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.

Diana Salvati | Founder, Saltbox Sash

I have always had a passion for all things home, and in 2017, I began to think about starting my own business selling home decor. I loved the idea that I could take part in the process of helping others cultivate a home they love. Looking for inspiration, I attended a craft show and happened upon a booth selling fair trade products. At that time, the concept of fair trade was vaguely familiar to me as I thought fair trade products were just coffee and bananas. I purchased a jewelry box that day but was intrigued to learn more about fair trade. I discovered fair trade, governed by ten principles, prioritizes values such as transparency, equality, and sustainability. Powered by producers, businesses, certifiers, and consumers, this global movement does business the way it should be: people and the planet first. Artisans are paid fairly for their work, are not subjected to unsafe working conditions, and there is no child labor, forced labor, or exploitation. Products are handcrafted in an environmentally friendly manner using natural, local, and sustainable materials, and time-honored traditional art forms such as sculpture, basket weaving, woodcraft, embroidery, and pottery are passed down from generation to generation, preserving cultures. Enlightened by everything I learned, my desire to start a home decor business was led by a deep desire to advocate for the fair trade movement and commit to sourcing fair trade products for my business. We partner with fair trade organizations and non-profits to curate our collections of home decor and unique gifts handcrafted in over 25 countries worldwide. Read more>>

Gabriel Costello | Fine artist & body art practitioner

When I decided to open up Doves & Serpents Art Collective, I had a few things at the top of my priority list. One, was building a team of talented, likeminded artists. Although, tattoo artists are independent practitioners, multiple team members broadens the potential business. Two, it was important to create a high end, professional environment for consumers to feel safe, comfortable and happy to be there. Third, at the top of the priority list is, and should always be quality, quality, QUALITY! I don’t just mean the artwork, but the whole experience should leave the client ecstatic to have come, and anxious to come back. Read more>>

Gina Alagata | Founder – Wink, Women Inkorporated® Business Women’s Networking

Wink, Women Inkorporated® was started with a vision for making businesswomen’s networking better, more effective and of high integrity for all women in business. It had been on my heart for awhile to open my own business and after having some not-so-great experiences at a few other networking events, I decided it was time to take the leap and open my own company. Read more>>

Corey Sigue | Motivational Speaker & Leadership Consultant

Reflecting on my life prior to starting my own business, I realized that I was always the positive energy and person who approached things with a “we can do this” mentality. It was a gift that I thought was something everyone had, but they just didn’t like to speak up about it as much as I do. I spent quite a few years pouring that positivity and can do attitude into other people. I was really just trying to get other people to see the greatness within themselves. One day I gave my usual morning speech to my team in which a few of them said after, “more people need to hear this.” That statement resonated with me and I began to tell myself I had to stop being selfish with what I was saying. Selfish in a sense that I was limiting my audience to only people in my workplace. That’s where this journey began. In doing so, I’ve realized that those far fetched dreams I had of impacting people all over the world weren’t so unattainable. Read more>>

Sarah Felker | Photographer

My photography business was born accidentally from a place of passionate interest, divine timing, and a willingness to ride out uncertainty. Prior to freelancing, I had been working full time in the hospitality industry and hit a point where I needed to be considering something different for my life. So I went back to San Francisco State and finished my degree in fine arts, with an emphasis in photography. Beyond that, I didn’t have a plan. During my last semester at State, I noticed one of my classmates editing some live music shots in our photo lab class and I remember asking “What are those photos all about and how do I do that?” Fast forward a couple of months and I just happened to be in the right place at the right time to fill in for a photographer during Noise Pop Festival. Read more>>

Jaime Miller + Sarah Louderback | Co-founders + mamas

We both have worked corporate jobs our whole lives and when we had our first babies we fell in love with the parenting community + the fashion! My cousin Sarah, created a Diaper Emergency Kit as our first product. It contained all diaper essentials that you could stash in your car in case you had an emergency and no supplies. From there, we decided we wanted to evolve Spilled Milk into something bigger and focus on creating a curated assortment of clothing + accessories for babies and toddlers based on brands we love for our own kids. Read more>>

Andrew Shane Jones Walters | Musician, Teacher, and Actor

It has never felt like a decision for me. It’s felt like a lifestyle. Something intrinsic, something that I was already doing anyway and something I know I’ll continue to do – whether it’s called a business or not. Read more>>

Brett Hoffman | Filmmaker & Photographer

Starting Nautilus Studios was a natural progression. I started producing videos in college while studying Film Studies at Colorado State University. It started with passion projects, short form documentaries and experimental films. Upon graduating I utilized my found skills in a professional atmosphere of freelancing. I starting making professional advertisements, bio-pics, and starting specializing in underwater cinematography and documentary work. Eventually I made a name for my self and my business “Nautilus Studios”. Read more>>