Many books on startups and business talk about how there are right and wrong reasons for starting a business. So, we asked a handful of successful founders about their reasons and the thought-process behind starting their business.

Sylvia Ibrahim | Owner & Lead Planner at Le Petit House

Growing up, I was very Fortunate to have had a clear vision on what career path I wanted to take. I always said “Either Interior Design or Event Planning”. I loved both equally. So I enrolled in the Interior Decorating program at Sheridan College and also became the President of the Student Union, which allowed me to be heavily involved with the planning process of on campus Events. Read more>>

Alia Perr | Psychotherapist

“Do what you love and the money will follow” – Marsha Sinetar Happiness has always been my goal in life and I believe that we create our own happiness. I remember watching my parents struggle financially in careers that they hated and I knew that I didn’t want to end up that way. Starting my business has afforded me the ability to create the life I want while doing what I love. Read more>>

Christopher Salomon | Art Director

I started my own business near the end of covid when it was popular to start a side hustle to have more income and become free from the workforce responsibility and 9-5. Read more>>

Red Thalhammer | Creative Director & CEO Antidote

It was less a thought process, it was an impulse for an idea followed by an obsession to make it happen: I was running a boutique design studio and things got difficult when the 2009 recession hit and I felt out of sync, as jobs fell through and gone were the vibrant times, replaced by stress for survival, questions and doubt about the future. Read more>>

Arthur Vazquez | Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu/Martial Arts Instructor

I developed a passion for martial arts training while I was still a teenager. Being frequently bullied and having low self confidence pushed me towards martial arts, as I felt it gave me the strength and confidence to stand up for myself and develop better character. My business idea grew out of my own experiences, and my desire to share the positive impact martial arts can have on an individual. I believe that mastering any difficult craft, such as martial arts, is an excellent way to develop yourself. Read more>>

Claridy Grace Reed | Social Media Manager

The process behind starting a business is so much more complex than people think. In my case, I have had many different experiences in the social media field before starting my Social Media Management and Marketing Agency. Being that I found it easier to start because I built many different perspectives with all sorts of businesses I worked with and used that as my foundation. Read more>>

Andre Whitehead | Media Creative, Photographer and Videographer

I wanted to do something that I enjoyed while at the same time being able to earn and make a living from it. Read more>>

Keisha Major | Mother & Hairstylist & Female Rap Artist

My thought process behind starting my own business was Always THINK BIG! I always wanted to be my own boss and watching my mother raise her children as a single mother I wanted to show her that I would always be great and make her proud and buy her a big house. I Always been a Hustler/Entrepreneur since I was in the 6th grade Turning on Cellphones lol. I started off making adult Liquor drinks to owning my own beauty salon. Read more>>

Melissa Drucker | Social Media Manager & Travel Influencer

I knew I wanted to own my own business one day – I just didn’t know what that business would be. So since I already started the intention, all I had to do was find my passion. My first idea lasted for a couple years, but it only lasted as an idea. This was the idea of having my own event planning business, but I never executed the idea so ultimately it failed. Read more>>

Andres Navas | Soccer entrepreneur

My goal since I graduated college was always to own my own business. I didn’t want to work for someone else my entire life so I know eventually I would do something for myself but wasn’t sure what it would be. In 2018 I decided to start training kids privately for some extra income doing something I truly loved. The demand for my training blew up and I was able to turn it into that business I always wanted to own. Read more>>

Sabrina Parisi | Owner and CEO of Captain Kirk’s Water Sports

As a woman who has a deep love for kitesurfing and water activities, I was acutely aware of the impact that pollution and environmental degradation was having on our planet. I wanted to use my passion for these activities as a driving force to create positive change in the world. Read more>>

Blak Kami | Streetwear Brand

Our overall thought process was generational wealth, but we knew that to reach that we have to play the long game. This clothing brand is a way for us to create a stream of revenue that we can take the capital from this venture and put invest into another down the line. Read more>>

