We reached out to some of our favorite entrepreneurs and asked them to think back and tell us about how they decided to start a business. Check out their responses below.

Rana Yacoub | Rana Visuals Wedding Photographer

When starting Rana Visuals, my thought process and business plan were both formed around a simple thought, “Do what you love”. I absolutely love capturing memories that my clients will cherish forever. I did not want Rana Visuals to be a business deal between couples and me to just “take photos” on their wedding day. Instead, I created my brand as a relationship between couples and me, where Rana Visuals Photography is chosen to capture their special day based on style and trust. Read more>>

Lindsay Kennedy | Dr. Lindsay Kennedy, PT, DPT, COMT; Physical Therapist + Founder of PHYSIOVICTORY ‘Physical Therapy Redefined’

Starting my own business was born out of adversity and my drive to be home to help my kids get ready for school in the morning and pick them up from school without asking for time off. I became a single mom of 3 young kids during 2020 in the height of COVID. My heart was to take exceptional care of my clients while also juggling my children’s schedules. Read more>>

Allison Price | Owner of Cactus Co. Customs LLC

I wanted to do something that I felt passionate about that gave me freedom to be there for my husband & kids anytime of the day, working a 9-5 or mix shifts, I just never felt like it was for me. I always had a mindset of let me do this, start this, and one of my ideas took off. Since starting my business in September 2020, everyday I wake up full of creativity & drive to be the best. I successfully opened a custom apparel shop with amazing customers & 5 star reviews while able to balance my family. Read more>>

Maria Gobea | Custom Wreath Maker

I have always enjoyed being crafty and, through the prompting of friends and family, started creating and selling wreaths. I was still working in Oil and gas at the time and loved the creative outlet. After having our twins, I was blessed with the opportunity to stay home. A few months in, my husband suggested I continue to take custom orders at whatever pace made sense to our season of life and this is what I’ve done! I love the flexibility but mostly working with people and being able to bring to life an idea or aesthetic that speaks to them. Read more>>

J Franco MBA, MCM | Marketing Strategist & CEO, Franco Innovative Media & Marketing

Great Question! I had just graduated with my bachelor’s with a concentration in marketing in 2015, and I thought to myself, I did it! Now to find the job of my dreams. At the time, I was working as an executive at Stila Cosmetics, and although I was in corporate, I had several other businesses before in my lifetime at that time. Read more>>

Dr. Eboni Lunsford Calbow | LCSW-S, PhD (Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Supervisor + PhD, Education); CEO + Founder, Elixir Austin

Not everyone is gifted with the entrepreneurial spirit, and sometimes, using yourself to fill a gap comes from pure necessity. I struggled to find the support, funding and mentorship that I needed to both enter the social work field and complete all the steps for graduate school and independent licensure. Once I was able to reach this level of freedom in this profession, which says that its foundation is in the pursuit of social justice and equity,  Read more>>

Samantha Sanchez | Esthetician & Body Sculpting Technician

Starting my own business was always something I said I wanted to do from the time I graduated esthetician school 10 years ago. I think my thought process now after working not only in esthetics but also giving other job fields a try during that time is that, more often than not, no boss no matter what industry you’re in will value and appreciate your hard work and dedication to your profession more than you. I knew that I was done working in toxic environments with toxic people and that I was tired of the “job hunt” and wanted to do things my way. I’d be lying if I said it was easy and that it happened over night, but the reward of starting my own business, my baby, has been worth every challenge it took to get here. Read more>>

Rosaly Acosta | Director and Film editor

I believe that different people have different interests in life. There are some people who like the idea of creating different businesses with different concepts, while there are others who like to manage a unique concept or idea. I am of the first kind. I start my first business idea when I was 19 years old, the expectation of freedom and a fearless soul teach me resilience and for me the thought process I very simple. I have started a few startups over the course of my life some were successful and some were not, more failure than success jaja. Read more>>

Azanett Bazan | Home baker/Founder

During the pandemic year, I visited my mother, and I realized that my mother was very lonely. I came home and told my daughter about it, and my daughter said, ‘Mom, why don’t you get her to bake the cookies that she makes every year for Christmas”. What started as a hobby to pass the time turned into a viral hit. With the help of my daughter and mother, I began taking and fulfilling orders on social media, and we were met with rave reviews. Read more>>

Renita Ridley | Owner

As a young girl I’ve ALWAYS wanted to have my own buisness and that’s something as I became older I’ve always talked about. The thought process wasn’t hard for me because I knew what I wanted, it was being in the position to be able to do so. I put myself in some positions to where I couldn’t totally focus on ME and that’s what took me so long, but I say that and then I think about well, God placed me here at the most perfect time! Read more>>

Pamela Mitchell | Owner of In-Class Solutions and Founder of Hip-Hop Scholars

Ms. Mitchell was motivated to start In-Class Solutions to bring technology to the classroom, and to offer students supplementals academic support. Read more>>

Toya Willis | Owner of Mickey’s Braid Factory

I have to go down memory lane a bit for this one. I was in Retail Management for 15 years! At the start of my career, I literally ran a boutique (BCBGMaxazria) as a part time associate, before being promoted to manager, all in under a year. I’ve managed the day to day operations for other companies like White House Black Market, American Eagle/Aerie, and most recently Target. Read more>>

Jennifer Ruckman | Plant Stylist

It all started with a plant named Virginia… My Mom was going out of town and asked me to look after her Peace Lily, Virginia, named after a dear friend who had passed away. I half-heartedly took the plant home with me and kinda-sorta threw some water in it and put it near a window. Needless to say, it did not look great upon her return and seeing how disappointed my Mom was made me feel terrible. I vowed to do better next time, and began researching and purchasing my own houseplants. I learned about essentials like light and humidity, location and pests and learned how to place the right plant in the correct environment. Read more>>