We speak with so many brilliant folks across dozens of industries and when those folks happen to be working for someone else, sometimes we can’t help but wonder why they aren’t working for themselves. How do folks decide between joining a firm or starting their own? We posed the question to the community and have shared some of their responses below.

Carolyn Moore

As a 1st-gen college graduate from a blue-collar immigrant family, I fumbled into the professional world after earning a degree from UC Berkeley, unfocused on what I should be doing in the world, but knowing that I had to land a job that was secure, stable, and looked reasonably good on paper. Read More>>

Lauren Van Der Veen

When I first got in the architecture and building industry I started a small construction firm with my former partner. Our first company was called Form and Space. We did a lot of carpentry and paint jobs in the beginning. Mainly framing out additions and interior painting because I have always been obsessed with color. As a child I saw colors and shapes instead of words which is how the name of our practice was born. Read More>>

Julia Tarasova

When I was first starting out, I didn’t jump straight into launching my own project. My path to entrepreneurship was a gradual one, shaped by over 15 years of experience in talent acquisition. I worked both in large consulting firms and within international product companies. For the last decade, I’ve been deeply involved in the world of startups, which ultimately became my focus and passion. Read More>>