Donnell McCant | Outdoor Enthusiast & Tour Guide

My thought process was two-fold; I started my business to remind as many people as possible of their inherent connection to nature, and to do my part in facilitating a safer, more welcoming environment for peoples of my ethnicity to enjoy the outdoors! To my first point, I can’t help but think about how industrialized our society has become. We idolize our cities. Read more>>

Tyse Saffuri | Community Relations Director

I have been in the Senior Living industry for over 10 years. I have assisted hundreds of families find the best solution and quality of life their aging loved ones. I discovered that families experienced a lot of anxiety and stress navigating the senior living and care options. There’s so many services and programs that are available and finding the right fit is time consuming and overwhelming. I created With Ease to assist families in helping them and their aging loved ones into a community that will cultivate a lifestyle that will help them thrive and flourish. Read more>>

DJ South Beach | Open Format DJ

I always knew I wanted to work for myself. Growing up as an immigrant I watched my mom create an amazing life for us from scratch by choosing to be an entrepreneur. I originally started DJ’ing in 2013 on a very small scale, but gave it up to pursue a “real job.” You know how society can be kind of pushy when it comes to dictating what is and isn’t a “real job.” I then joined the military and learned a lot of life skills that have played a role in making me the person I am today. A few years ago I decided to pick up DJ’ing again and in the past year I’ve made it my full-time career. Read more>>

Feri Feryal Turker | Interior Designer,

Actually, I started my job professionally 5 years ago, after being successful in my handcraft skills, furniture, mural, and charcoal painting combined with my husband’s hand skills, and with the encouragement my son asking me the question of “why don’t you get an education?” The endless support of our dear friends and our valued customers’ requests for help in the design of their homes helped me to finish my education in interior design. Read more>>

Claudia Machado | Psychologist

I always wanted to work with accessories. I started selling jewelry made by me when I was in middle school. I was always aware about the trends and news to be able to deliver it to my customers. I always thought I could help women to feel prettier and Read more>>

Kaitlyn Shrum | MA, CCC-SLP

Southern Speech & Myo was started after taking my first orofacial myology course in 2016 and gaining some experience while still practicing more traditional speech and language therapy. That course was truly eye opening in terms of the structures and functions of the face and mouth that aren’t really discussed or taught about in graduate school. Orofacial myology or myofunctional therapy drives us to look at the whole client, Read more>>

James Tenney, Executive Chef and Owner Erica Aberman, Owner and Director of Sales and Marketing | Owners

After being forced indoors during the pandemic we decided to do something for our overall mental health situation. We decided to get out of the house, visit a local farm and get a box of fresh veggies to pickle so we could try and learn something new. Considering local farms were doing contactless delivery, we felt safe in doing so. We originally hoped to make a few jars for ourselves, and if we had too much, we could give back to our local community when and where we could. Read more>>

Yolanda Nollie | Executive Podcast Producer & Host/TV Film Producer and Screenwriter/Singer-Songwriter/Awarded/ Entertainment & Media Strategist/ OIFF Humanitarian Award 2022/Global Award-winning Women leadership winner/Contributive Writer for Brainz Magazine, CXO Outlook Magazine

When I decided to start my own Radio & TV Entertainment Am/Fm Podcast Show, I had a few goals in mind: 1) Use the platform to educate and guide independent entertainers and media influencers on the business side of the entertainment and media industry. 2) Show that it is possible to be successful in the industry and create generational wealth even as a Christian entertainer.

Bianca Bethel | Party Planner and Event Styling Services

As a single mom, I created this business to not only provide for my family but to also create everlasting memories that my daughter and I can experience together. I knew that if I was able to put a smile on my daughter’s face through creative set ups and fun filled decor, other kids would enjoy the experience as well. Read more>>

Jennifer Gardner | Founder and President of Farm of Hope

Since childhood, I have always had a special place in my heart for ALL animals. All of my adult life, I have volunteered with animal rescue shelters and organizations. Eleven years ago, my husband and I decided to leave our city life and move to the country. We wanted a slower pace of life, to be able to spend more time in nature and most importantly for me, was being able to live in an area with minimal zoning restrictions to adopt and provide a forever home to more rescued companion and farm animals. Read more>>