We asked some of the most interesting folks in the community to open up about how they think about taking chances and the role risk has played in their lives and careers. Risk is by far the topic folks talk to us most about and we hope the responses below will help shed light on many different perspectives.

Nicole Graham

I believe risk-taking has played a vital role in my journey. I live by the saying, ‘no risk, no reward.’ If you don’t try new things or bet on yourself, no one else will. Confidence in your decisions especially in business is essential. Taking risks has shaped who I am. I’ve lived in four different states, each move teaching me something new and pushing me to grow. My most recent move to Miami, about eight months ago, was another leap of faith. I didn’t have everything figured out, but I trusted myself. Read More>>

Neha Saraiya

I have always believed that if I am the smartest person in the room, it’s time to change rooms! And I have changed rooms, places, and jobs when they no longer aligned with where I was in life. My path has been anything but linear: from publishing to talent management, project management, and now launching my first CPG brand. Read More>>

Nicole Cueto

I believe risk is often just courage in disguise. One of the best lessons I’ve learned is that “if you don’t ask, the answer will always be no.” That mindset has shaped so many of my life’s biggest decisions.

When I moved from Miami to New York City without a job lined up, I wasn’t just betting on opportunity, I was betting on myself. It was a leap that forced me to grow quickly, build resilience, and trust my instincts. That decision ultimately opened the door to an exciting career I couldn’t have mapped out any other way. Read More>>

Lara Estrada Tomenchok

Risk has never really felt optional for me, it’s just been part of the path. Starting my business Indie Identity was no exception.

I began my career in environmental engineering, driven by a deep desire to make an impact on the world in a tangible, measurable way. I study the risks our planet faces on a scientific level, and this awareness shapes how I view responsibility and impact. This has guided me to make bold choices not just in my work, but how I live. Read More>>

Alivia Murdoch

Risk has played a large role in getting me to where I am today in my business and career. It’s one of those things that never feels easy and isn’t supposed to feel comfortable. But in a positive way, I think it really makes you commit to the path you’re on. You’ll take the risk if you know that what’s on the other side of the jump means enough to you or feels right in your heart. Read More>>

Trevor Groll

I view risk as an essential part of growth — not something to avoid, but something to navigate thoughtfully. After graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Fashion Merchandising and Retail Marketing from Johnson & Wales University in Providence, Rhode Island, I wasn’t entirely sure what direction I wanted to take. Instead of waiting for the “perfect” opportunity, I took a chance and reached out on LinkedIn to SEE Eyewear’s West Coast Regional Manager at the time. Read More>>

Alexandra Masihy

I believe taking risks is necessary for living a fulfilling life. Without risk, you’re often just repeating what’s already been done. Checking boxes, staying comfortable, and following other people’s definitions of success, but real fulfillment, I’ve found, comes from carving your own path. That often means doing the scary thing, the uncertain thing, the thing that doesn’t guarantee a clear outcome but feels right in your gut. Read More>>

Mandy Okeke

As a jeweler who moved countries and completely switched industries, risk has shaped every chapter of my story. I don’t see risk as something to avoid it’s something that’s forced me to evolve, bet on myself, and level up when staying comfortable just wasn’t an option. Read More>>

Kathy Kissik

To choose the path of an artist is to embrace career risk-taking not as a flaw, but as a fundamental pillar of existence. It’s a conscious decision to trade the perceived safety of a conventional career for the boundless possibilities of self-direction. It’s understanding that while the road may be less traveled and certainly less predictable, the journey itself—fueled by passion, driven by purpose, and measured in moments of profound creative fulfillment—is the ultimate reward. Read More>>

Miguel Garcia

I see risk as a necessary part of growth. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s also where the biggest breakthroughs happen — personally and professionally. Every major decision I’ve made has involved some level of uncertainty, but I’ve learned that if your vision is strong enough, the risk becomes fuel instead of fear. Read More>>