Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Marcene Kinley

I wanted to broaden my reach and take my expertise to a greater level. As a changemaker and leader, private practice enabled me to connect with more people and provide services on a national level. It was scary and a huge risk, but I am not one to bow down from a challenge. Starting a business is often unpredictable, but my partner and I stepped out on faith with a strong mission and vision to instill hope and equip others to find their purpose. I considered all the innovative community programming I had already created and my ability to lead and mobilize a community, resulting in changing the trajectory of one life at a time.  Read More>>

Shadcrop

“For me, starting my own photography business was about creative freedom and intentional storytelling. I didn’t just want to take photos — I wanted to create visual narratives that felt personal, real, and resonant. Early on, I realized that working for someone else often meant compromising that vision. So I took the leap into building my own brand — not just to have control over my work, but to build relationships with clients who value authenticity and artistry. The business wasn’t just a career move, it was a creative commitment Read More>>

Neely Mancia

As a young girl, I never really saw anything like my business — something that made all of Latin America feel included, cute items that would make us feel represented. As a Salvadoran-American Latina, I felt like there wasn’t representation in the way that I wanted to see it. Pieces that made you feel like you didn’t have to sacrifice your style, but at the same time still represent your ‘cultura’. When I looked at the bigger picture, I saw that there was not only no representation for El Salvador on the market, but ALL of Latin America. Read More>> 

Certrell Russell

Honestly, I was encouraged to start each business by close friends while having a conversation.

With Peculiar Custom, I was getting ready for my first concert, and a friend of mine showed me how to start the business and I produced my t-shirts for that concert. She was already in the business at the time, doing the same thing. This led me to the creation of Peculiar Custom T-shirts & Apparel. Read More>>

Asharā Knox

I’ve never really had a thought process behind starting my business, it just happened. I was born with an artistic creative gift and most of my life I’ve been figuring out how to successfully apply Business to it. Read More>>

Allison Macalik Macalik

We (Allison Macalik and Russell Tibbits) have always had an entrepreneurial spirit. During the pandemic, we purchased rental properties across the country and still own 14 doors. But we pivoted to thinking about opening a coffee shop when Allison’s best friend opened a coffee shop in Brooklyn, NYC called Saturn Road. We are angel investors and were able to learn all the ins and outs of what it takes to start and maintain a thriving community shop. That’s when we knew we wanted to open our own. Read More>>

Jessica Jacob

When I graduated from college, I expected to be a high earner and expected a career to come easily to me and that’s not what happened. I didn’t know anything about networking; I didn’t know anything about internships and part of this may have been what I wasn’t taught, but the other part would definitely be that I didn’t know what I didn’t know.. I graduated in 2009 and I asked God to show me how to make a living whether or not I could get hired. The hustler in me was born that day and the career that I now have I think also started that day.  Read More>>

Alondra Loera

Honestly, As someone who had never owned a business before, taking that step was intimidating & was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done. I’ve always been someone who finds comfort in stability, so the idea of leaving behind a steady routine and stepping into the unknown was overwhelming. But deep down, I knew I wasn’t meant to play it safe forever. I asked myself , What if I fail? What if people don’t book me? But I had to start reminding myself, What if it works? What if I’m actually good enough? I surrounded myself with people who motivated me along the way and saw the best in me, even if it meant making mistakes along the way. Read More>>

Catherine Hudson

We moved to the country in 2019. Each evening, my husband and I would walk a winding road that led past this small, 3-acre property that had horses roaming a wooded pasture. Like most people, I wanted to stop and pet the “pretty horse.” Although this horse was neither pretty nor wanted to be petted. In fact, he looked like his owner had given up on him. His eyes were black and his hooves and mane were tattered. He didn’t want to have anything to do with people. Yet, somehow, I was drawn to him. It was an odd feeling. A feeling that true horse lovers can appreciate and resonate with. Read More>>

Brandi McComb

Starting McComb Vocal Studio was deeply personal for me. After spending over 30 years performing professionally and teaching at other music schools, I realized I wanted to create something more meaningful and personal, a space where students of all ages could feel safe, confident, and creatively free. I wanted to build a studio that focused not just on singing or drumming techniques, but on developing true performers, helping each student find their unique voice and stage presence.  Read More>>