You’re working hard, things are going well, piece by piece you’ve built a life you are proud of, you’ve overcome obstacles and challenges, beat the odds and then you find yourself at the center of an unexpected dilemma – do you risk it all to keep growing? What if growing means leaving the job you worked so hard to get or the industry you worked so hard to break into? How we approach risk often has a huge bearing on our journey and so we’ve asked some of the brightest folks we know to share stories of risks they’ve taken.
Kathleen Casanova
I grew up wanting to be a chef but when it came time to go to college I felt I needed to choose a career that helped change the world. I entered into the public affairs/nonprofit space as a fundraiser and partnership builder and loved my work. While working in several positions at two different universities, I noticed that I was the only Person of Color serving as a frontline fundraiser and suggested a few ideas to the leadership team about how to change that and why it was so important. This conversation led to them creating a Talent Management position for me where I led DEI efforts for the entire university system fundraising team. After working there and in a similar role for another university and consulting for nonprofits and universities on this topic, I then decided I wanted to fulfill my dream of working in food. I then translated my talent experience to the CPG world where I recruited and consulted for CPG brands and noticed how much inclusion work the industry really needed. In this role, I felt pulled to lead the work I wanted to see in the industry so I decided to go to culinary school and cook professionally for a bit in the hopes of one day becoming the ED of a nonprofit that worked at the intersection of food and justice. One day I checked my LinkedIn and saw that my current Board Chair had found my profile while searching for an ED for Project Potluck…and the rest is history, as they say! Read more>>
Mandi Masden
By 2019 I had built a pretty solid career as an actor in New York. At that point I had been in the city 8 years and was working fairly regularly. I had been on Broadway and Off, guest starred on some TV shows, recurred on a couple more, and was doing commercials and voice-overs consistently. After years of hustle and grind, I was finally able to make my living solely as an actor. And then I got the bright idea to start a business. Now, that in itself wasn’t the risk – I consider that ballsy and ambitious. The risk came a few months later when our lives were forever changed by Covid-19. I had no idea when I was drafting my business plan that there would be a global pandemic, a nationwide shutdown, and a devastating economic downturn all in a matter of months. In addition to that, the theater and entertainment industries were indefinitely shut down, my financial situation was unsure, and I had no income. The money I had set aside to start my business now needed to be reallocated to my rent and living expenses. It was the worst possible time to start this type of venture. But in the face of all of this I decided to take the risk of continuing to pursue my business believing that, despite the circumstances, my vision for what this could be was greater than my fear and uncertainty. I ended up doing a crowdfunding campaign that raised over $40,000 and covered the cost of our first collection. The road ahead was rocky and fraught, but it was also exhilarating and exciting. My Dad told me something during this time really stuck with me and has become a kind of mantra – he said “ It’s not about the Goliath in front of you, it’s about the Goliath inside of you.” I have carried that with me throughout these last few insane and unprecedented years, and it’s a wonderful reminder not to forget my inner strength and ability. I really believe that succeeding in business is more than just being profitable, it’s also not giving up. Read more>>
Hope Brown
I started dancing when I was 4 years old. I always loved it and never wanted to do anything else. I danced all through school and when I graduated high school, I knew I had to continue dancing in college. During college, I danced in a couple of dance companies and started my own company with my friend, Lindsay Giedl. I was always told that I could not make a career out of dance from friends and family alike. I knew that I had a passion for dance but I just was not sure how I could turn that passion into a career that could support me. I graduated from UGA with a degree in English and traveled and worked internationally for a couple of years while I figured out what the next steps of my life would be. I landed in Chicago working a corporate job in 2018. Chicago always called to me and I knew that I needed to try it out to see if I liked living in the Midwest. I worked 3 different corporate jobs in Chicago from cultural exchange account executive to COVID reported to Executive Search Assistant. All along I had this nagging feeling that I was not being fulfilled by these jobs. I made enough money to support myself but I was always living for 5 PM and the weekends and did not feel rewarded. So, when my friend, Lindsay, that I started the dance company in college with, offered me a job at the studio that she just opened, it was a no brainer. I knew that I had to pursue my love of dance and that I would find the purpose and drive that I was so desperately looking for. I committed to moving back to Georgia in a years time (I still had a year left on my lease in Chicago) and in a year, I moved to Athens, GA. It was a huge change from the bustling city of Chicago and I had to go from corporate life to the life of a dance teacher. The risk was massive but I always knew that this would feed my soul and I would find what I wanted to out of a job and a career. 2 years later, I am still working at the same studio and have learned a ton. I have no regrets from making the move and urge anyone thinking of doing the same to do it! Read more>>
