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.

Cassandra Claude

I’ve always been entrepreneurial, so starting a business was definitely something I planned to do at in my life. I did so right after I finished my undergraduate studies in Music Education, before going on to earn my MBA. However, Artistic Freedom Mentorship Program was born differently. I didn’t create it solely to have another business. Read More>>

Endry Rovaz

When you start out in any professional field —especially in my case, in the world of arts and creativity— you’re often limited by the vision of the leader of the organization you work for or belong to. And while it’s a privilege to collaborate with renowned brands and artists, those privileges often come with restrictions, particularly when the final word isn’t yours. Read More>>

Jessica Woolverton

J WolfPaX was born from lived experience and a deep desire to create something I wish had existed earlier in my life.

I went through a lot at a young age. Family illness, identity challenges, and the kind of emotional weight that forces you to grow up fast. Read More>>

Federico Gómez Maya

Since I was at the University Studying Visuals Arts, people used to ask me what I was gonna do after finishing my studies. The only thing I knew was that I was not going to be a full time school art teacher. (Which is what you actually are studying for). People saw me painting and the started commissioning paints from me, so that gave me a lot of confidence and I rented a house and opened my studio, a few months later I had to rent some of the house rooms to be able to pay the house rent. It wasn’t easy and hasn’t been easy through the art. Read More>>

Maya

When I was a freshman in high school I was drawn to the freedom associated with starting my own business, empowering me to manifest personal funds through ideas that I create. I loved being the Leader of my own ideas, and I recall handmaking earrings and selling them in the park, for example. Read More>>

Alexandra Morales

I initially thought nails weren’t for me—I even told my sister that. But during a difficult time in my life, I turned to nails as a positive outlet. What started as a personal escape became a true passion. I began practicing on myself, then on close family, and eventually opened my page and started taking clients. Taking that leap was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Read More>>

Adriana Hunsberger

I’ve never had a desire to work for someone else. Instead, I’ve always been driven to find a way to have a flexible schedule and pursue something that I truly felt passionate about. I’m also a pretty determined individual. I knew that if I built something for myself, I would do anything to ensure its success. Read More>>

Lawens Joanis

I’ve always had a natural pull toward anything that involved being behind the camera. Whether it was capturing candid moments with friends or strapping a GoPro to a selfie stick and jumping into a pool, I just loved preserving moments and telling stories through visuals. Read More>>

Natalie Vaulin

My journey into entrepreneurship started with a very personal wake-up call – a serious health condition that forced me to reevaluate every part of my lifestyle, including what I was putting on my skin. I realized how much unnecessary toxicity we’re exposed to daily and how little transparency there was in the beauty industry. That experience led me to clean beauty, not just as a consumer, but as a calling. Read More>>

Dr. Ben Thayil

Ever since I was in 2nd grade, I wanted to become an Optometrist. I thought once I did that, that was it! Growing up, owning my own business never crossed my mind. After finishing my residency training, I started practicing at different clinics throughout South Florida. Read More>>

Samira Francois +Alyssa Silva Samira Francois +Alyssa Silva

We started Baddie Besties during one of the most uncertain moments in our lives. We’re first-generation Haitian-American and Cape Verdean women, and we graduated from Boston College in 2020, right in the middle of a global pandemic. Read More>>

Mayberling Torres

Starting my own business was both a personal and purposeful decision. As a Latina mom living in the U.S., I saw firsthand the challenges of raising children in a new country while trying to stay true to our values and heritage. I wanted to create something that not only allowed me to be present for my children but also inspired other women—especially moms—to pursue their dreams. Read More>>

Myrian Romero

After more than 20 years building a solid career in the corporate world, moving to Miami was a deep shift.
We relocated as a family, supporting my husband’s new job, and decided to invest in a franchise our way of building long-term equity while creating jobs and solutions for the community.
But shortly after, that job was gone, the business was just starting… and I faced a defining question:
If I’m no longer what I used to do, then who am I now and how do I start over in a new country? Read More>>

Maileika Chacon

Bites & Bliss by Mai came from a mix of creativity, faith, and survival. I’ve always had a passion for hosting, design, and making people feel special—but turning that into a business was never part of the original plan. It all started when I created a charcuterie board for a small gathering, and people loved it. From there, I realized I could bring together my love for food, presentation, and events into something meaningful. Read More>>

Ronit Schwartz

Honestly, it started pretty organically. I was helping my husband with his financial advisory work for years—what began as support slowly turned into something more hands-on. I found myself doing more than just the backend work; I was building relationships with his clients, asking the questions no one else was asking, helping them feel seen, asking for their goals and passion- it changed the landscape of their finances to be more strategic and personalized. Read More>>

Amanda Weingarth

Weingarth Customs was started by my husband, Chris Weingarth, as a custom woodworking business in Syracuse, New York. Chris built custom furniture, built-ins, custom cabinetry, timber framing, and much more. When I met my husband, I was a special education teacher at the elementary level. Read More>>

Russi Wachtel

I began my career as a registered nurse and owner of an IV drip clinic. I truly loved the work, it was fulfilling to help people feel better physically and to be part of their healing journey. But over time, I started to feel something was missing. I found myself craving a deeper kind of connection, one that went beyond fixing symptoms or offering temporary relief. Read More>>