There is a wealth of academic research that suggests that differences in risk appetite are at the heart of differences in career and business trajectories. We wanted to go beyond the theory and ask real people from the community about their perspectives and experiences with risk and risk taking.

Kris San | Creative Entrepreneur & Storyteller

As a creative entrepreneur risk is absolutely necessary for growth. Now, there’s calculated risk and ignorant risk. I definitely took the ignorant risk route and it was incredibly painful. I quit my job thinking that I would be a famous entrepreneur in a year and how wrong was I. It has taken me 7 years to get to where I am today. To the point that I have so much clarity about who I am, what I am doing, and where I am going. Read more>>

Amanda Christine | Business Coach & Founder of the Society of Women Business Owners

Anything rewarding begins with a risk. I remember the first business planning retreat that I hosted in 2019. I had been dreaming of hosting a retreat for years and I knew the beautiful experience that I wanted to build for the attendees. It wasn’t going to be cheap or haphazard. In fact, I was determined that this retreat would be so incredible that the attendees would be talking about it for years to come. The risk, however, came in the upfront cost. I had to rent the venue in order to properly plan and market the event. Read more>>

Valerie Simoneaux | Artist

Risk is a scary thing. Growing up a common thing I would hear is, “keep art as a side hobby and find another job that you can make good money in.” But deep inside I knew what my heart wanted and that was to be an artist. I had a plan to go to college for entrepreneurship but took the risk in not going and started my own business with art, which is known as Val’s Designz, and by taking that nerve-wracking risk I now share my art all around Southeast Texas, as well as some areas in the United States. Read more>>

Zohaib Patoli | Entrepreneur & Founder

After the moment you are born there is only one thing promise in life, which is death. This plays a pivoting in my decision-making process when I am assessing risk. I am a very risk-averse person, Historically, every time I have taken a risk it has yielded a great return, whether in a form of a lesson or financially. Without risk, you can’t succeed but too much risk will end up backfiring. Risk management is a key skill set in being a successful entrepreneur across all verticals. Read more>>

Angel Moore | Blogger & Content Creator

 

Risk is a very important part of life. I believe taking a risk goes hand in hand with taking a leap of faith. I took a risk with my blog/website. For years I asked myself what I wanted to do in life that would make me happy. I loved writing and creating content about who i was, a black woman. That’s what fueled my decision to take the risk to start a blog combining both of my passions. Without risk, it would not be a fun journey worth taking. Read more>>

Rebecca Herpin | Account Manager & Photographer

Taking risks requires one to trust in their abilities. Oftentimes, a risk only feels like a gamble because of the uncertainty of the future outcome. I consider risk a challenge––it forces a person to utilize new methods of problem solving because the environment, or choice, is unfamiliar. In my own career, I’ve taken risks without even knowing it. Traveling to New York City from the suburbs of League City was a risk. Changing my major was a risk. Embracing leadership roles was a risk. Read more>>