Samantha Kennelly
In 2021, right after I turned 30, I took the risk of leaving a comfortable, full time job I loved to move states and begin my next journey as a leadership coach and team development consultant. I never thought of myself as an entrepreneur, I thought I was someone who needed to have structure and consistency to be successful. However, after life and work was greatly disrupted and impacted by Covid, I realized that this was just a story I was telling myself; a narrative that I had built based on others’ ideals and expectations. As I am sure many did during this time, I learned so much more about who I am and which environments are most supportive, allowing me to operate at my best and thrive. As a coach, I had to ask myself “What energizes me? What fuels me?” and I realized that I was so focused on doing what I thought was “right”, I wasn’t fully listening to the most important person, myself. Once I made the decision to leave and continue to do the work I love as an independent contractor, a huge weight was lifted; I felt free. Three years later, I feel so grounded in who I am and the work I am meant to be doing. My hope is that I can continue to work with individuals who might feel stuck and need a safe space to dream and explore what could be next so that they can continue to create a life and career that aligns with what lights them up. Read more>>
Marie Laurin
The Uncanny Journey
When my daughter Clara Gabrielle and I first announced our decision to create a psychological horror film, people thought we were foolish. As actors with no experience behind the camera, the odds were stacked against us. However, the allure of storytelling from a different perspective was too enticing to ignore and gleefully we took the plunge, oblivious to the challenges ahead of us. Read more>>
Betina Walton
In 2022 when the opportunity presented itself to exit from the corporate industry, I started BeJoyful Comfort Coaching. I realized that the caretakers of those who suffer from clinical depression simply may not know HOW to offer the best support to their loved ones. At first there was a lot of frustration in ones not understanding what depression was like. Then I was told by a friend “Do you expect someone whose been blind at birth to know what the color red looks like?” I understood and it became my mission to educate. Read more>>
NAIAD
In 2022, I made the life-changing decision to leave the corporate world and devote myself entirely to my craft as a Producer and DJ. Prior to this, I had been balancing a full-time job in content writing with streaming music on Twitch. This relentless schedule had me working seven days a week, leading to severe burnout and a noticeable decline in my creative output in the studio. Read more>>
Daya Grant
Extreme sports aside (I’ve bungee jumped twice and skydived once), the two biggest risks I’ve taken were starting my own practice and signing up for a half Ironman. Let’s go chronologically. My husband encouraged me to get into cycling when we got married by gifting me a road bike for our wedding. A few months later, I signed up for my first triathlon, an Olympic distance, after stating in my wedding vows that I’d use my husband’s athletic achievements (he did an Ironman 10 weeks before our wedding) as inspiration to pursue my own. Well, that first triathlon hooked me, and I soon thought about challenging myself even more – and a half Ironman was the next step up (and a big one at that). I was in my doctoral program at the time, but I risked the time limitations for the chance of benefitting my mental health and piquing my curiosity. Training was tough, but the journey was so worth it. Signing up for that half Ironman was a risk that I’m so glad I took. Fast forward a few years and after staying at home with our son for his first 2 years of life, I was ready to forage my career path. I had previously been with an organization that really didn’t value my education or experience and I had no interest in repeating that type of relationship again. Well, it turns out that the person who values you the most is often yourself. So, instead of working for someone else, I decided to invest in myself and risk failure to pursue my own dreams. Launching my private practice was a huge risk financially and emotionally, but the challenge has been totally fulfilling. Read more>>
Ashley Hindy
