Are you thinking about starting a business? If so, we think you’ll enjoy reading about how these seasoned entrepreneurs thought about the question when they were in your shoes.

Alison Thain | Interior Designer & Business Owner

Kolea Interiors was started out of my love for interior design and my unique sense of style mixing tropical and beach aesthetics for a luxury market. I grew up in Hawaii so there’s a lot of indoor outdoor influence and I draw much of my inspiration from other tropical locations such as Australia, Africa, and Mexico. The idea for starting my own business came from a deep desire to be my own boss and to have the ability to watch my ideas become reality. Read more>>

Leo Cortes | Industrial Designer

Since 2008, I have been passionately involved in the world of 3D printing, and I have even built a successful company in Brazil called Triddo. In 2016, I had the incredible opportunity to supply all of the 3D printed parts for the Rio 2016 Olympics games. It was an exciting and rewarding experience that solidified my love for the industry. After that, I received a special skills visa and moved to San Diego, where I worked in the field for five years. During my time there, I gained invaluable experience and knowledge, which eventually led me to pursue my dream of starting my own business in the industry. So, I founded 037 Designs, which has been thriving ever since. Read more>>

Mariela De Santiago | Podcast Host & Creator, Special Education Teacher & Fitness Instructor

I created Mama Wears Athleisure podcast after seeing a gap and a need for moms to get answers for the various questions the research as new and expecting parents. Read more>>

Charles Laliberte | Board chairman of ChildrenUP & retired secondary teacher

My wife and I have been secondary teachers. After visiting Uganda to visit a friend and learning of the needs of rural students in obtaining an education, we decided to see if we could help. With the help of a university professor in northern Uganda, we were able to begin the process. Though organized in 2007, we did not really get off the ground until 2010. At this time we have helped eighty one students. Read more>>

Jasmine Bryson | Loctician

My thought process when starting my business, Purdie Locs, was that I was creating a business that would solve a problem in the Pacific Northwest. When I returned to Washington in 2015 from Atlanta, I realized that there weren’t many quality locticians to care for my locs. I decided to care for my own locs over the next few years, watching hours of tutorials and reading anything I could find about locs. I would get compliments on my own locs and asked by strangers to do their hair. I often told people “no” and would shy away from the idea. Although hair was my first love and passion, I had never taken it seriously. I saw it only a hustle and not an actual career that was possible for me. I finally decided to start saying “yes” to family, friends, and even strangers to retwist or braid their hair in 2018. My business has been growing since and now exclusively serves clients with loc’d hair. Read more>>

bbjess | Streamer

I became a full time streamer during COVID. It started as a fun hobby- a way to interact with others in a time where we couldn’t go out and socialize. It kind of just took off from there and became a full career. Read more>>

Courtney Stone | Co-Founder, Inlight Institute & Spotlight XYZ

My co-founder, Jen, and I experienced trauma and felt immense pain after being impacted by gun violence. During our grieving phase, we sought answers to why and how people start on a pathway to violence. The dark truth is that young people face unprecedented challenges. Violence clusters in specific social networks and neighborhoods; however, all young people are vulnerable to violence and harm. 50% of children face a traumatic event, 50% of all lifetime cases of mental health disorders develop by age 14, and 90% of kids aged 10-14 students report having been harassed or bullied. Read more>>

Kendyl Van Hoesen | Owner & Lead Designer of Van Hoesen Design, Inc.

Passion: I have been designing, drawing and building my entire life. When I was 14, my dad and I went up to our summer cabin in Upstate New York and converted the attic into a bunkroom. We framed knee walls, designed stairs, learned about insulation values, bathroom and kitchen design. I never looked back. Read more>>

Ady Napalm | Nail tech/nail artist

I wanted to have more freedom in life. I worked schedules I didn’t like for a very long time. Some days, I felt like I hadn’t been home in a while because my schedule was so hectic. Working a hectic schedule and having a family was tough for me. I always wanted to be home with my family. I felt like I was missing out on things with my kids. Read more>>