We asked some brilliant folks from the community to talk to us about how they think about risk and the role risk has played in their lives and careers.

Kate Wish

Risk Taking: A Journey of Transformation and Empowerment. Originally from Moscow, Russia, I found myself navigating a challenging landscape as a gay individual in the ’90s. Faced with rejection from my own family and a community that bullied and judged me, I encountered immense adversity. Despite earning a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, I realized I had to make a significant change. At 19, I took the bold step of leaving my past behind and seeking a new life abroad. Read more>>

Marrielle Monte | Actor, Author, Speaker and Filmmaker

I feel taking risks is synonymous with truly living life. You can’t remain indoors all day and expect to lead an extraordinary life. As the song from the classic Christmas movie Santa Claus is Coming to Town suggests, “put one foot in front of the other, and soon you’ll be walking out the door!” Read more>>

David ‘dov’ Bruyns | owner Muti Music, DJ / Performer as Dov1 / DnA, partner of labels Medicine / Producer Dojo

I was a back packer who then settled in USA, starting in San Francisco with a weeks accommodation paid upfront and $7 left for meals for the week and hoping to find work in that time. I lived illegally and worked whatever jobs I could for many years before becoming legal and starting to work within my interests more.  Read more>>

Erica Rawson | Artist

Risk is a constant in both my life and career. Often, I make decisions that push me outside my comfort zone—choosing paths that might not have a guaranteed outcome but hold the potential for growth and discovery. When I consider risk, I think about the worst and best possibilities, and I almost always lean into it because the alternative—staying still—feels much more dangerous. Read more>>

Morgan Brubaker | Women’s Boutique Owner

I approach risk with the idea that ‘you never know unless you try’. Even if it feels scary, I am always a proponent for taking the risk, because if you don’t how great something can be if you never take the leap. Even if I don’t feel 100% confident, I believe in doing things when you’re still scared. Often times the payoff will be even better than you expected, even if it is a lot of work to get there. Read more>>

Nick Ferro | Designer & Builder

For better or worse, the potential downside of a risk has almost never dissuaded me from following my instincts. Those few instances in which I have doubted my gut are amongst my greatest regrets. Taking a risk is an act of trust in yourself, rooted in a comfort with the unknown. I believe that I can pivot and adapt to meet unforeseen circumstances, and I accept that I cannot control every outcome. One can never know everything that will follow from any decision, but we can always expect the opportunity for learning and growth. Read more>>

Troy Ismir | Men’s Courageous Soul Guide and Golf Fitness Professional

It is very easy to get comfortable and complacent in our lives. I was cruising along in a pharmaceutical career for 17 years making excellent money with all of the safety and security benefits that go along with being in that industry, but yet I was hopelessly unfulfilled. Read more>>

Jocelyn Diles | Women’s Embodiment Coach

I believe that taking risks is incredibly courageous and requires us to really look inside of ourselves for that deep trust. I trust that no matter what happens, I will be safe and I will make it through a lesson and come out stronger, wiser, and more abundant. This is how I see risks. This is why I work with women who are in a crossroads of taking a huge risk that will change their lives one way or another. They choose to trust me to guide them in courageously going within themselves to discover pain, fears, past wounds, and true love. And they choose to trust what messages come through to guide them in their relationship and to step out of the comfort zone that has inadvertently created a lot of suffering for them. Read more>>

Izi Aragon | Aesthetician & Permanent Makeup Artist

Risk has always been a pivotal factor in my journey as an Aesthetician. One of the biggest risks I took was making the decision to pursue my passion for skincare right out of High School by enrolling directly into a Technical College to study Aesthetics. I then decided to create my own LLC and work for myself in my own little Day Spa. I chose to follow a dream that I knew would require immense dedication and perseverance. But I realized that chasing after a passion often involves taking leaps of faith, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed. Read more>>

Valerie Spina | Artist & Crypto/Blockchain Professional

Risk has been everything to my career and life. I have this design innate in me where the things I fear typically motivate me towards an end. So, I’ve had to get very comfortable with risk, especially in a culture where, as an adult, failure sometimes feels unacceptable. But, I was trained to be comfortable with risk at an early age and I carry that in my core. My dad created a New Product Development Center when I was 8 or 9 as part of a PhD thesis. So, innovation, engineering, failure, learning, and growth were always around me. My dad built motorcycles (that sometimes wouldn’t start) and model rockets (that sometimes got stuck in trees). My dad was always creating, and in creating, there is risk! Read more>>

Connor Warman | Writer & Thinker

In a world overflowing with noise and expectations, standing up for what truly makes you happy is not just a personal choice; it is a profound act of courage. Life is a fleeting journey, and each passing day presents us with opportunities to shape our destinies. When we choose to take that risk — to voice our convictions and follow our passions — we invite authenticity into our lives.
At the end of the day, life is too precious to be squandered on conformity and fear. So, I always say, dare to stand tall, speak your truth, and pursue your wildest dreams. In doing so, you honor not only your personal journey but also inspire a collective awakening to the beauty that exists when we live fully and courageously. Read more>>