Starting and growing a business is hard, but often deciding to start the business in the first place is even harder. We asked some successful entrepreneurs from around the community to open up to us about how they thought about starting a business.

Dr. Adil Mohammed | CEO and Founder of Harmony United Psychiatric Care

I started Harmony United Psychiatric Care (HUPC) with the goal of making mental health services more accessible to everyone. Local Florida residents are among some of the worst equipped with mental health resources in the nation, as Florida ranks 46th in terms of its accessibility to mental healthcare. With this in mind, I knew how important it was to offer in-person and secure telehealth visits for residents who don’t have access to local mental health resources. In fact, HUPC clinics are some of the only clinics available that typically offer same-day or next-day appointments for patients as well as a 24-7 on-call service for urgent client needs. Read more>>

Matthew Kozlowski | Entrepreneur

I learned at a young age that working in Corporate America was not for me. I was based in Chicago in the health insurance leads business making barely $45,000 a year in 2009. It was fun, almost like college 2.0, but our industry changed and I saw a huge consolidation change coming with Obamacare approaching. I spoke with a good client of mine for months on end speculating what will happen. He offered me a partnership to do a call center in South Florida and I weighed out my options. We never really came to terms, but I was young and realized I can always go back to Corporate America if things did not work out. So my thought process was a calculated risk more than anything. For the next 11 years, we, along with another partner grew something into a very large company I never dreamed would be possible. Read more>>

Shaketra Dorsey | Pastry Chef

The decision to embark on the journey of starting my own pastry business was born out of a passion for baking and a deep-seated desire to share my culinary creations with the world. As a Pastry Chef, I found immense joy in experimenting with flavors, textures, and presentation, constantly pushing the boundaries of traditional pastry. The thought of turning this passion into a business germinated as I received overwhelmingly positive feedback from friends and family who sampled my treats. The prospect of creating a brand that encapsulated my unique approach to pastry, combining innovation with a commitment to quality ingredients, fueled my entrepreneurial spirit. Read more>>

Luis Almario | Co-founder of Filardo Realty

Starting Filardo Realty was a journey fueled by a passion for real estate and a commitment to making a difference in the lives of foreign investors, especially those who may be considered minorities in the US. My entrepreneurial spirit was instilled in me from a young age, and at 16, I ventured into the business world. Over time, I realized the potential of combining my modern perspective with my mom Eiling’s extensive 15 years of experience in the real estate field. Together, we founded Filardo Realty, aiming to assist foreign investors in growing their wealth through strategic real estate investments. Read more>>

Conceptica | Creative Soul and Entrepreneur

As a successful fashion photographer with a career spanning since 2017, my journey into entrepreneurship was a result of a profound desire for independence and a pursuit of creative expression. Photography has always been my passion, serving as a powerful medium through which I could channel my creativity and vision. The decision to start my own business was fueled by the need to break free from the confines of a traditional 9-to-5 job and carve a path that allowed me to explore my craft freely. Few years later, my husband and I envisioned transforming our property into a captivating tropical jungle setting—1000 Palms Hideout – a unique venue perfectly tailored for photo and video productions, as well as exclusive private events. Read more>>

Laura Charles | Entrepreneur & Fashion Curator

Starting my own business was a profoundly personal journey rooted in my passion for fashion and a commitment to promoting body positivity and inclusivity. As a midsize girl, I recognized the fashion industry’s limited options and often exclusive nature. This realization and my love for fashion drove me to start my own size-inclusive boutique. I wanted to challenge the prevailing norms and convey that fashion is not restricted by size. Every woman, regardless of shape or size, deserves to feel confident, beautiful, and empowered in her clothing choices. This desire to break away from conventional standards and redefine the narrative around beauty and style inspired the establishment of my boutique. Read more>>

Enrique Acosta Gonzalez | Leadership Development Coach

My thought process was to start something that I knew many people needed help in. It was also motivated by my increasingly lack of tolerance for poor leadership. I chose to invest my life into the development of leaders because it is what the workforce needs. They need leaders that are transformed, developed, invested, and engaged. There is no time for foolishness at the leadership level and our people deserve better from their leaders. I also had a future employment opportunity in mind for Senior Enlisted Leaders of our Armed Forces once they separated or retired. It is an in-house Academy where companies could send their staff for an immersive leadership development experience. Read more>>

Anastia L. Johnson | Founder & CEO of ENVE34

When I decided to start ENVE34, my thought process was deeply rooted in my passion for wellness and desire to make a meaningful impact in this space. I recognized a significant need for a holistic approach to wellness encompassing physical health and mental, social, and other dimensions of well-being. I envisioned ENVE34 as more than just a fitness and lifestyle brand; it was about creating a movement that empowered individuals to embrace “getting active.” Life is an ongoing journey of change, and we have the power to actively participate in this transformation by prioritizing our wellness and becoming architects of our own well-being. My personal journey in fitness and wellness helped shape this vision. Read more>>

Susan Goldfein | Humor Writer

Well, what I do is not a business per se, but rather what is now commonly referred to as an “encore career.” I worked in health care for many years, and retirement was terrifying to me. But inevitably, it happened. Not knowing quite what to do with myself going forward, I registered for a writing class and discovered I had a knack for writing humorous personal essays. I had such fun doing this, that I started my own web site, now called “Susan’s Unfiltered Wit,” and it’s been up and running for twelve years. I write one or two fresh essays a month, mostly from the perspective of “a woman of a certain age.” I write about everyday, very relatable topics such as the indignities of aging, highly annoying TV commercials, why anyone would buy a wrinkle cream made from artichokes, and whether or not the world really needs electric toilet bowls. Read more>>