Starting a business is hard because it’s a fight with yourself, an internal battle – gaining the courage to get started, etc. Scaling a business is different – the challenges you face are mostly external to yourself. Each challenge has a million mini-challenges. We wanted to create a space for conversations and stories around growth and scaling. Below, you’ll find stories and insights from successful entrepreneurs across a variety of industries and markets.

Nicole Spruill

When I first launched Nik Spruill, it was just me, designing, packing orders at my dining table, answering customer emails at midnight, and wearing every hat. I started with a small capsule jewelry collection and a handful of ready-to-wear looks. What I lacked in scale, I made up for in clarity: I knew exactly how I wanted women to feel in my designs, bold, unique and unforgettable. Read more>>

Jayla Lewis

When I first started tattooing, it wasn’t some master plan. I was 17, impulsive, and just chasing something that felt exciting. Tattoos weren’t a passion yet — they were a fast decision. But that choice ended up shaping my life in ways I never expected.

As I grew up, so did my mindset. What began as a quick leap turned into a long journey of learning how to move with purpose, how to handle business the right way, and how important it is to put yourself and your vision first — no matter what. Read more>>

Ashley Stamps

Growth is the most important thing for me. That includes growing as an artist, business organization, and as a human. It has been my goal since the beginning. As an artist, I have been adding a new service every couple years. Covid taught me versatility in your career will make you more successful. When I began I was just a face painter and a mom, trying to find a way to take care of my children at the same time of having a career was a challenge. because of the toxic situation I was in. I needed to do more, so I added henna to my service board in year two and then added hair tinsel and glitter tattoos in years 3 & 4. Read more>>

Dana Kupper

You’re absolutely right—there is no such thing as overnight success. When people see a thriving Prime IV spa today, what they don’t see are the long nights, the financial risk, the emotional rollercoaster, and the hundreds of small, relentless decisions it took to get here. Read more>>

Yasmine Robles

There was no magical growth moment. Scaling Rebel Marketing has been a series of intentional decisions, messy tests, and learning how to stop doing what wasn’t working, even if it looked good on paper.

In the early years, I was doing everything myself: websites, branding, social media, proposals, admin, invoicing, client calls, and way too much over-delivering. I thought saying yes to every project and every client would get us there faster. It didn’t. It got us tired. Read more>>

Jacob Shaul

Mode to Code initially began as a summer project, a simple website that I created that links free resources students can use to learn how to code. After I finished building it, I realized that I could use the roadmap I had just built as a curriculum and teach it to middle school students. I sent out an email to my middle school, Live Oak, who were kind enough to let me try out the program. So during the fall of 2024, my mom would pick me up after school, and we would drive to my middle school so I could teach the course. Read more>>

Maya Bosnjak

From day one, I approached this business with a clear plan. I’m someone who thrives on structure — I have a background in engineering, business, and marketing — and before I even launched, I created a five-year plan and made it my mission to understand the industry from the inside out. That’s why I chose to work for another event company (for short period of time) first. I learned a lot — especially about how not to run a business. :) Read more>>

Jason Espinoza

Birria Bros was rooted out of the inspiration to provided the community good quality food with the powerhouse of our mothers recipes. During COVID we were many that experienced the loss of our jobs due to shut downs and thought that was the perfect time to give it a shot. Thru being consistent and paying ourselves with participation points at the time we kept going for several months thru the summer weather and all. Until we were able to save up funds to eventually expand into a ghost kitchen then into owning our very first food trailer. Once we were official we made a name for ourselves thru festivals and local public stops throughout the years being a part of major events such as EDC, Nascar and Super Bowl parties. Read more>>

Wendy Haverlack

When I first opened Changes Salon nearly 30 years ago, it was just me, a handful of styling chairs, and a dream (plus a whole lot of hairspray). Back then, I was the stylist, the front desk, the janitor—and sometimes the therapist. But I knew I wasn’t just creating a place to get great hair; I was building a space where people felt seen, celebrated, and maybe even a little transformed—inside and out. Read more>>

Shelley Iverson

I never intended to be an entrepreneur again.
I had been one before. I’d run a business, closed it, and gone back to punching a clock like everyone else. The regular kind of job. You show up, do your shift, go home, and call it a day. I figured that chapter of my life was over.
But life had a different plan for me.
At that job, someone asked me to help with marketing. I didn’t go looking for it — it just kind of happened. Apparently, people liked the way I did it. I ended up doing more and more of it without even meaning to. That’s when I made a connection with a member of the Wild hockey team. They asked me to do some marketing work for them. I said yes. Then other people started asking. Read more>>