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.

Manon Bal | Professional Dancer

Risk is something that I apply in my life daily especially in my dance career. Being a dancer in itself is risky with no financial security, no medical coverage, no retirement plan, people from all over the world competing for the same jobs (etc.). I still decided to bet on myself. On my own, I left France at the age of 20 after auditioning and being selected by the prestigious Alvin Ailey School in New York City. Since then, I have performed across the country in the most respected venues and festivals such as Vail Dance Festival, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Fall for Dance at New York City Center, The Joyce Theater and more. Read more>>

Kara Avelino | Owner and Photographer of Texas Takes Real Estate Photography

The biggest risk I’ve ever taken in my life was in 2020 when I made the difficult, yet liberating, decision to leave my active-duty military career and start my real estate photography business. I was coming upon my eighth year in the U.S. Army and had just turned 30 years old. I like to say I was having my “one-third life crisis.” I was stationed at Fort Hood, TX and had attained the rank of Captain in the Signal Corps when I realized I was burned-out and not particularly passionate about what I was doing. Read more>>

Asia Denise Griffin- Crockett | Visual artist

The biggest risk I have taken has to be changing careers from teaching to being a artist and graphic designer , it was a very big decision to make in my life and making the decision has mentally and physically made me better . I’ve always wanted to be a artist but my fascination with science and teaching was on my mind as well when I attended college , picking teaching wasn’t a mistake , that was a very rewarding time in my life, I solely made the decision to switch careers based on my feelings and my emotions at the time and I’m so happy that I did . Read more>>

Denise Chan | Dancer / Artist

Being a dancer is all about taking risks, and one’s willingness to jump in head first is a huge factor in whether or not you fall or fly. I would not be where I am today if I had not taken risks in both my life and my art; however, I wouldn’t classify myself as a risk taker by nature. I value security and comfort, preferring the path well travelled than straying off course and walking blindly into the unknown. Once I started taking dancing more seriously thought, I realized that I wouldn’t be able to reach my full potential without taking major leaps of faith and stepping out on that stage on my own. Read more>>