Perspectives on Risk-Taking

There is a wealth of academic research that suggests that differences in risk appetite are at the heart of differences in career and business trajectories. We wanted to go beyond the theory and ask real people from the community about their perspectives and experiences with risk and risk taking.

Florencia Cirigliano | Travel Industry Leader

Risk has played a critical role in my personal life and in my career. I came to the states over 12 years ago to launch a luxury motorcoach business from Argentina and that leap of faith got me to where I am now. While it was a challenge to be 5,000 miles away from home in a country where English was not my first language, I think it is vital to embrace risk and never look back. Read more>>

Tatiana Chamorro | Entrepreneur

Without taking big risks big things don’t happen. I believe every decision we make brings a certain degree of risk. Deciding if/where you want to buy your first home; if you change your career path, or even something as small as deciding if we go out to eat. However, because these risks are not always associated with financial burdens we don’t consider them as “risks”. Read more>>

Ryan Kovacs | Author/Poet

I believe when it comes to writing, risk taking is critical in order to grow. We have to be able to step outside our comfort zones and expand on our own knowledge and experiences from which to write from. When I said I wanted to be a writer when I was a teenager, I believed it was as easily achieved as it was spoken. Read more>>

Lesley Clayton | Pilates Instructor, Studio Owner

You can’t succeed without taking risks, but the only risks you should take are ones that are calculated at length. I felt confident signing a lease once I laid out all of my worst case scenarios and realized I could still handle what I was taking on. Your reason for taking a career risk should be motivated by an unwavering belief in what you are creating and an aim toward sustainability. Read more>>

Brandon Berry | Luxury Cake Artist & Caterer

When I decided to transition into entrepreneurship, I based it on embracing risk. I was unsure how entrepreneurship would work for me, but I’ve managed to take that risk, leverage it, turn it into a profitable business, and maintain it up until now. I’ve collaborated with small-town companies and nationally recognized organizations throughout my journey. Risk is the foundation and continues to push me to discover what I can produce. Read more>>

Tammy Thomas | Actress & Producer

Taking risk are essential for success. Most of the time, fear is what debilitates us from trying new things, relocatiung to a different state, changing careers, starting a new business, etc… 90% of the time, WE ourselves get in our own head, and talk ourselves out of taking that leap of faith. Read more>>

Victoria Gilbert | Co-Host and Founder of the Aftergrad Podcast

Risk is the opportunity to submit yourself to the unknown to access ideas, connections, visions, and predictions of the future. Think about it. If you have an “unscalable” vision, what makes you think you can achieve it within existing measured realms? If you believe otherwise, you’re prompting for a rude awakening entering adulthood. Read more>>

Jomeca Hawkins | Massage therapist & cosmetologist

My thoughts behind starting my business started about 3 1/2 years ago prior to moving from Louisiana to Texas. I wanted to come here to pursue my dreams of bringing a entrepreneur.. I chose Dallas because my love for Texas started when I moved from New Orleans to Houston due to the devastation of losing everything in hurricane Katrina. Read more>>