Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Katie Semenas

I started The Sleepy Teepee Co. because I know how special it is to create lasting memories, but I also know how overwhelming it can feel—especially with the pressure of social media. These days, it seems like every celebration has to be Pinterest-perfect, and it’s easy to compare our own efforts to the beautiful setups we see online. Read More>>

Simone Desantis

Painting on canvas was my first love. I would spend hours blending colors and shaping forms with my brush. Each piece felt complete once it was hung on a wall, but something was missing. I wanted my art to move beyond the frame and become a part of people’s daily lives. Read More>>

Chuck Coffey

I had been involved in music for a number of years, from playing in bands to running a record label. Family and friends started asking me to DJ their weddings. It was so much fun and after the 3rd or 4th one, it dawned on me that maybe I could start up my own DJ business to earn some income. Snappy Little Numbers Entertainment was founded in 2012. Read More>>

Michael Varda

I began my career in highly corporate market research roles — helping universities attract students and Tech companies attract software engineers. I learned a lot, but always had a desire to start my own business. Read More>>

Ayla Rae Weddings

I had dabbled with portraits of friends for a year or two before I’d gotten my first paid shoot. Shortly after that, I was hired as a photo assistant for a company that photographed extravagant weddings with hundreds of guests. They were loooooong days, and couples were exhausted by the time the ceremony started. Read More>>

Cortland Mathers-suter

My thought process behind starting my own business was simple: I believed I could do it better, and more affordably for consumers than other businesses in the space had. I felt strong that my perspective gave me a huge competitive edge, because whereas the leaders in the space were all either MBA’s with no personal experience in the space, or people without educations but ample experience, I had the benefit of years of experience utilizing similar services and held a Master’s Degree in the discipline. Read More>>

Joe Schubert

My thought process for starting my own business revolved around my love for food, my love to make people happy, and my desire to get out of the corporate world. Let’s start with the first part of this. I absolutely love making food. I love developing new recipes, and I love creating something from scratch. I’m passionate about it and it fuels my desire to learn more about cultures. Read More>>

Prudence Devilliere

I didn’t get into aesthetics for the deepest of reasons. “Vanity. Full speed ahead!” I did fall in love with plasma pen treatment, and wanted to be able to do it on myself, so I went to aesthetician school at Emily Griffith. Afterwards, I learned that one of my favorite things in the world is spending time with my clients and providing something that I know now is truly beneficial and enriching. Read More>>

Fatima Stansell

Starting my own business was rooted in my passion for making a meaningful impact in my community. I wanted to create something that aligned with my values and allowed me to address issues I care deeply about, like literacy, diversity, and inclusion. Read More>>

Tiffany Bucknam

I founded Evolition, my healing arts practice in 2017. After losing 100 lbs and pulling myself out of a major depression, I made a number of lifestyle changes that I wanted to continue. I had also been through a divorce and was re-starting my life and career, and experienced a strong calling to share what I had learned. Not from a, “I did this and want to teach you how to do it, too,” but more of a, “let’s learn about how to change our lives together.” I’ve been at it ever since. Read More>>