Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Reid Kessler

We want to do group practice differently. We set out to create the kind of practice we’d want to work at—one grounded in meaningful relationships, shared learning, and fair compensation. Psychologists are trained in cohorts, but often go on to practice in relative isolation. We wanted something else: a true community of psychologists who are actively learning from and with each other. Each week, we gather for an hour—sometimes for group discussion, other times for lectures led by someone on our team or by an outside expert.  Read More>>

Jill Sarratt-Chavez

It was actually a dream of mine when I was a teenager. To be able to own a witchy store and to be able to teach and give back to the community. But life took a different course and I became a tattoo artist. I’ve been a tattoo artist for 30 years now. A couple years ago, though everything came full circle. My husband and my children were really encouraging me to start selling the things that I have been normally just making such as a candles, incense, bundles, oils, jewelry, etc. Read More>>

Marcy Browe

For many years leading up to starting my own photography business, I was dreaming of transitioning from my corporate career in marketing and advertising, and turning my hobby of photography into a business.

But it wasn’t until I got together with my husband that my motivation to start my own business was activated. I was inspired by his lifestyle, as a teacher who traveled extensively during his school breaks. I wanted that lifestyle too! Read More>>

RaQuele Sliger

It has truly been a journey to get where I am today.

My husband and I ran a successful event rental business for nearly a decade. When we began, we were newcomers to the event industry, building everything from the ground up through a lot of trial and error. Learning an incredible amount about ourselves and what we were capable of doing. Looking back, it feels like a dream that we built something so substantial, let alone create a business someone would want to purchase from us.  Read More>>

Blake Baylin

I was 26, young and admittedly a little naive—but I knew one thing: I wanted to be my own boss. The idea of having ownership over my schedule, my space, and my future really excited me. I loved the thought of creating a welcoming environment in my own bar, and that’s how Parky’s Saloon came to life. A few years later, I launched Bella Beverage Catering because I craved a new challenge and needed a change from the day-to-day rhythm of bar life. Read More>>

Sequoia Gorham

Say Something Events was truly born out of love during a time when the world felt really uncertain. At the height of the COVID-19 lockdowns, my husband and I had four young children with birthdays coming up, and I was determined not to let the chaos of the world take away their joy. I wanted them to feel seen, celebrated, and special, so I started creating big, custom balloon décor and themed setups based on whatever they were into at the time. It gave them something magical to look forward to, and it gave me a sense of purpose. Read More>>

Laura Smutz

Before starting Bold Confidence Aesthetics, I had the privilege of working alongside a premier cosmetic dermatologist. I loved that role—it gave me the opportunity to learn advanced techniques, deliver high-quality patient care, and build meaningful, long-term relationships with my patients.

The turning point came during a conversation with one of my longtime patients. She mentioned that while the overall environment at the medical spa felt cold, my presence brought warmth and comfort. That moment stuck with me. I knew I wanted to create something different—a space where patients not only felt seen and heard, but truly cared for. Read More>>

Samantha Peters

Starting my own business was never just about creating income—it was about creating impact. I knew deep down that I was meant for more than what my circumstances growing up had shown me was possible. I was forced to grow up quickly. My home was filled with trauma, scarcity, and emotional instability. My father never healed from his own pain, and because of that, I had to face the weight of his projected hurt. I carried emotions that were never mine to hold and learned to navigate chaos long before I even knew who I was.That pain, for a long time, kept me stuck in a cycle of believing I was unworthy of support, love, or abundance. Read More>>

Alexa Levine

Starting my own business came from a deep need to create a space where moms—especially millennial moms—could finally get the support they deserve. As a mom myself, I understand how easy it is to lose yourself in the chaos of pregnancy, postpartum, and parenting. There’s so much pressure to be perfect, to juggle everything, and to somehow enjoy every moment. But the truth is, motherhood is messy, exhausting, and sometimes downright overwhelming. Read More>>