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.

Beth Requist

I had been working for a few different online business coaches for several years and eventually landed on what I really enjoy – design. Having designed numerous sales pages for their offers, I began to feel like I wanted to get into web design and really wanted to work for myself. I had a life altering injury almost 15 years ago that resulted in paralysis and chronic pain, so I really wanted to have a job that I could work from the comfort of my own home. Once I knew I wanted to do design, I began taking classes and doing friends websites on the side. It has finally evolved into a full time business for me! Read More>> 

Grace Gamble

I started my business because I realized there was a gap between what many small businesses needed and what they were actually getting from web agencies. A lot of business owners were ending up with slow, bloated websites they couldn’t easily update themselves, or they were paying ongoing fees for even the smallest changes. Read More>>

Breanna Teague

I’ve always had a creative side and have loved having an outlet where I can use that creativity in a meaningful way. Fashion, styling, and creating have always been things I naturally gravitated toward. As a busy mom of three and a nurse, starting Cambell Rose became the perfect blend of creativity and entrepreneurship. Read More>>

 Kevin Towell

My thought process was essentially one thing: I wanted to work for myself…make my own hours, build my own name and control my own schedule. I had worked for a number of other development companies, remodeling companies, Builders, etc. I watched from behind the scenes for a number of years and noticed the things the owners were doing to cut corners and piss clients off. I thought to myself “I can do this better”. Read More>>

Jazmin Perez

Our decision to start our own business came from a desire to bring more luxury into our everyday lives.

As first-generation daughters of immigrant parents, Katie and Jazmin grew up understanding the importance of hard work. While working from home, we became more aware of how our environment impacted us and realized how essential it is to pour into yourself first. Creating a space that feels good, looks beautiful, and supports your well-being is not a luxury. It is necessary. Read More>>

Jenna Baesler

I started my business from something I already loved….planning my kids’ birthday parties. I’ve always been a little extra when it comes to celebrating their big days, putting so much thought into every detail and really going all out with each theme they chose. Every year, I found myself trying to top the last, making each party more creative, unique, and special than before. What I loved most was seeing their excitement when everything came together.  Read More>>

 Jaime Cruz

My brother Juan and I have been working in construction since we were young — it’s something we learned from our father. When we moved to the U.S., we came with big dreams.
At first, we worked really hard for different companies, learning from each experience. Read More>>

Mamata Barry Aka (Indigo Blackbird)

Many of us enter motherhood carrying inherited beliefs about what a woman is supposed to be, what she’s worth, and how she’s allowed to exist. But when you’re bringing life into the world, you’re faced with the opportunity and responsibility to define that for yourself. At the core of my work is helping women reclaim their self-worth: how they see themselves, define who they are, and move through life from that place. Without that foundation, women often don’t realize they can choose differently from what’s offered, demand better, or create new possibilities for themselves and their families. Read more>>

Brooke Dearwester

My thought process behind launching Junk Wranglers took place during a house flip I was doing. Every time I booked a dumpster or called for junk removal it was such a clunky and unreliable experience. I started thinking, “I could do this” and the competition isn’t that stiff – I started shopping competitors and only 20% of the time would I ever hear back from them let alone receive a service. I knew there was room for me at that point, so I quit my job and started Junk Wranglers. Read more>>

Larisa Lopatko

With 20 years in the U.S. medical field and a decade as a primary care provider, I was done with the “15-minute visit” hamster wheel. I realized the traditional insurance model prioritizes volume over value, which wasn’t serving my patients or my purpose. Read more>>

Airilei McCann

I started my jewelry business because I’ve always loved fashion and expressing myself! I would often put outfits together and feel like I could never find the right accessories to match, so I started making my own. Over time, I realized how much I loved creating pieces that made people feel confident, pretty, and more like themselves. Friends and family encouraged me to start selling my jewelry, and that’s how Hapafairy came to life! I also loved the idea of building something of my own from the ground up! Read more>>