Starting a business is a commitment and requires dedication, resources and sacrifice. We asked some of the rising stars in our community how they thought through the idea of starting their own businesses.

Lena Goldberg | Private Chef & Volunteer/Board Member San Diego Foster Angels

What was your thought process behind starting your own business? Chef Angels Culinary Program was a program I created under the umbrella of a 501(c)(3) I co-founded, San Diego Foster Angels. It came about organically. I have been working as a private chef in the San Diego area for many years. I have been volunteering in various ways for foster and at-risk youth for even more years. Read more>>

Lori Felix | Expert money-saver and publisher of More with Less Today

I was raised in New England to very thrifty parents. My dad was a school teacher and my mom stayed at home with four kids. She knew how to stretch a dollar and I thought everyone did. Read more>>

Ayesha Smutty” Hussain | Writer

When I was working in the fashion industry, I was keenly aware of how important s*x was to the industry and the customers for which the industry served. I wanted to bring in products that would help people know more and have better s*x lives but was told no at every juncture in my career. Read more>>

Jamal Marrush | Licensed Insurance Professional

Having worked in the insurance industry for over a decade, I decided to take the huge step forward and start my own insurance agency. I wanted to take the knowledge and experience I had and put it towards good use. It was important for me to create a business that provided more than just the solicitation of insurance products. Read more>>

Cecilia Mortimer | Coach & Energy Healer

A longing to bring together my experience from large corporations and my spiritual journey has brought me to where I am today. My mission is to help people connect to their intuition and their higher selves and to use those powers in a business environment. I am using energy tools, my coaching capabilities and my business and leadership skills to help people to access their full potential and to live their purpose. Read more>>

Josh Blanaru | GUNS R BLAZIN

Pick a phrase + get it on a shirt! GUNS R BLAZIN launched in 2021 with a clear intention to inspire others while looking good in the process. The idea of putting a custom phrase on a t-shirt once ruled the 80’s shopping mall scene, and GRB upgrades this vibe by pairing an extra sexy t-shirt template with a phrase of your choice from volumes of album art menus. Read more>>

Delilah Giron | Photographer

When I started my own business in 2016 my thought was I wanted to be able to create more time freedom for myself and be able to do do things on my terms through the day. Time is such a valuable thing that we all take for granted. We don’t realize what we have until we don’t have it anymore, so being able to create more time freedom to do the things I love and also being my own boss was so important to me. Read more>>

Brandon Fitzgerald | People & Planet Founder

I started People & Planet to help bridge the gap between California and the real Mexico… or at least the real Valle de Guadalupe. Although massive cruise ships pull into the port of Ensenada, just south of Valle de Guadalupe, very few make it to Valle or more than a few streets away from the port. Read more>>