Working in salons has always been helpful when tying to expand my clientelle, but it has always been a dream of mine to have my own studio on the lake in Westlake Village. Leaving a salon with a steady flow of clients was a risk, but I’ve been at my own space there now for about four months and I’ve been busier than I ever was working at a salon. The initial leap is always the scariest part, but it pays off if you’re doing something you enjoy. Plus, changing thing’s up a bit always brings new energy and experiences. I truly believe that when you love what you do, you’ll naturally attract clients that are a perfect match for what you have to offer. You’ve just got to take that initial leap of faith and trust that it’ll happen. Read more>>
Angelique W
One of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken was moving to California. Ever since I was little I always knew I eventually wanted to live in Los Angeles and chase my dreams. So in 2014 I told my mom I was leaving, packed my bags, and hit the road to drive 3000 miles west from New Jersey. Leaving my family and friends behind was incredibly difficult, but I felt in my heart it was the right step for me. I knew no one, had no job lined up, and barely had any money. I was able to get a cheap little studio apartment in Downtown LA, and immediately started applying for gigs and networking on social media. Over time I made connections, made mistakes, had my ups and downs, and celebrated some of my biggest accomplishments with the friends I made along the way. Now, 10 years later, I can confidently say it was the best decision I ever made. The experiences and opportunities I’ve had here have been life-changing, and I’m grateful for the journey that got me to where I am today. Read more>>
jesse mansfield
One of the biggest risk I’ve taken was leaving my job of seven years and to start my own private practice. It felt so uncomfortable to be walking away from the certainty of a guaranteed income and not being able to pay for the new house I had recently started renting, but I was dating someone (my now wife, Brigitte Tolson) who was well established in her career and afforded her the opportunity to take vacations whenever she wanted, and still be able to have full control of her schedule. I knew this decision wouldn’t come lightly but I knew it was time for something new on the horizon for Jesse Mansfield. My life was about getting out of comfort zone, that’s how I met my wife; I made a choice that would forever affect my future and embarked on a solo trek across America, visiting all the famous national parks that I’d seen on TV when I was kid. While being in solitude, I learned to truly enjoy the company of myself, and find self acceptance and love. After I left my stable job to start my own practice, things started to magically fall into place financially, spiritually and in my relationships. I developed more of a trust in the Universe to guide me through life, and my relationship with myself continues to evolve and get better. Read more>>
Julieta Munoz
Choosing Growing Roots has always been a been risk, but more recently I took the biggest risk of all: quitting a stable job to pursue Growing Roots full-time. I founded Growing Roots in 2017, since it’s inception I’ve been the Founder, Executive Director, and Urban Farmer alongside holding other full-time commitments to pay my bills. I was at my last job for almost five years, working at an undisclosed non-profit in an administrative role. Read more>>
Emily Manera
Some of our best positives in life have been from taking risks, both personally and business wise. Our biggest one to date, was when we moved to a completely different market and transitioned to making our business a full-time thing. We saw an abundance of opportunity for our industry in the Joshua Tree desert and were ready to move on from LA/Orange County, so we made the leap and called it our new home! At the same time, we were also building a multi-family property that we could reside in and rent out for some income while we got things going. It was a lot of change at one time and we both let go of our consistent income. However, it didn’t take long until we were making connections in our new community and were able to really start expanding our brand and portfolio! Read more>>
Gale Dashner Schadewald
Around 15 years ago, I embarked on a journey into the world of metalsmithing with my first class. I still remember the teacher’s words: “You’re a natural.” That encouragement ignited a passion within me, driving me to soak up every bit of knowledge the class had to offer. However, as that initial class ended, I faced a dilemma. I didn’t have the necessary space to continue creating in a workshop, so I had to put my newfound skills on hold. Read more>>
Justina Diaz
I would say that biggest risk I’ve taken in my career would be moving to Los Angeles after highschool. It was a huge leap of faith for me, as I was leaving behind everything I knew and starting fresh in a new city where I didn’t know anyone. I gave myself that push to have a chance on a new adventure. However, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I’ve ever made as a fresh out of highschool kid. Los Angeles has opened up so many opportunities for me and allowed me to grow in ways I never could have imagined. If you are student wanting to study abroad or move to another state or country for school this is your sign to do it Read more>>
Vimi Glover
During 2020, I decided to leave my 9-5 and enroll in an Academy as a “full specialist” student.
