In our experience, most folks, including ourselves don’t have enough of an understanding of risk and the role it plays in our lives and careers and so we have made a concerted effort as a team to have conversations about risk with our interviewees. We’ve shared some highlights below.

Daisy Romero | Visionary, Creator, & Entrepreneur

Leaving home at 17, I would say is pretty risky, navigating my early 20s in Chicago and Hawaii presented its own set of challenges. Moving to a new city like San Diego, where I knew no one, was another risky venture. Life, in my view, is inherently filled with risks, and one can either succumb to fear or take action. I identify as a risk-taker and consider myself a visionary. I believe that if you want something in life really bad, you’ll do anything it takes to get it. And if you don’t, then you didn’t want it that bad. Read more>>

Arunima Agarwal | Disruptive Designer and Strategist

The capacity to take risks is an indicator of the presence of curiosity. Without curiosity, there is no growth, no innovation, no indulgence. If you aren’t open to few absolutely batshit crazy experiences, you might miss out on a lot of deeply fulfilling ones too. Read more>>

Jan Batten | Actress, Model, Spokesperson

Risk taking was my jam as a child. I constantly took risks for whatever reason – most likely to grab attention since I was the youngest of four kids and although in a loving home, my parents were very busy, so I had to GRAB their attention! Also, I was always the type of child who wanted to “see what would happen if….” This often landed me in the ER (jumping off high staircases, etc.) and in the Principal’s office at school (pulling the fire alarm to see what would happen)! Thankfully my crazy teen years of this type of risk taking did not land me in jail (I did come close at age 18)! **Fast forward to marriage & motherhood. I became very protective, and a non-risk taker! Now the thought became, “I’m AFRAID to see what would happen if….” But what had not changed throughout my life was the need to be good at things if I was going to do them. Not wanting to do things if I wasn’t the BEST. It seemed I needed people to affirm me! So regarding my acting career, the biggest risk for me was “What if I”m not good enough?” “What if I don’t succeed?” “What if others criticize or mock me for trying?” All these thoughts threatened to keep me from going for my dream/calling of becoming an actor. I knew in 2021, that it was time to get back into the business (I had achieved some moderate success in my 20;s and 30’s with modeling, commercials and industrials). But I was older now. And I wanted to do TV/film.. I finally decided (through some long times of prayer, reflection, and coaching that the biggest risk of all is NOT TRYING!. The risk of “What will happen if I DON’T do this?” SO, I took the risk! I began studying with acting coaches, getting an agent, and a manager, watching & even submitting self tape auditions that I KNEW weren’t up to par, but continuing to grow and learn anyway! I’m still in classes, learning the business, and standing up to the thoughts that sometimes want to derail me. The results are beginning to be rewarding and fun! Standing up to my fears and raking a risk is actually FUN! I seek God, trust Him, and trust His strength to be at work in me, and I go for it! Read more>>