We reached out to some of our favorite entrepreneurs and asked them to think back and tell us about how they decided to start a business. Check out their responses below.

Bismarie Plasencia | Latina CEO and Marketing Professional

I can do it. Ever since I can remember I have had a “go-getter” attitude. Whether it was try to land a role in the school play or being chosen to be in the front for the dance recital, I worked hard to achieve my goals. I rarely let “no” or “it’s impossible” hold me back. I would either look for a different way, ask how I need to improve my skills, or try again. Read more>>

Erica Montani | Healer – reiki master, meditation instructor, Akashic record master, crystal healer, family constellation coach, music therapist

Having my own business is a great challenge, but it gives me the possibility of creating a place where I can share in my own way what I believe is the best. It gives me freedom and that is very important to me. I knew it was not going to be easy at the very beginning, but I decided it was what I really wanted so I decided to go for it. Read more>>

Karen Jenson | Artist and Entrepreneur

I had wanted to start PÄRLAS sometime after graduating from college and was sidetracked by starting an arts non-profit for youth in Park City, Utah and then moving to work in finance in New York City after getting my masters. I moved to Florida from Williamsburg Brooklyn due to Covid, and was in Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers. The thought of being my own boss and doing something creative was very healing and attractive. Read more>>

Marietta Marthinsen | Co-Owner & Photographer of Work for Treats

I know everyone always says the same thing when they get into the pet industry; I love animals. Although this is definitely true, it’s definitely not the only thing that led us here. I started as an artist (as long as I can remember), and went to art school for most of my life. During that time, I got into photography and film, and went on to go to film school in LA, where I met my husband and business partner now (who is now a professional video editor for television). Read more>>

Andy & Jordy Figueroa | Business Owner – Entrepreneur

Our father was always good at baking dough and our vision was to create a factory providing pre oven dough & frozen pizza to different restaurants/cafeterias, pizzerias & supermarkets. We also now provide freshly cooked pizzas to the public with our newly opened food truck. Read more>>

The Young CEO Project Podcast | Education

The idea of starting The Young CEO Project emerged from recognizing the need for greater diversity in leadership roles, particularly among young black entrepreneurs and women. We observed that many talented individuals within these communities faced systemic barriers and lacked access to resources and opportunities. We wanted to create a platform that not only celebrated their achievements but also provided support, guidance, and recognition for their entrepreneurial endeavors. Read more>>

Karen Perez | Small Business Owner

I originally made my products for me, and my children. We were wasting so much in single use items, that when the Pandemic hit, and we couldn’t find anything, I knew that this was the time to start making that switch and stop putting it off. I knew there had to be a better way. Before we finished our last roll of paper towels, I started to do the research, and after a few months of making the switch, and realizing how I changed so many aspects of my home, my husband persuaded me to help others do the same. Read more>>

Katerina Morosan | Luxury and Investment Property Salesperson and Team Lead

Before becoming a full time salesperson and team lead, I worked at marketing and consulting real estate firm in Manhattan. It was exactly what I was looking at that time of my career: 9 to 5 job, stability, weekly pay, no liability, obligations, weekends off. I thought this was something I was looking for. But I was always a all-in type of person. So every 3 months the CEO of the company raised my salary acknowledging me as an asset to the company. Read more>>

NAVI | Singer-Songwriter, Music Studio Owner

Since I started singing and writing music, at 12 years old, I had always dreamed of having my own music studio, to create my own art and also help other artists achieve their dreams in a professional, but relaxed and inspiring environment. In 2019 I opened Demisec Records alongside my husband, Andrei Grigore – it is a music – video – photo production studio aimed at creating genuine artistic products, without ever compromising on quality. Read more>>

Frank GSZ | Latin Urban Artist

Well, being a Latin Artist making Latin urban music there is not too much things to think, but to feel. What I can tell is that I realized that this is what I wanted to do for the rest of my life since I was 13 years old. Read more>>

Yoav Suprun | Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) & Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS), TEDx Speaker

I actually run 2 business. Since I was a kid, business dealings always interest me. Once I moved from NYC to Miami Beach in 2008, I realized that there is no concierge physical therapy clinic that specializes in the spine. That’s how “SoBe Spine” (South Beach Spine and Extremities) was born (www.sobespine.com). Read more>>

Brad Bouchillon | Fly Tyer

Although it is not a full-on business, the thought process behind Project Litterbug was to challenge myself in tying flies, while simultaneously spreading the message to keep our waterways clean. Read more>>

