There is a wealth of academic research that suggests that differences in risk appetite are at the heart of differences in career and business trajectories. We wanted to go beyond the theory and ask real people from the community about their perspectives and experiences with risk and risk taking.

Alyssa Giz | Baker and Home Bakery Owner

Th products I make aren’t like other vegan products and I take pride in that. Creating this business was risky though, due to my decision in making desserts that are exlusively gluten-free, corn-free, soy-free, nut-free – as well as being vegan. In Miami, there are many more vegan businesses and options in restaurants than there was over a year ago. That being said, sadly, the details of my products cause skepticism, as opposed to excitement in many Miamians that are used to super sweet treats with little regard to quality. Read more>>

Helmo Santos | Visual Artist

My process of becoming an artist was and is motivated by more personal issues than a formal business process. I have ADHD and I was living a life that I didn’t feel like my own, I was a nomad for most of my life, so I decided to try to change, settle down and live in a place, well…for 9 years I lived in a deep depression. I had a good job, romantic relationships, but still none of it seemed to me. It was too distressing, because I didn’t feel good about anything I had. This is very common with people with this disorder. So, I isolated myself at home for 2 months, I didn’t know what to do with my life, nor what I really wanted for myself, Read more>>

Yanna Dripp | Exotic Dancer

risk is a must. in order to get anywhere or learn anything new you have to take that risk that you might not do it or mess up. Read more>>

Ariel Rodrigues | Fitness Coach, Network Marketer & Serial Entrepreneur

I think taking risks is the only way to become successful. How will you know if something doesn’t work unless you try? If you don’t take risks, you’ll never know the outcome; therefore, you’ll never reach your goals or success. Even if you fail, failure is the process of success. Taking a risk to achieve a goal requires courage to face the fear of uncertainty. Regardless of the outcome, we grow through the process and become more confident and knowledgeable, knowing what to do for the future. Those skills help take more risks and improve the chances of achieving future goals. Read more>>

Cami Sarria | CEO & Founder of SELF

I think any time you talk about entrepreneurship, risk is part of the conversation. Before I decided to start my own creative agency, working a corporate job was my plan for the next few years. It felt scary, too “grand” of a choice to make. I thought, “I’ll work in the marketing industry, but under a bigger agency & spend a few years learning + gaining more experience before starting my own”. I thought I wasn’t ready- that imposter syndrome was really taking over my decisions. Read more>>

Anna Saavedra | Personal Stylist & Boutique Owner

Risk is a necessary evil for anyone who is running a self-funded startup. The old saying is true…the bigger the risk, the bigger the reward. I have had to risk literally everything, and I do mean everything in order to make my business succeed. It’s not just the capital either, capital is just the beginning…what about risking your entire career, reputation, resume AND everything you’ve got in the bank? Read more>>

Jerome Tomlinson | Entrepreneur & CEO

Risks are an integral part in any business or any entrepreneurial venture one decides to embark on. As the popular term states; “No risk, no reward” and I am a firm believer in that statement to which I have embraced throughout my life as an entrepreneur. I have never really heard of anyone who made it big and successful by ‘playing it safe’; there’s always got to be some form of risk included whether strategic, calculated or of some kind. Read more>>

Katrina Moldova | Artist and gallery owner

Risk in my life been more of a survival type. To survive and stay strong I’ve taken many risk and they will always come along. If you don’t risk you don’t move forward. But also with understanding of your possibilities and abilities. To be honest now that I’m writing this answer to this question I’m realising how many risk were in my life. Do they say if you don’t take a risk you don’t drink champagne? Well champagne is my favorite to cheers to. Read more>>

Brieanah Schwartz | Advocate & Copywriter

Losing a parent, especially one who you considered your best friend, has a way of shifting your perspective on life. Of course that includes determining what’s most important to you, making you aware of your own mortality, and teaching you how to persist. But there’s more if you really look. For me, I internalized that nothing in life could be worse than losing my mom. Nothing. Read more>>

Ilsse Peredo | Visual Artist

I know it can be scary to step into the unknown. However, nothing interesting happened to those staying in their comfort zones. In order to take risks, first you have to accept and embrace the idea that not everything will happen the way you planned it… and that’s OKAY!! There’s no such thing as failure. Failures are only opportunities to learn and grow, and if you’re going to learn and grow, you have to be willing to take chances and make mistakes. Read more>>

Marian Rivodo | Mental Health Counselor and Coach

In all honesty, I consider myself to be the person that measures risk and evaluates possible outcomes before taking any “leaps of faith”. I tend to hold back on risk taking and sit in my comfort zone longer than I should. What I have found out though, throughout the span of my life and career so far, is that the biggest blessings, growth and learnings have all come as a result of the risks, leaps of faith that I’ve taken. Risk is uncomfortable in nature but it will produce incredible results if approached with wisdom, discernment, openness and most importantly, faith. Read more>>

Tatiana Bravo | Transaction Coordinator

I feel that the word risk gets a bad reputation and connotation, similar to failure. The definition of Risk is “a situation involving exposure to danger.” but I believe without risk there is no reward, and as they say, nothing great comes out of your comfort zone. Everything in life is a risk, life in general is a risk because we are never promised tomorrow. Risk enables us to achieve greatness, without taking risks we would not be where we are as a society. We would not be able to travel on airplanes, travel the world, we wouldn’t have inventors or visionaries. The role that risk has played in my life and career has been life changing. Read more>>

Kristen Kohary | Designer & Maker

Simply stated… Nothing ventured is nothing gained. However, I’ve learned over the years to calculate risks moving forward. Experience helps, but there are never any guarantees. You just have to go for it! If things don’t work out the way you envisioned note any loss or miscalculations; make the necessary changes and TRY AGAIN! Read more>>

Savasha | DJ, Singer/Songwriter, Producer, Musician, Photographer & Business Owner

I think risk is essential to your personal life, career, and art provided you want to move forward and achieve new goals. Ensuring that you develop a solid plan around a risk as well as accept the potential for a failure or misstep almost guarantees your risk will eventually pay off! As an artist, I feel you constantly need to be stepping out of your comfort zone, pushing your work a little bit more each time you create or you will feel redundant. It’s easy to simply conform to what is happening or successful around you; Read more>>

Arianna Martinucci | Brand and Food Photographer

Tough one… I’m only 20 years old, so taking risks is what people of my age should be doing, to be honest. But it’s more difficult than you think. Personal talking, taking risks is what has been helping me to get where I am right now, I don’t consider myself a person that takes risks but photography is what I love so is worth it. Getting out of my comfort zone is what has helped me to know new people, new places. new jobs, and with these new opportunities. Read more>>

Cam Adams | Personal/group fitness trainer & boxing instructor

I’ve always been a risk taker. I love to live life on the edge. Pushing the boundaries. It’s probably what has gotten me into accidents. Especially one that happened three years ago on a motorcycle. I wrecked, died on the scene, was brought back to life, in a coma, relearned how to do everything again. Read more>>