Are you thinking about starting a business? If so, we think you’ll enjoy reading about how these seasoned entrepreneurs thought about the question when they were in your shoes.

Bertha Osorio-Campbell

My journey into entrepreneurship began during the pandemic, a time when I had just lost my job and was forced to make a bold decision: either stay stuck in the uncertainty or build something meaningful for myself and others. That’s when I launched the Institute for Optimal Healing and Aesthetics. It was a leap of faith rooted in my passion for wellness and functional medicine. Read More>>

Kayla Lyn

I always dreamed of starting my own business and working for myself. I was in the midst of job hunting for a hopeful career in HR after leaving a 13 year career in coffee shop management/retail. I landed a job that I thought would be my foot in the door until I got laid off. I felt lost and as if my job experience was not enough to get my where I wanted to be. My partner suggested that I start my own business as I was about to complete my life coaching certification and was already a certified yoga instructor. And so, Live Inspired Wellness was born! Read More>>

Susan Montoya Blandon

Starting my own business was deeply connected to my purpose. For years, I worked on projects I was passionate about, but I felt there was a part of me that wanted to create something with its own identity—something with real human impact. Read More>>

Spencer Henn

For me, it started with frustration — and honesty.
I had just come off playing baseball professionally, and for the first time in years… I felt lost. I didn’t know what was next.
The structure, the purpose, the identity — it was all gone.
And on top of that, I was tired of the shape I was in. Tired of not feeling like myself. Read More>>

Camila

I’ve always been someone who values autonomy and intention. I knew early on I wanted to work for myself. Starting my own business wasn’t about having one singular product or service, but about creating a world that reflects my aesthetic values. With Nlumec, I wanted to offer more than candles. I wanted to offer presence, stillness, and sculptural beauty in everyday rituals.
At the same time, interior and art consulting became a natural extension of my eye ,people were constantly asking me for guidance on how to bring harmony and refinement into their homes. I realized I could offer something deeply personal and elevated, helping clients create spaces that feel not only beautiful but emotionally resonant. Working for myself has allowed me to move at my own rhythm, protect the integrity of my work, and stay rooted in what I believe: that beauty is a form of care. Read More>>

Daniela Sophia

My husband, my daughter and I moved to the US so that my daughter, who is autistic, could do ABA (behavioral therapy) here. Over time we saw that this therapy changed not only our daughter’s life, but ours as well. We decided that we needed to do something for the community so that we could help other autistic children. That’s how Infinite Minds was born. Read More>>

Marlo Jolley

Honestly, it wasn’t some big, strategic plan at first — it came from the heart. I saw a need, and I couldn’t ignore it. I’ve always had a soft spot for people who feel left out or overlooked, especially adults with special needs. Read More>>

T.YLER Babcock

During college and grad school i was picking up side projects with photography, creative direction, and studio assistant work for a few artists.

During the pandemic, I realized I was doing everything for everyone else and if created a business, I could package these services in a more professional manner. Read More>>

Jodie Booras

My thought process was two-fold. I was thinking about how I can help brands in industries I am passionate about and how I can help agencies.

Being able to approach and work with clients who share my values and work in industries I am passionate about was a significant impetus for going out on my own. But I knew there was also a gap in the agency world that I was about to leave. Read More>>

Joseph Giovanni

Starting Stallion International Group wasn’t just a business decision—it was personal. After working in the security field for about 14 years now, I saw too many situations where clients weren’t truly protected. Corners were cut, communication was poor, and there was a real lack of accountability. I knew there had to be a better way. Read More>>

Amir Khalighi

There are some who put a lot of thought into what they create, and there are those who are called so loudly that they cannot escape the reality of their soul’s path. For decades, I worked with men, supporting them as they navigated life through addictions and various challenges—but it wasn’t until 2018 that I had a clear vision of what the second act of my life would look like. Read More>>

Amy Kelly

Honestly, it came from my own breakdown. I reached a crisis point where I completely lost myself – I didn’t know who I was anymore or what I wanted from life. I was living in a life that looked fine on the outside but felt completely misaligned on the inside. I realized I wasn’t living for me.
Instead of staying stuck in that darkness, I made the bold decision to leave everything I knew and solo travel through Central and South America. I committed to figuring out who I really was beneath all the expectations and conditioning. Read More>>

Juan Carlos Anglero

I started my first business in NYC in 2008 at the age of 26, then I launched my second business specializing in premium hoodies in 2014, which ran successfully for 10 years. That same year, I bought an 1881 Victorian home in upstate New York. On weekends, I’d escape the city to renovate as much as I could myself, transforming and painting spaces was therapeutic. Over time, I had more frustrating experiences with contractors than good ones, which stood in contrast to the way I treated my own customers. When I moved to Miami to be closer to family, I started an interior painting business with the goal of combining my attention to detail, design background, and delivering a memorable experience to my customers. Read More>>

Isabel Bucaram

After years of working in media and navigating Corporate America- first at Spanish Broadcasting System (SBS) and later at CNN- CNN en Español—I realized that the real power behind every opportunity I’d ever had came down to one thing: connection. I’ve always been passionate about storytelling, elevating voices, and building bridges between cultures and industries. But I wanted to do it on my own terms. Read More>>

Alyssa

Starting Cookie Corner Creations came from a mix of passion, creativity, and a desire for independence, I’ve always loved baking, especially cookies. It started as a hobby, where I would just bake for friends and family. For a while, I was and still am baking for U.S. troops who are deployed. Then finally turned into something more as friends and family began asking for custom orders. I realized there was something special about seeing people light up over a handmade treat. That joy, combined with a dream of doing something on my own terms, (and a little push from a good friend haha), pushed me to turn my passion into a small business. Read More>>

Kirenia Alvarez

Starting my own business in epoxy resin art was a journey filled with uncertainty and excitement. I didn’t even know what epoxy was at first, which made the whole process a bit daunting. I was afraid I wouldn’t achieve any success, and the idea of starting something new without a clear direction was intimidating. However, I had a strong desire to create something exclusive, special, and unique. Read More>>

Jocelyn Jimenez

To be honest, I never set out to become an influencer in the beginning or fort to become a full time job for me. I started sharing my fitness journey back in 2021 when I was a student just trying to figure out how to stay active without a gym membership. I began posting simple workout videos on Instagram and TikTok to share what I was learning along the way, especially for people like me who had limited time, space, or resources. Over the years, that content naturally evolved into something more, it became a way to build a community around fitness, lifestyle, and just being real about the process. Read More>>

Chersonese Archange

Growing up, my sisters and I relied on perms and harsh chemicals to manage our hair, but over time, the damage became too much. I made the bold decision to cut it all off and start fresh. That moment sparked my journey to find healthier, more natural hair care solutions—but it wasn’t easy. Read More>>

Yaima

Launching my own business was a creative endeavor and a practical one at the same time. I’ve always appreciated fashion and illustration because of its beauty in encapsulating one’s essence through flow and movement. But it was not until I interacted with people at live events and noticed the joy on their faces when they were illustrated that I understood it could be much more: a passion and later an experience, even a service. Read More>>

Chione Daniel

I opened Daniel Dentistry at 26 because I didn’t want to wait for permission to create something meaningful. I saw a gap in the kind of care our community deserves, and I wanted to build a space that felt modern, respectful, and accessible. My goal was to provide quality dentistry while creating representation in a field that often lacks it. Read More>>