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.

Cheng An Lee | Tea Shop Owner

Taking risks is the key to getting me to where I am today.
My university major was psychology, but because of my ambition, I chose to cross fields began to study law and take the national examination, and become a police officer in Taiwan. Later, when I started a family and have 3 children, I chose to enter the workplace. All my police colleagues at the time advised me not to do so, but I took the risk because I needed to be a better father for my young children at that stage, the inconsistent hours of a police job did not allow me to care for my children well. Read more>>

Crystal Ayozie | Esthetician, Content Creator & LPC Student

Risk is a crucial part of my journey as both a content creator, esthetician and a full time masters LPC student. Once I found out that was pregnant with my daughter I had to decide on what type of legacy I wanted to leave for her and the risks I would have to take to establish that. It was far more important to have my daughter see me pursuing my passions and lead a purpose driven life than being in a line of work that I had no passion for to only secure a check. Read more>>

Armonie Wilson | (Armonie E) Fashion Influencer & Self-Care Advocate

I am a huge risk-taker, but I never think of it as taking risks. I always think of it as taking a leap of faith. I don’t like to be stagnant, and I feel that if I don’t take these leaps of faith, I’ll never grow. I travel solo, both domestically and internationally, and I’ve met some of the most amazing people and had some of the most incredible experiences. It has helped me grow as a person and as a creative. I have alopecia and wore a wig for over 10 years. It may not seem like a risk or a gamble to anyone from the outside looking in, but one of the biggest risks I’ve ever taken was deciding to love myself enough to not be ashamed of my biggest insecurity. Read more>>

Saúl Sandoval Navarrete | Photographer/Career Program Specialist

Risk has meant everything to me. I was born in Mexico but raised in Houston. I came to the United States when I was young. I hardly remember the mother land. But when I arrived in Houston I started to build out community and learn English. I still remember words like “immigrant” and “illegal” being tossed around at school. As a kid, I remember coming home and asking my mom if I was I was “one of them”. Secretly, I wished I was. The idea of being different was so incredibly cool to me. Read more>>

Nimu King | Model & Corporate Baddie

I think about risk similar to how Zuckerberg does; He once said “The biggest risk is not taking any risk… In a world that is changing really quickly, the only strategy that is guaranteed to fail is not taking risks.” As a spontaneous person, it is within my nature to be a risk-taker, whether it’s jumping off a cliff in Hawaii with no gear, or packing my bags and moving to Houston on a whim during the pandemic, risk fuels my wanderous spirit. While taking risks has been extremely fulfilling for me, I understand that it can be scary for some, and to them I say: TAKE CALCULATED RISK! Read more>>