Taking Risk is essential, but how much, when and why? Taking risks effectively is as much of an art as it is a science and we’ve asked some of the brightest folks in the community to tell us about how they think about risk taking.

Tiffany Bonds | Professional Makeup Artist

**Risk taking** has been an integral part of my journey, both personally and professionally. I view risks as opportunities for growth and innovation. When I founded Glow Beaute, I was inspired by the idea of taking the path less traveled, seeking something new and exciting to challenge my current skill set. Read more>>

Kai Marion | Music Artist

Taking Risks is what defined who I am as an artist and person. It’s shaped and molded me into the well driven person I am today. Sacrificing my time and energy to perform and create things has been such a struggle but I don’t regret it. Working a 9 to 5 in your late 20s while trying to be the next big artist on top of getting hit with life’s sprinkle of trauma….yea that’s normal 🤣. Read more>>

Katrina Allen | Founder & CEO of 365 Decor

In my business, 365 Decor, the risk always comes with rewards! When you have a perspective that risk creates opportunity it will change the way you approach taking risk and making decisions for your business. Risk is an inherent aspect of decision-making, whether in personal life or professional endeavors.  Read more>>

Jarmel McClary | Fashion designer

I think risk are necessary when starting your own business. It played a big role in my business because I took the risk to invest more resources into my business and it resulted in an increase in sales and bigger clientele. Read more>>

Teyjhana Barton-Neak | Student, Artist, Curator, Body Art Specialist

I think the obvious answer for someone who likes to take risk is no risk, no reward. While that is true, I think that there are many variations to that philosophy that make it harder for most people to take risks. For me, risking anything is as easy as it it’s unsettling. I was wondering for a while why I was always so indecisive, some have told me it has to do with my astrology chart! Read more>>

Quentin Gadson | Actor

Taking risks in life means stepping out of your comfort zone, embracing uncertainty, and pursuing opportunities that have the potential for both success and failure. As an actor, taking risks has been essential for my growth and development.  Read more>>

Mia Rivera-Reed | Entrepreneur, Musician, & Creator

I think risk is necessary for living your life to its full potential . You’ll never really know what you’re made for until you take a risk of going towards the unknown. I think risk can be associated with chance. If there is a chance you succeed from taking a risk, wouldn’t that be worth the risk? Read more>>

Rebecca Lau | Technical Artist

As I reflect on my approach to risk, I recall my own journey from Malaysia to building a career in a foreign environment while pursuing education abroad. While moving abroad meant starting over, it also offered many opportunities. Moving from Malaysia to Hong Kong to Savannah and then to Seattle for my XBOX internships (worked in 343 Industries and then in Turn 10 Studios) and in Orlando as a Disney Cast Member, and now working on something exciting and new in a game company.  Read more>>

Sheronna Osbourne | Actress, Director, Producer

As an only child, actress, and self-taught director/producer, embracing risk has always been a part of my journey. Whether embarking on solo travel around the world, making bold choices for an audition tape or taking on new directing projects, I’ve found that my capacity to assess, challenge, and ultimately” just go for it”, has shaped me as an artist. Read more>>

Inetta Lowery | Real Estate & Trucking Entrepreneur, Author

Betting on myself was never a risk. I’ve also learned that your surroundings can condition you to be afraid of taking leaps. And, since I’m a born Leader. I started writing plans and creating the blueprints for my businesses. I used the resources from my 9-5 job to fund my successes.  Read more>>

Aaron Sherry | Actor/Writer/Director

The idea of risk terrifies me. You have to completely let go of what is safe on the HOPE that your desired outcome will happen? My Capricorn heart shudders at the thought. That said, risk-taking, for me, has nearly always appeared in the form of “jump, and the net will appear.” Read more>> 

Raven Horton | Film & Theatre writer & director, photographer

I believe that risk taking is so important. You’ll never know what could happen if you don’t take that risk. You might fail, which is apart of the process but if you can only get back up and try again and keep taking risks, you will make it. In my own life, I have been afraid to take risks but after I took it, I realized that I wouldn’t have grown as a person, or an artist if I didn’t. Read more>>

Patrick Fulgham | Nonprofit Founder & Educator

My thought process behind taking risks has led me through some rollercoaster ebbs and flows in life, but through it all, I’ve been able to attain the wisdom necessary through applied knowledge in my life’s journey, in what I once believed would be insurmountable challenges, in which turned out to be profound, meaningful and priceless success across-the-board!  Read more>>

Katie Stryker | Co-Owner/Founding Partner

I think any entrepreneur that doesn’t acknowledge that their business would be impossible without their support system is doing a disservice to future entrepreneurs. Opening a business is risky and difficult, and I’ve yet to meet anyone who genuinely did it on their own without relying on an investor or mentor, parents, a romantic partner, or friends. Read more>>

Tacoy Tunstull | Entrepreneur/celebrity hairstylist/ Event planner/ costume designer

Taking risk has allowed me to step outside of myself mentally and physically. Read more>>

Super Julie Braun | Founder & CEO, Super Purposes™

It’s fair to say that risk-taking gets all the credit for what I have today. It was rough when I first left the corporate world to pursue my passion. I knew I wanted to help people, but I no longer had a regular paycheck to fall back on. Many of my family and friends would say, “Just go back and get a job.” At one point, even my CPA told me, “This isn’t a business.  Read more>>

Dj Papi | Dj, Producer

I believe that if you have goals in life then you must take some risk to accomplish your goal. You know the saying no risk, no reward. Taking risk has been in me my whole life. I used to hang around older people and I always heard them say ” If I would have done xy and z then I could have been xy and z”. I never wanted to be that guy. Read more>>

Cassandra Pinataro | Opera Singer/ Pop Singer-Songwriter

I love taking risks. Between trying new musical styles, branching out with instrumentation, making a new genre, or pushing boundaries with my lyrics, I think that risk taking is the best way to really make art. If you’re not pushing yourself, it’s hard to say everything you have inside. Read more>>

Rebecca Van Kirk | Actor & Social Media Manager

I spent all of my education in a private school setting. I was a good student and all, but I didn’t like school, if you know what I mean. It was pretty clear to me by my second or third year of high school that college was not in the cards for me. I was the only student in my graduating class that didn’t apply to college, which felt extraordinarily scary at the time.  Read more>>

Jameelah Platt | Painter ,Production Designer & Story teller

I think from the moment you decide that you want to create whether if it’s for a career or for a hobby, you have to be open to risks. I think being an artist is all about trusting yourself, and allowing what you think feel and see to be a reflection for yourself and for other people. The only way to do that successfully is to take a chance on yourself. You have to be apologetic with your creating process. Read more>>

George Bushwaller | Assistant Director & Screenwriter

I don’t really think about risk that deeply, especially when it comes to my life or career. I’m a chronically bored person and I usually need to be doing something that has me out of my depth. l’ve done a lot of things like that so far and I don’t plan on changing that anytime soon. Read more>>

BobbieCheri | Chef/ Cookbook Author

As a business owner, everything we do is a risk really. I just try to take calculated ones. Just having an idea and deciding to do it is not enough. You need to research, collect data, get resources, and have a solid plan. Starting Don’t You Dairy was a big risk but I figured, I could either waste my money on things that perish or I could invest in myself and watch the fruits of my labor grow.  Read more>>