We asked some of the most interesting folks in the community to open up about how they think about taking chances and the role risk has played in their lives and careers. Risk is by far the topic folks talk to us most about and we hope the responses below will help shed light on many different perspectives.

Kaitlyn Boyer

I’ve always had a bit of a love affair with risk. It started young – not in a reckless way, but in this selfishly aspirational sense that I was meant to do something extraordinary. I was the kid who was hungry for adventure, not for the thrill alone, but because that’s where I learned the most.

The real risks, though, started showing up in early adulthood, when my choices began to shape my actual life—not just my report card. And as someone with a personality wired for adrenaline and change, I learned quickly that making bold decisions wasn’t the same as being strategic. Risk has to be thoughtful. Read More>>

Lauren Paige

For me, risk has always been less about chasing something flashy and more about honoring what feels true, even when the path ahead is uncertain. I’ve taken a lot of leaps in both my personal life and my career, not because I was fearless, but because staying stuck felt more costly than trying something new.

At 18, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting. In my twenties, I moved across the country seven different times, each move a reflection of some deeper inner shift. I left an unhealthy marriage and found love again. I became a mother to twins, which continues to be the most beautiful, humbling risk of all. Read More>>

Flash Kellish

Risk to me, is what helps make life interesting and satisfying, but as with most everything, there is Yin and Yang. I have never wanted a 9-5 desk job, though I have worked them before. I have always wanted to do things that were challenging, but of course this poses problems when it’s difficult to get booked anywhere and business is slow. I love what I do, but the uncertainty can be stressful at times. Read More>>