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.

Brianna Stewart | Integrative Health Practitioner

Starting my own business has been a dream fueled by my desire to merge the best of both medical worlds: Western science and ancient holistic modalities. This endeavor isn’t just about entrepreneurship; it’s also been my journey of personal growth and well-being. I struggled with my own health, invested tons of money in doctor visits and lab testing and still went years without answers. I know what the frustration is like. It wasn’t until I found holistic medicine, that I finally was able to identify and heal underlying root causes. Read more>>

Hannah Goehring | CEO & Designer

From a young age, I always knew that I wasn’t going to follow a “traditional” path in life. I am from a very small town in South Dakota, where you are expected to go to college, and then get a 9-5 job after you graduate. I knew I was destined to do bigger and better things. I have always had an entrepreneurial mindset. It wasn’t until after I moved out of South Dakota that I truly got into fashion. I felt like I could finally wear what I wanted to wear without getting judged or criticized. I also have always been a person that wants to help other people. Read more>>

Beth Hoel | Consultant

I wanted to help more families impacted by sexual abuse and those involved in the justice system. Working in the capacity as a probation officer and supervisor managing individuals on probation for sex crimes for most of my career gave me a vast and thorough understanding of sex offender risk, the knowledge and courage to help put offenders, victims and their families back together after some of the most difficult times of their lives. I worked with individuals who committed sex crimes and those impacted by sex offenses for over twenty years, most of my probation career. As I reached retirement eligibility as a probation supervisor, I wanted to do more. Read more>>

Srikar Potharaju | Executive Director – Checkmate Dementia

At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, I had time on my hands, and amidst all the craziness happening in the world around me, I decided to start some service projects to help better my community. For me, it made sense to start something based around chess – I had played the game since I was 10 and knew how much it had helped me; but more importantly, how much it could help others. After looking into the cognitive benefits of chess, I realized that it could be applied to helping senior citizens better their health while providing the opportunity for more entertainment at elderly homes. Read more>>

Tracy Mergler | CEO and Recovery Coach

Honestly, it was because it was something I needed in my recovery after coming back from residential eating disorder treatment and it wasn’t available in my community nor had a heard of anything like it. I needed to create the same feeling of safety but in my own community. I honestly, didn’t plan on it becoming a business. It started as peer run support groups during COVID but then the need became so clear- it was not just individuals that were struggling with an addiction that were affected by the pandemic, it was everyone. We all need a safe space to feel understood and connected. Read more>>

Dr. Darlene Little | Educator and entrepreneur

Being an African American and understanding our history, it was important for me in my retirement to find a way to help my community. My husband and I are both retired educators. We have a love for children and youth and want to help in a way that brings long term change in their lives and in that of their families. We started Afri-Soul as a response to the research that states 8 out of 10 black business fail within the first 18 months and that 58% of them report as being at risk. African Americans are at a disadvantage because a lack of business experience (no family members or role models) and the difficulty of black business have acquiring funding to launch or grow their businesses. Read more>>

Dani Bradley | Realtor & Airbnb Superhost

I have always had a drive towards entrepreneurship. I opened up my first business at 19 years old in my hometown of Wisconsin, renting out a salon suite and offering nail services. I built up my clientele and eventually leased an entire building with a full staff. When I moved out to Arizona, I wanted to try something different. I sold my salon back home and my husband and I began dabbling in Airbnb. I thought it would be a good time to get my real estate license since we intended to acquire a few properties to start that business. Read more>>