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.

Kena Peterson

My background is in journalism and public relations, and I spent several years working for a municipality as the communications coordinator. In that role, I handled everything from press relations and marketing materials to managing the website and community messaging. Read More>>

Jane Hargrove

Both my husband and I come from entrepreneurial family businesses, so you could say that the mindset to start a business is as natural as breathing. However, I didn’t necessarily set out to start a business. I’ve always been passionate about relationships, so when a customer approached me to create a better burrito, I knew that with our foodservice expertise, we could definitely make an authentic burrito with more filling and less tortilla. Read More>>

Christopher Foster

I wanted to create an inclusive environment for people to get professional body art services. The services I wanted to provide for clients are: tattooing, tebori tattoo techniques, permanent makeup, areola reconstruction, scar camouflage and piercing. Through all of these services I have helped people to express themselves through art and given them a way to heal from life changes or trauma. Read More>>

Amanda Taylor

I was honestly didn’t have a lot of money and was looking to get into something to help make ends meet. I had developed an appreciation for wild rags (western scarves) and decided to invest in a serger machine and some fabric and from there I learned how to sew the wild rags and start selling them on facebook and the business grew and expanded from there.  Read More>> 

Liz Headley

Growing up, I was always an athlete—I played everything from soccer and basketball to gymnastics and cheerleading, eventually becoming a D1 cheerleader. My experience as a collegiate athlete was incredible, but it was also eye-opening. I saw firsthand how easily sports—especially for women—can shift from being about performance to being about body image. Read More>>

 Melissa Alvarez

Honestly, I never set out with the intention of starting a business. It all began when I started showing up on social media and began connecting more deeply with my community. I quickly realized there was a real need for more support, visibility, and connection—especially for fire families and those running small businesses.  Read More>>

Kristie Lowers

My journey into esthetics was born out of a deeply personal place. After the passing of my late husband, I felt called to rediscover my purpose and find a way to help others heal and feel better in their own skin. That’s when I found my passion in esthetics. I enrolled at Paul Mitchell The School in Colorado Springs, and from the very beginning, I knew I wanted this to be more than just a career—I wanted it to be a way of making a difference in people’s lives. Read More>>

Monica Poole

I have always wanted to have my own business. When my eldest twin was diagnosed with Celiac disease over 20 years ago, I went to shop for food to fit his new diet. I didn’t find much. Experimentation with bread, pastries and other wheat replacements ensued. Read More>>

Amy Hicks

We wanted to provide a simple solution to a problem that so many people face. When people struggle with fatigue, poor sleep, weight gain, or brain fog, they are often told it is just part of getting older, being busy, or keeping up with the demands of life. Instead of finding the root cause, they are given quick fixes that only mask symptoms while the real problem gets worse. Read More>>

Lindsey Phillips

Prior to starting my business, I worked in a variety of mental health settings and always for a company. In those settings, it was apparent that there were a lot of unnecessary tasks, endless meetings, and redundant paperwork. I came to view these chores as distractions from what really mattered…providing really great therapy to clients. I figured that starting my own private practice would allow me to focus on my clients.  Read More>>

Caleb Straus

It was to cultivate a community for underground artists in heavy music that were also misfits in some way; meaning they had an original sound that stood out, that wasn’t run of the mill. And make it artist-friendly so that they could trust the team behind them and beside them.  Read More>>

Julie Vo

Starting my own business stemmed from a deep desire to build something lasting for myself and my family. As a first generation college student, all the opportunities I saw you either had to work hard for or create yourself. Entrepreneurship was a way to take that even further and create stability, ownership, and a legacy. Read More>>

Dr. Josephine Harris

The thought process behind starting my business was born from both pain and purpose. I saw too many people — especially women — functioning, performing, and succeeding publicly while silently struggling privately. I wanted to create a space where they could exhale, heal, and rediscover themselves without judgment. Read More>>

Krystal Gurule

I decided to start my own private practice so I could create a schedule that aligns with my children’s school routine. Being a mother is my most important role, and having my own practice allows me to be present for my kids while still doing the meaningful work I love. Read More>>

 Brandi Jennings

I’ve always been an entrepreneur at heart, but the real turning point came when I was working for another general contractor and had to go on medical leave due to chemotherapy. In that season, I realized that starting my own business would give me the flexibility to control my hours, provide for my children, and still do the work I loved. Read More>>

Tairah Brown

I started Love Prevails to help the families who are watching their loved ones struggle with addiction and mental health issues. Coming from both the perspective of the addict, and the family member of addicts, I know first hand how hopeless and terrifying it is to watch someone you love give their life to addiction. I had to navigate through this process alone, going through all of the stages of grief and making bad decisions along the way. Read More>>