We reached out to some of our favorite entrepreneurs and asked them to think back and tell us about how they decided to start a business. Check out their responses below.

Arielle Walker | Pastry Chef and Bakery Owner

I was a Pastry Chef and did well wherever I was. At work, my consistent problem was that as soon as I “figured out” my job, I would get bored and look for the next opportunity. Several places were looking to hire me, but I thought it’d be mutually beneficial for me to sell to these various foodservice locations, rather than find a new job to clock into. I was wanting to build something for myself. I saw my time at work as an investment into someone else’s dream, and I wanted to put that same time and effort into something of my own. Read more>>

Chris Gutierrez | Head Trainer Elevated Canine DFW

I wanted to help dog owners with their dogs in order to have more enjoyable relationships with them. I also knew that with a well behaved dog I could prevent them from ending up in a shelter or rescue. Lastly, I wanted to have autonomy over my own schedule and to provide a lifestyle that I want and could enjoy. Read more>>

Heather Smith | Founder Of Mompreneur Co. & Creative Community Connector

I started Mompreneur Co. because I felt alone and unseen in my struggles. I felt overwhelmed on how to actually manage and balance life, motherhood and business ownership and as I started to meet women and mothers within my community, I quickly realized I wasn’t actually alone in this struggle, so many others were feeling the same exact way I was. Read more>>

Abby King Roberts | Clinical Herbalist, RMT, IHP & Trauma-Informed RYT-200

As the wellness and spiritual communities continue to grow, it’s amazing to see more people interested in and embracing holistic practices for their health and wellbeing. However, one thing that many outsiders may or may not be aware of is that not everyone who operates in this space is always properly trained, educated, or even has their best interest at heart. After years of working in this field as a clinical herbalist, reiki master teacher, sound therapy practitioner, and more, I’ve seen firsthand how the rapid growth in these spaces, while wonderful, has created room for misguided practices that can be harmful, ineffective or even dangerous to the unsuspecting person. Read more>>

Dr. Julia Wiener | Founder & CEO

The hardest decision I’ve ever had to make was whether to continue pursuing my Ph.D. in Organizational Psychology after the devastating loss of my son. I had decided to pursue my Ph.D. out of a deep love for learning, a passion for leadership and company culture, and a desire to become the best consultant and coach I could be for my clients, blending theory and practice. Halfway through my coursework, my husband and I were overjoyed to be expecting our second child. I stepped away from work to focus on my pregnancy and my studies, but during the birth, there was a cord accident. Our son spent seven weeks in the NICU, and then came home under hospice care for another four weeks before passing away. Read more>>

La Shawn Alegria | Model| Actress| Artist| Entrepreneur

The single most important decision I made? I would have to say my daily dedication to conquering fear. Fear is a common emotion that can significantly impact our personal and professional lives. Addressing and overcoming fear is crucial for achieving success and reaching our full potential. Many people experience fears such as fear of failure, fear of public speaking, fear of being in a big crowd, and fear of taking risks. Read more>>

Rachel Olson | Owner and Cake Artist

This is a constant internal debate. Over the past 8 years I have learned that you cannot grow without taking risks. It is cliche, but it is true. You need to at least try. Most people fail. I failed many times taking risks with my business. But that is how you grow. You learn from your mistakes. It makes you stronger and know what you need to do differently in the future. Read more>>