I had been working at a call center as a mortgage specialist. The job was stressful and underpaid for the task we had to do. I had been contemplating, months before we were sent home due to the COVID lockdown, about enrolling in the local beauty academy near me. After working from home for about three weeks, I decided I was going to take the leap of Faith, leave my corporate job, and enroll in the Academy. Read more>>
Lindy Pearson
Throughout my professional journey, I dedicated myself to work before starting a family at 26. After a hiatus to focus on my children, I reentered the workforce at 31, joining my husband in the Commercial Real Estate industry for a dozen years. When the pandemic struck, the industry faced threats, particularly my position. I took charge by organizing virtual events and fostering networking opportunities, adapting to an era where in-person meetings were rare, especially in Los Angeles. Read more>>
Chris Balgos
Life is a risk. Not just for me but for everyone. Everyday we risk our time to make money. Everyday we risk our money to enjoy life. We make decisions everyday, and every decision is a risk. One thing money can’t buy is time. Read more>>
Mary Feister
When I look at the ‘leaps of faith’ that I have taken in my life there are a few that really stand out. I am not one to live life by societies rules, but I also grew up in a small town in the Midwest where not much change occurs. Some people thought I was crazy when I bought a one-way ticket to move to a place across the country that I hadn’t been to before right after college with no job lined up. Some also thought I was crazy last year when I moved into my camper van full-time. I prefer the words courageous and trusting. I have shifted my life many times to align to my truest self’s path. The biggest one was when I decided to leave my travel nursing job after the pandemic and take the risk to go all in on being an entrepreneur. As a registered nurse, I knew I came here to be a healer, but the hospital and western medicine was feeling restrictive in how I really wanted to help make an impact and taking a toll on my own physical and mental health. I had been teaching yoga & meditation, and offering Reiki healing sessions on the side for awhile while still working in the hospitals. I had tried to see if I could offer these healing modalities at the hospital to staff and/or patients, but was not met with yes’s. So, as a 5-month contract was ending I decided to take this as the final sign & not sign another. That it was time to go all in on the work that lit me up and that I see the world needs much more of. Leaving the stable and secure career I put time and money into to follow my soul-led work. My brand Energetic Eclipse was born and has expanded in so many ways I could not have imagined. I am so grateful I listened to my intuition and did not stay in a career out of fear of failure, starting over, or what other’s thought. Read more>>
Taylor Solberg
When I started my journey with photography, it was all a risk if it would work out if it was meant to.
It was quite the journey filled with lots of ups and downs but so much unfolded and worked out!