Carole Bardasano | Instagram Marketing Educator

I started my business after spending 16 years in corporate after seeing a need in the market. I had just gone back to school to learn Digital Marketing professionally and when I came back, everyone wanted to “pick my brain” to get help getting clients online. Business owners and corporate people needed to learn this new digital world but no one had the time. We developed a 2-day executive program that taught people everything they needed to work and execute a Digital Marketing Strategy in an actionable framework. Read more>>

Holly Flanders | Childcare Consultant and Nanny Agency Owner

After a decade of working in various childcare, family support and early childhood education fields, I found that new parents often were overwhelmed when it came to making decisions about the care and education of their young children. Parents often do not know how to determine what will be best childcare for their families and rarely have a clear picture of what daycare is really like or how to properly hire and manage a nanny as their home employee. Read more>>

Capt. Alex Tejeda | Kayak Fishing Guide

As an adolecent i grow up watch ESPN outdoor tunning into the like of Jose Wejebe and Flip Plate. I grew up loving nature and anything outdoors. Fishing came natural to and i alway applied science and an analytical approached. After years of being apart of the industry of kayak fishing i was able to sharing my experience and thoughts through outlets such of social media and more conventional ways like magazines. Naturally the calls and email began. Read more>>

Claudia Salinas | Entrepreneur & Business woman

Since I was little always knew that I will have my own business. The preparation journey actually started when I was 11 years old, I remember that I used to do so many things with my hands, like candles or chocolates for example and sold them to my entire neighborhood. I always wanted to be my own boss, the one who put all the pieces together and definitely give jobs to people was one of the biggest motivations. Read more>>

Erika Mayor | Public Relations & Marketing Consultant

I feel very lucky to have started my public relations and marketing career in the nonprofit space. I loved working for some of the most recognizable and respected organization in the country, and in the process learned an incredible amount from these entities. As my family grew though, It was becoming more and more challenging to be a mom and travel 65% of the year. So when I was nine months pregnant with my second child, I decided to make a drastic change. Read more>>

Christina Rodriguez | Speech Language Pathologist

Ever since I thought of becoming a Speech Therapist, I dreamt of having my own business. I wanted to build something I could be proud of and that I could create the way I wanted it. I wanted to be able to cater to my clients and have the time to learn about their specific needs, disorders, etc. Having my own business allows me the opportunity to do so as my hours are more flexible. Read more>>

Seyoum Settepani | Settepani Restaurant General Manager

The decision to start Settepani was originally driven by my parents, Antonino Settepani and Leah Abraham. Their hard work, determination, and passion for the culinary arts laid a strong foundation for the business to grow and flourish. Now, my sister and I have the privilege of continuing their legacy. Read more>>

Martin Litwak | Lawyer specializing in wealth preservation and international taxation

I first decided to focus my practice in servicing “private clients” because I realized that major law firms around the globe were concentrating too much in advising corporations, without paying too much attention to the needs of the families that owed them. I saw very often how partners at these firms, and even senior associates, prioritized legal work to be done for the benefit of the companies while allocating junior lawyers or even paralegals to assist the owners of these companies with their own legal needs (divorces, succession planning, personal tax liabilities, new ventures, purchase of art, etc.). Read more>>

Danielle Bar-Navon | Affiliate Marketer | CEO of Powerhouse To Passive- Digital Training Course

I originally became self employed years ago when I got into real estate. I loved it, and still love it, but I had no work-life balance and I had to hustle 24/7. I was just exhausted and tired of trading time for money when we already have so little time to begin with. As a society we were raised thinking that if we got a good job, education, worked hard, climb the “corporate ladder”, and retired at 65- that we would be ok. That’s no longer the case! Read more>>

Jimmie Sussman | Fashion Stylist

I beat to my own drum and following the rules has never been my dance, I knew the corporate world was not my direction. Personally, I’m instinct based, creative, unconventional, love people and the art of fashion. I wanted to fuse all these qualities and work in that. flow. Read more>>

Maria Jose Soong | School Psychologist & Business Owner

I have had the pleasure of spending 17 years of my career thus far helping families of children and adolescents seeking supports within the framework of public schools. The thought process behind starting my own business is that I believe wholeheartedly in my work and feel that a private practice expands my ability to make a difference in the lives of others. The South Florida community which I call home is comprised of many families that have recently arrived in the U.S. Read more>>