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.

Sydney Kesler

Starting the RSK Factor, pronounced risk factor, was all about believing that you are always worth taking a chance on. As a naturally creative person, I wasn’t sure what form my business would take when I first started. I just knew that Spirit had anointed me to be a healer and to show up for those who needed me. Read More>> 

PJ (Junjie) Pan

For me, taking risks is not always, but often, the safest option. It may sound counterintuitive, but staying in a “safe” zone often means getting stuck in outdated assumptions, slow decay, or creative stagnation. In contrast, risk creates space for movement, growth, and redefinition. Read More>> 

Maria Alejandra

To me, risk is not about being reckless — it’s about being aligned. I’ve always seen risk as a bridge between intuition and action. Every meaningful step I’ve taken in my life and career has involved a degree of uncertainty, but also a deep internal certainty that it was the right move for me.

Writing my first book, building my brand, stepping into the creative world with my voice — none of it came with guarantees. But I’ve learned that when I listen closely to my intuition and take action from that place, the risks become part of a bigger growth process. They push me beyond what I thought was possible. Read More>> 

Galen Cunningham

Life can be as safe or as risky as you want it to be. I find this to be especially true in the film industry. Risk is absolutely necessary in a job like this. Without it, we’d probably still be watching black and white silent movies.

Of course it doesn’t always pay off, hence it being a risk in the first place. The thing I find beautiful about working in the film industry is that there’s always the next project. Another opportunity to learn from your mistakes and apply what you’ve learned. Those, to me, are the most exciting movies and the “safe” movies are usually the most boring to me. Read More>> 

Harris Barnes

Risk has played a major part in my life and career. Moving to Atlanta, coming by way of Sioux Falls, South Dakota is a risk in itself. The prairie is all I knew, wanting to pursue my chosen path of designing clothes. I knew there would be many more connections to be made in Atlanta. Career wise, I took the biggest risk yet. About two months ago me and my former roommate Cadence Blake hosted a runway show in the Peachtree Center Marta Station Downtown Atlanta. Without Permission from Marta many things could have gone wrong.  Read More>> 

Leanthony Freeman

I believe risk-taking is deeply personal, and not a path meant for everyone. For me, risk isn’t something I approach lightly, nor do I see it as a skill that can be easily taught. I view risk as a mindset—one rooted in a willingness to challenge the norm, endure setbacks, and still trust in your ability to rise again. To take risks, you have to be willing to fail and understand that failure is not the same as defeat. A loss is not death—it’s a lesson. Read More>> 

Brianna Shelko

Risk has been the fuel behind every meaningful step I’ve taken in my career. When I started Level Up Music Productions out of Atlanta 3.5 years ago, I knew I wasn’t just launching a business—I was reshaping my entire life. I sold my house and chose to live in an RV for nearly four years, on and off. Why? Because I understood that building a custom music and sonic branding company from the ground up would require capital, mobility, and most of all—courage. Read More>>