More>>

Rob Abrams III

I’ve always had a deep passion for fitness, health, and supplementation. From a young age, athletics played a major role in my life — I participated in sports starting in elementary school and maintained an active lifestyle ever since. On my 18th birthday, while many of my peers were excited about other milestones, I chose to celebrate by purchasing my first container of pre-workout. That experience solidified my interest in understanding how proper supplementation could enhance performance, recovery, and overall well-being.  Read More>>

Sally Gupta

The idea for ChicBySally came from a deeply personal place. As a tech leader, mom, and lifelong fashion lover, I found myself—and many women around me—slowly losing touch with our personal style as life got busier. Between motherhood, demanding careers, and daily responsibilities, it’s easy for women, especially over 30, to stop prioritizing themselves. But I truly believe that feeling good in what you wear can reignite confidence and self-worth. Read More>>