Not knowing if I should pursue photography and filled with lots of uknowns of running a business, I followed what felt right and started the journey of photography. Read more>>
Claudia Barfoot
The biggest risk I’ve taken happened during 2009 when I chose to transform my whole life in the pursuit of love. It all began in 2008, I was living in Mexico City where I was born and raised, it was a year where I was towards the end of a Doctorate degree in Psychoanalytic Clinical Practice, I was a professor, had my private practice, was having lots of fun with my friends, and everything I was doing felt meaningful and fulfilling. I was recovering from a very harsh breakup, dating every now and then, until one night I met the love of my life. Since that night, we kept seeing each other every week. He wasn’t from Mexico so I knew he would leave the country eventually so I decided to enjoy the time while he was living in my home country. Things moved fast, and after a few months we moved in together, things were working well but the financial crash happened. After a few months he needed to go back to New York to keep his job, so he asked me to move back with him. So I took the biggest risk of my life, and said I would do it, but he needed to be patient because it would take me a few months to finish what I was doing (school, clients, etc). I didn’t know if things would work out in the relationship, I didn’t know what I was going to do in a different country, and I also didn’t know how hard it was going to be to leave everything and everyone I knew behind. I wasn’t prepared for the loss, the grief, and the impact that the undoing of my life would have in my identity, but love was the guide, and there was excitement for the unknown and the adventure. In July of 2009 I moved to the U.S. and have stayed here, creating a new life, an identity closer to my essence, and a family that I wouldn’t change for anything in my life. The risk was all I needed to get what I always wanted. Read more>>
Ericka Avila
No one will every truly know your heart, pain, past or desires. I say this to YOU with the fire that burns in my soul “Seek what YOU wish to experience in this life”.
Fear is an option, courage is an option, giving up is an option, persevering is an option! I was raised by parents who did not complete their high school education. Statistically, I should not be successful. If it wasn’t for this fire in my soul or desiring to know more, I would have been recycled back into my environment. However, I choose to fight. I choose to seek, I choose to be courageous and preserver. Read more>>
LaTonya Burnes
This year I took the biggest risk by opening my first dance studio. It has been a dream of mine for the longest, however self doubt held me back for many years. I took the risk because I am at a point in my life where I fully have confidence in myself experience wise and financially; to take the leap of faith. Read more>>
Carolina Fontoura Alzaga
Launching “Lucienne”, my new series of glass rod, Art Deco inspired, lighting sculptures, feels like an enormous risk that I have to see through.
In 2016, nine years into “Connect’, my first (and luckily successful) lighting sculpture series, I conceived of the idea for “Lucienne”, my second series. Now, in 2024, I’m grateful to have finally materialized two editions within the “Lucienne” series, titled “Aurea” and “Devenir”. Read more>>
Jamaal Bruce
I’m a full-time, multi-faceted artist from Saint Lucia who started building a brand for himself the moment I left Secondary School (High School). I’ve been wanting to be an artist since I was 8 years old. I figured one way or the other, I am going to be involved in the Creative Arts and I aspired to be one of the best in the field. My first love was Visual Arts. I grew up drawing my favorite cartoon or anime characters and I would often do still life drawings. Read more>>
Christina Lim
I was working a 9 to 5 job at the family business. They were not satisfied with the pace at which my costume design career was panning out to be so they reeled me into their Amazon project. I stayed for about six years and decided I needed to be back on track with my dream of being a costume designer. The Asian-first-child guilt was definitely present and struggled to make the jump but once I did, I felt like I finally can be in control of the career I dreamt of. Read more>>
Peta Tornaros
Having worked in the hospitality service industry since high school, I realised that I wasn’t fully ready to enter the fashion industry upon receiving my bachelors degree in Design: Fashion & Textiles in Sydney, Australia in 2017. So, to buy myself some more time, I moved to New York, my dream city, to gain industry experience via internships (Enter Devil Wears Prada Montage!). Read more>>
Angel Murillo aka OG Baby
Taking a risk is the most important thing you can do as an artist. betting on yourself. Some of the risks I’ve taken were quitting my job with little savings moving to a different city with no stable income living on my friends couch while he went to college I was making connections and using his recording equipment while he was gone or asleep sharpening my craft. Read more>>
Rochelle Weinstein
For most of my life, I’ve been risk adverse, but after I’d written two novels, I knew I’d already taken a huge leap. My faith and courage couldn’t stop there. The querying process to get those two novel into the world was not kind. I was rejected by over 100 literary agents. I asked myself,” What is your goal for your work?” A simple but necessary question. This was 2011. Self-publishing was on the rise, becoming a viable option for writers. The naysayers were loud. They tossed around criticism like candy. “Self-publishing lacks credibility…it’s a vanity play…you’re shooting yourself in the foot.” I understood the risks, but I was driven. I had worked hard, and I wanted to see my books out in the world, even if for family and a handful of friends. Read more>>
Quinna Oceanna Water
Starting a business is a HUGE risk. Not only in terms of Finances and success rates, but also emotionally. Starting a coaching business at 24 and expanding into the retreat business at 25 is a risk many would never take.
