Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Shannin Williams

The idea for my business came from recognizing a gap in the interior design industry. I was working on a project of my own, sitting with a client, explaining her design in words—but I could tell she wasn’t following. I didn’t have clear 3D visuals to show her, and the computer-generated ones never quite captured the design ideas I had in mind. Read More>> 

Richard Machemehl

My thought process behind starting Niky’s Mini Donuts & Ice Cream was deeply personal. It all stemmed from my childhood love of movies, especially Disney films, and the immersive, magical worlds they created. I wanted to build something that captured that sense of wonder—an experience that felt special, nostalgic, and fun. Read More>>

Abi Shamji

Watching so many women struggle financially during Covid really hit home for me. It brought me right back to seeing my mom try to make ends meet when I was growing up. She instantly became a single mom when my dad passed away when I was 12. I made financial literacy a priority having seen how important it is that women become financially independent. Read More>>

Kayla N. Tuan N.

NewYen was founded by two best friends, Kayla NEWsome and Tuan NguYEN, whose names inspired our brand identity. United by a shared passion for social media and creative expression, our bond grew through countless conversations, collaborative projects, and a commitment to building the foundation for our future careers. Read More>>

Dr. Brandon Sylvester Psy.d.

“Making change, making change.” It was, and is, very important to me to not die in the same tax bracket I was born in. Having been born and raised by a single mother, I was privy to a first-person perspective of the amount of sacrifice inherent to raising a child with the funds from a traditional 9 to 5. In short, I didn’t/don’t want that life. So much effort for so little freedom. Read More>>