When businesses are covered in the media, often there is a lot of focus on the initial idea, the genesis moment. Then they almost brush over the middle part – the scaling up part – and arrive at how big and awesome the business is today. It makes for a fun read or in the case of a movie or show an entertaining watch, but it’s also a missed opportunity. The middle part – the scaling up part is where so many small business owners get stuck. It’s the part so many of us need more guidance with and so we wanted to get conversations going on the topic of scaling up.

Muratcan Terzi

I’ve been immersed in the world of music and live events since my university years. It all started when a few friends and I, still students at the time, decided—somewhat recklessly but wholeheartedly—to organize a Busta Rhymes concert. We had no money, no safety net, no real business plan—just belief in ourselves and an unshakable excitement for what we were trying to build. Read more>>

Waleska Ujueta

My name is Waleska Ujueta. I was born in Caracas, Venezuela, and I hold a degree in Advertising and Marketing. I moved to the United States over nine years ago with my husband and our daughter, who is now eleven. Like many immigrant families, we arrived full of hope, but had to face the reality of starting from scratch — in a new country, with no English, no network, and a child to raise while trying to rebuild our lives. Read more>>

Taylor Gee

I started SheetLogic as a strategic side hustle while working a full-time corporate engineering job. For about a year, I built the business carefully, taking on automation projects during evenings and weekends, ensuring it was sustainable before making any major leaps. My goal wasn’t an immediate full-time business, but a flexible income stream that would eventually support my dream of traveling. When I was confident the business could support me, I left my corporate job and embarked on a van life journey across North America, continuing to serve clients while experiencing the ultimate professional freedom. Read more>>

Hope Katz Gibbs

Before I founded InkandescentPR.com in 2008, I had been helping large and small organizations increase their visibility — including a decade spent at the City of Fairfax Schools in Northern VA and Social)Techonologies, a futurist think tank that tracked international consumer and business trends. Read more>>

Keltse Bilbao

If there’s one thing I’ve learned on this journey, it’s that scaling up isn’t just about growth—it’s about courage. It’s about trusting your gut when there’s no clear roadmap, holding onto your vision when things fall apart, and choosing to try again even after you’ve been knocked down. Read more>>

Bryan Almeida

From the Streets of Pacoima to the Corner Office: How One Man’s Hustle and Heart Built a Real Estate Movement When people talk about scaling a business, they usually focus on numbers—agents recruited, deals closed, revenue grown. But for me, scaling has always been deeply personal. It started in 2015 with no office, no sales, and frankly, no clear path. What I did have was drive, loyalty, and a work ethic that didn’t know how to quit. Read more>>

Mimi Sutphin

My business was doing okay at first. I had a steady flow of makeup and lash clients, but I knew I was still playing it safe. Once I graduated from cosmetology school, everything shifted. I was done hustling just to keep my head above water. I was ready to raise my prices, cut the excuses, and go all in on myself, even if that meant struggling in the beginning. Read more>>

Saionara Frederick

When I opened Diamond Shine Nails nearly four years ago, I was working alone in a small rented room with a modest setup and a lot of determination. I didn’t have a team, a big business plan, or outside funding — just a passion for nails and a drive to build something of my own. Read more>>

Katelynne Eslick

In 2013, I began the work of opening my retail jewelry store in a small location with myself as the only employee. It took my husband and I, along with the help of some incredible friends, four months to get the space ready. At that point in my career, I had been operating my business from home, literally from the kitchen table. Because of that, I was able to continue selling handcrafted jewelry pieces to help fund my start-up costs. In my downtown location, I started small but invested in things that I felt showed the community that I was serious as a “real” business. Some examples of those things were a nice, lighted business sign, custom display cases, and well-made display elements. In order to make those purchases a possibility, I asked companies I was working with if they could extend any payment terms for a very low interest rate, which several were able to offer. Read more>>

Brianna Yauney

I absolutely love that this is a question. I have had a unique experience with scaling up my business because I had to do it about every two years over the last decade. Each time I moved, it was so far that my clients weren’t able to follow me. I had a few travel 13 hours to see me since I moved to Colorado, but that is obviously not something that anyone would want to do regularly! As hard at it has been, each move has taught me something that has helped me to rebuild in the next place. Read more>>