When stepping off the trail most traveled by there is always a risk of criticism, judgment, and of course failure. Read more>>
Kimberly Thomas
In 2019, I took a significant risk by becoming a full-time entrepreneur in the health and wellness industry after being fired from my job as an insurance agent. At that time, I had been working my business part-time, but losing my job forced me to make a pivotal decision. I chose to have faith and fully commit to my business. Looking back, I truly believe that getting fired was God’s way of leading me into my purpose. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” Getting fired turned out to be one of the best things that happened to me. It really worked out for my good. It was the trial that pushed me into full-time entrepreneurship, and five years later, I’m still doing what I love. All glory to God. I thank God for blessing me with an amazing husband who supported me in my decision in going full-time in entrepreneurship, which was crucial during the transition. There were definitely moments of doubt and times when I wanted to give up. But my faith in God and the belief that He had a greater plan for me kept me going during those times. I continued to trust the process that He allowed me to go through. Read more>>
Heather Kelly
There is always a perceived risk in leaving your comfort zone. My “risk” was in leaving a full-time position in retail cosmetics to running my own business. I had learned many makeup application techniques from brands Bobbi Brown, NARS, and Too Faced Cosmetics and remained among the top producers in sales. I was great with teaching people how to apply makeup, what products they needed, and in making them feel seen and beautiful. But at the end of the day, I was selling product – not the service. I took a leap of faith by quitting the 9-5 job and investing in myself. I built a kit full of product I felt performed well, created a website, and booked several weddings in advance. I was able to transition from makeup counter to weddings and events successfully and never looked back. Read more>>
Deepali Govind
Once a software engineer in India, I had spent nine plus years dedicated to the meticulous craft of software testing. It was a career that provided stability and a sense of professional accomplishment. However, life took a turn when I made the decision to leave that career behind to take care of my children. It was a daunting but deeply rewarding choice, prioritizing family over the familiar rhythms of corporate life. Read more>>
Mecca Wagner-Brown
I always had an interest in why people saw the world and themselves differently. I grew up in a place and time that provided diverse and conflicting views. This motivated me in obtaining my Bachelor of Science degree with a dual major of Psychology and Kinesiology. However, life tested my convictions and I found myself married and being pressured into a corporate career track for monetary purposes. I was good at what I did because I can learn and do anything but I was not fulfilled. Having a child locked me into this path to ensure she had everything she needed and provided security financially. After divorcing and committing to getting my daughter through her undergraduate degree debt free, I took a huge risk by obtaining some additional certifications and left my six-figure stable job to start my practice as a therapist. As I see clients today who are locked into their paths and have regrets about decisions, I tell them it is never too late to change. It has been 4 years since I opened my practice and my reputation has built up significantly as well as the success financially. I look forward to the continued success. Read more>>
Danny Stygion
I have been doing photography and videography on the side for 20+ years. I’ve worked various primary jobs during those years, such as being a waiter (my first job), strip club manager, private security, among others. My last job was a 9 to 5 corporate job where I did scheduling for 200+ people. I worked for this company for 13+ years. This scheduling job was very stressful and would cause me chest pains from time to time. On the side, I continued to do photo shoots, make short films, and I managed to make a feature length horror film. The horror film led to an opportunity to do a series of films on mental health for the University of Houston-Clear Lake, which then led to opportunity to do photography and video production full-time. It was a hard decision, but I left my safe corporate job to pursue my passions: photography and filmmaking. Another factor that played into my decision was that some of my friends around my age were dying for various reasons, and this motivated me to get moving with my goals. September will mark my first full year doing what I want to do. Read more>>