Starting and growing a business is hard, but often deciding to start the business in the first place is even harder. We asked some successful entrepreneurs from around the community to open up to us about how they thought about starting a business.

Rochelda Sicar | Luxury Event Planner

Starting my own business from scratch, creating remarkable ideas and watching it grow overtime, providing value and quality work to many people around the world. My thought process is more so helping many solve their issues. Understanding, do I carry the required skills to solve everyone’s problems. And if I do have those skills, I will continue to use those skills too help many people who are in need and if I don’t have those required skills, I will find a way to obtain them in order to continue being successful in my career path. Read more>>

Rachel Santos | Lifestyle Blogger & Content Creator

Since I was in college I have always been passionate about photography and writing. I studied and received a degree in Mass Communications/Journalism and even volunteered as an editor and photographer for the school newspaper. I share this little background story because I feel like it’s what ultimately paved the way for me to start my own business several years later. Read more>>

Dr. Deeawn Roundtree | CEO of Roundtree Training & Consulting | Certified Leadership Trainer, Coach, and Speaker | Author of Beyond the Boardroom: Learn How to Play and Win at the Game of Corporate Politics and newly published book: Leading From Within: A Faith-Based Perspective on Leadership

Years ago, I started in the workforce right out of high school and did not feel comfortable in the corporate culture. However, after many years of pursuing my education, obtaining various credentials and certifications, and learning from experience how to navigate office politics, corporate culture, and to exceed expections in my career, Read more>>

Greg Benz | Artist | Gallery Owner & Curator

I’ve been an artist for over 20 years, so I’ve been involved in the arts community here in Canada in various ways. That being said over this time I’ve had the opportunity to meet so many great artists and collaborate, hang shows, and be represented by many galleries over the years. Read more>>

Robert Nikovic | Soccer Agency

Our thought process behind starting our own business was, to build a business alone,whit the aim of making it grow and make it the best in Europe. But most importantly, to give a chance through our business to every player who needs it to become a pro in Europe. Read more>>

Alex Brown | Cell Phone Store Owner Turned Real Estate Entrepreneur

Growing up i worked for my grandfather, who was the first black American business owner in my small town in upstate NY. My grandfather owned car washes, janitorial services, and pressure washing companies. So I learned quickly that i wanted to be my own boss one day. After i graduated from college i made it a mission to learn as much about how the businesses i worked for made money. Read more>>

Amanda Hinchcliffe | Australian Swimwear Fashion Designer

There are many reasons as to why I decided to start your own brand. As a former swimwear model, I had a strong desire to start a swimwear label, with the love of the ocean and desire to build an online platform that will allow me to work from anywhere in the world. I knew it would be a thrilling and rewarding experience that would allow me to express my creativity and pursue my passion in a way that is uniquely mine. I aspired to be my own boss, and take control of my career path, knowing that it would lead me to personal and professional growth. Read more>>

Grant Clyman | Tai Chi and Martial Arts Instructor

I’ve always been someone with a particular vision for how I want to do things. In that way, I think I sort of had to work for myself. I needed the freedom to pursue my vision and make the changes I believed were necessary along the way. I knew from about the age of twenty two that I wanted to pursue a career in martial arts, and that I wanted to teach. Darsana Martial Arts was born out of my passion for the martial path, my desire to share the things I have learned to help others, and my need to pursue my own vision for how to do that. Read more>>

Lesley Araujo | Registered Nurse, Founder – Nurse Lesley Skincare

I wanted to create more than just a skincare business. I wanted to provide my patients with the confidence that radiant, healthy skin can bring. My thought process was simple – create a brand that you are proud of. A brand that represents who you are and what you stand for. A brand that helps my clients reveal their true selves without Instagram filters or tons of makeup. Read more>>

 Stephanie Boydston | Founder/ Executive Director

I worked for large National Non-profits like Make-A-Wish and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for over 7+ years. During that time frame I was also extremely passionate about animal rescue, and helped to foster over 150+ cats, dogs, guinea pigs, and rabbits with a local nonprofit pet rescue. In 2019 I helped to rescue/foster a litter of 10 pot belly piglets through this rescue, Read more>>

Meredith Johnson | Entrepreneur, Project Manager & Engineer

Women’s Haven started because sourcing high-quality organic sanitary napkins in my country was difficult. My issues with my menses began from my first period and continued up until university. I tried the pill, but I had adverse side effects. It wasn’t until university I was introduced to organic feminine care, and it made a difference in my life. When I came back home and saw the price of organic pads here, I was motivated to make it better so that all women can have access to products that are better for you. Read more>>

Annabel Braithwaite | photographer

I came together with another photographer, Dorothée two decades ago with a shared goal to create beautiful imagery for others. We thought we would thrive working together under a brand. We felt strongly that there was a space for us in the marketplace to do our own thing. We hoped our assignments would take us places and they have both nationally and internationally. Read more>>

Aine Boden | Manager

We wanted a place where people could collaborate and grow multiple small businesses around us. Small businesses really are the heart of the American economy we wanted to listen to the community and help grow those businesses together. Read more>>

Ryan Cachola | CEO

Mayco Services was originally started by my parents, Sam and May Cachola. It was a long process for them to get everything up and running smoothly, then eventually they found momentum and handled about 15 to 20 calls a day. Suddenly a crisis came upon the family business and my mother May Cachola passed. Mayco Services crashed as a business and we lost all subcontracts because no one was working it. Read more>>

Simoni Baid | Internal Medicine and Pediatric Doctor

I have wanted to be a doctor since I was 8 years old. After I became a doctor, I realized, I am more of a machine for insurance documentation, prescription dispensing, and hospital growth. The patient-doctor relationship that I wished to cultivate with my profession no longer existed in this current medical system. Read more>>

Jennifer Vee | Founder of JVLUXURY Premier Concierge

I was raised by a single mother that worked 2 sometimes 3 jobs to make ends meet. Seeing her drive and witnessing her ambition first hand really impacted me for as long as I can remember. I always knew I wanted to be an entrepreneur and have something of my own that I could grow and flourish. After working operations for hospitality venues for years, I started to notice that there was a huge decline in bespoke experiences and services being offered in the luxury hospitality realm and I decided it was time for me to rise to the occasion. Read more>>

Ken Shigeru | Entrepreneur

Typically, people start their own business to pursue their passion, create something new, have greater control over their work, seek financial independence, or solve a problem they are passionate about. It involves developing a business idea, conducting market research, creating a business plan, securing funding, and taking the necessary legal and regulatory steps to start. Read more>>

Kenneth Darrell | HVAC Contractor & Owner Of Kenditioning Aire

The thought process behind starting my own business was a combination of excitement, determination, and a strong belief in my abilities. I had a deep passion for HVAC services and a burning desire to make a positive impact in the industry. I wanted to build a company that not only provided exceptional services but also prioritized customer satisfaction and employee well-being. Read more>>

Karine Vasilyan | Skin Care specialist/Spa owner

What was my thought process… What a good question! Well at first it was so scarry, but also so exiting ! It was a fear of failure, fear of the unknown, I tried to acknowledge and address these fears so that they don’t hold me back from pursuing my dream. One way to overcome my fear was to start doing some research and getting as much information as I could about the industry I wanted to enter and the type of business I wanted to start. Read more>>

Bri’awn Patrick | Licensed Esthetician & South Florida Realtor ®

I wanted the freedom of controlling my own schedule. I wanted to enjoy the pleasure of waking up everyday and being in love with my job and what I do. I seen through others what life looks like when they were not happy with their career choices and I wanted to make that change in my life. Read more>>