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.

Bobby Robinson

My thought behind starting my business was to give myself freedom and time to raise my daughter as a single father. Read More>>

Janna Johnson

Starting Genial Assist was about merging my expertise with my passion. With my background in Criminal Justice and certification in Legal Administration, I’ve always had a deep appreciation for the law. Even though I’m not using my degree in a traditional sense, I saw an opportunity to bring that knowledge into the notary space by offering convenience and professionalism to clients who value discretion and efficiency. But beyond that, I wanted the flexibility to create a life where I could be fully present for my son, Kaido, while building generational wealth. Genial Assist gives me the power to do both—protecting my clients’ legal interests while securing a future where I’m in control of my time and finances. Read More>>

Dan Quinn

Ever since I was a teenager, I dreamed of working professionally in music, but I was always told that wasn’t a real career path, The stigma around being a career musician was that you were either a rockstar or a starving artist, with very few options in between. Granted, this was in the 90’s in rural upstate NY. The wedding and events industry was nothing like it is now, especially in a rural area as compared to a major metropolitan area like DFW. Read More>>

Terrance Brashun

I honestly just wanted to be able to work for myself. My goal is to be able to wake up every day and do what I want to do without having to worry about how I’m going to pay my bills. I want to have the choice of working today or just taking the day off and know that, financially, everything will still be taken care of Read More>>

Yasmin Awad

I was always nervous and worried about starting my own business. However, I realized that if you don’t take a chance, you will never know whether you will succeed or fail in life. It became clear to me that taking a leap of faith is essential. Read More>>

Evan Chandler

When I graduated high school, I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life. For a while, I thought it might be making music, but it didn’t feel realistic. I ended up working as a valet driver and eventually saved enough money to buy my first Sony camera in 2022. At first, I barely used it, I was intimidated by all the settings and felt like I didn’t know what I was doing. But over time, I started to catch on. Read More>>

Jessica Loera

Some people have this all planned out. For me, that was not the case. Yes, I had dreams of going to fashion school when I was younger. I remember I would sit and draw sketches when I was 9. However, I knew this would be difficult to achieve. Growing up, my dad was the main bread winner and so a college fund was something out of reach. My mom raised us while my dad worked. I think a part of my love for fashion comes from my mom. She always wore the coolest outfits. To this day, she is the most fashionable woman I know.  Read More>>

Bobbie Sullivan

My love for interior design was ignited early on, thanks to my mother. We restored our Victorian home in Haight-Ashbury, San Francisco, and that experience lit a fire in me. I was fascinated by the process—remodeling, designing, decorating. My dad was an artist, so I like to say I inherited creativity from both sides. Growing up in San Francisco, I was constantly surrounded by beautiful design and rich architecture, which deeply influenced my eye and aesthetic. Read More>>

Oswaldo Velazquez

I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart, mostly something I got from my father who has been a business owner his whole life. My older brother and I always admired that about him, and so growing up we started a numerous amount of small business, from selling candy at 7 years old to having our own landscaping company at 14. I started working in the hospitality industry in my early twenties as a busser. I immediately knew, this is were I belonged. Read More>>

Darilyn Buggage

Honestly the idea of my own salon suite started after I had my son, who is now almost 5. I knew I would have to take my career to another level to ensure I’d be available at home more for him as he got older.

So about after 3 1/2 years of working for a company, I took majority of my clients and branched out. My specialty is hair extensions and styling for events. Luckily, here in Dallas, the beauty industry is an everyday need for alot of women. Read More>>

Gracyn Herman

Starting my own business has been a lifelong dream of mine. As a 16-year-old, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in fashion, and that dream only intensified as I grew older. I went on to study Fashion Merchandising in college, which provided me with a solid foundation and prepared me for the challenges of entrepreneurship. Read More>>

Shania Brown

My thought process behind starting my business is deeply inspired by African American 90s culture—the bold self-expression, confidence, and celebration of natural beauty while also giving dramatic and artistic touches. I aspire to showcase my creative skills & unique pieces . I thrive off of creative design, bright and bold colors and lots of hairspray!! On the other hand I’d specifically look forward to working with textured hair, helping young Black women grow and maintain healthy hair. Black hair carries deep spiritual importance and is a symbol of identity, resilience, and ancestral connection. Read More>>

Venkata Sudheer Menta

Myself and my wife started this home baking around March 2022. we didn’t think of it doing it as business at first. We started off baking first cupcakes for our son, who got more cravings for sweets. After that we started offering our friends and neighbors who started liking it . One time we hosted a cupcakes booth at our Son’s school carnival event…..where we were able to sell around 200 out of 220 cupcakes, that gave us a boost to start home baking business. Read More>>

Ibia Lisa Owens

My thought process behind starting my own business, Mosaic Events, was greatly influenced by a fundamental shift in my life. As an empty nester, I felt a void that needed to be filled, and I yearned to walk in my purpose. After spending over two decades as the go-to person for organizing and executing meaningful and impactful events – from birthday parties to weddings and corporate-driven events – I realized that what was initially just a hobby could actually be turned into a viable business venture. Read More>>

Ann Parnes & Maria Murray

After Hello’s national expansion is driven by a powerful synergy of business-building and connection expertise. Co-founder Maria Murray brings nearly two decades of invaluable experience in the health, wellness, and fitness industry, where she’s excelled as a business consultant, remote recruiting solutions expert, and Vice President of Operations. Her proven ability to rescue and launch brands nationwide showcases her exceptional talent for creating streamlined systems and fostering growth. Read More>>