Many books on startups and business talk about how there are right and wrong reasons for starting a business. So, we asked a handful of successful founders about their reasons and the thought-process behind starting their business.

Siena Snedeker | Phlebotomist, Medical Assistant, CNA, and ER tech

I wanted to continue helping individuals in my community. My craft started with phlebotomy and has grown; currently finishing my pre-requisitions to apply for the nursing program at Mohave Community College. Read more>>

Leanne Coon | Owner and Operator of Cupcakes by Leanne

In 2017, my sister wanted cupcakes that looked like flowers for her wedding and I refused to spend $60 for a dozen. I decided I would figure it out, teach myself how to create the flower cupcakes and do her wedding desserts for her. Little did I know that just months later, due to circumstances beyond my control, I would be an unemployed school principal. After many interviews, it just didn’t seem as though I was meant to continue in the education field. This was a difficult pill to swallow because I found my entire self worth and identity in my job. I was lost and it was a very stressful time. Read more>>

Alexa Dearing | AZPM Co-Owner

Originally we were just a group of friends who gathered every once and awhile to take photos of eachother, we had so much fun with this concept that a friend of ours sky, decided to create an Instagram page where we could share the photos that had been taken, announce new photo meetups happening in the area, etc. Sky would organize dates & times, and eventually we became a pretty large group. When Covid hit, we had to all take a step back, and take a break from gathering together, post-covid Sky’s career as a wedding photographer kept her super busy so she handed the Instagram account over to myself (Alexa) after a couple months of hosting “walk and shoot” style photoshoots with friends, I decided that I wanted this to be bigger, and better. December 2022, we took azphotomeetups through a complete rebrand, obtained an LLC, and started hosting the events as we do now- one event in a photography studio, and one “walk and shoot” style photoshoot. Read more>>

Elliot Strunk Todd Coats | Graphic Designers, Creative Directors and Podcast Co-Hosts

In a nutshell, the Two Designers Walk Into a Bar podcast came about because we were having a conversation about an iconic illustrator named Mort Drucker passing away and the impact his work for MAD Magazine had on both of us. About halfway through the call, Elliot mentioned to Todd it would be great if we could record the conversation to share with other people. And here we are. No master plan. Read more>>

Rachaeal Stewart Johnson | Beautiful Boss, advocate for the prevention of child abuse

Rachaeal’s unwavering determination to be her own boss and her innate desire to serve others. After much contemplation and seeking divine guidance through prayer and fasting, Rachaeal felt compelled to establish a platform that empowers women and children to reclaim their lives. Read more>>

Bonnie Wayland | Founder + Owner of Bonnie Wayland Creative

I established Bonnie Wayland Creative with two primary aims: 1. To provide myself with a creative space for exploration and experimentation, allowing me to tap into my artistic side. 2. To lend a helping hand to those seeking marketing guidance. I often received requests for assistance from individuals unsure about promoting their businesses. I recognized an opportunity to offer straightforward marketing solutions to support their success. The core mission of Bonnie Wayland Creative is to serve as a reliable marketing resource for small businesses! Read more>>

SIMON TOBON | Architecture and interior design

Fear and happiness are the first thoughts that come to my mind when I think about before starting my own business. The fear of not knowing what will happen, if the business will be successful, if customers will like what I’m going to do, among other things, but at the same time, a feeling of happiness for taking that big step, for believing in myself, and for having a big dream to work on every day Read more>>

Dr. Kseniya Gershberg | Certified Prenatal & Pediatric Chiropractor & Certified Functional Medicine Practitioner

I started Empowered Mama Chiropractic back in 2019 because I wanted to help empower other moms who were either just starting their motherhood journey or were already in it but struggling. I wanted to provide support and easy access to resources for moms through pregnancy and postpartum. I based my business on the type of care and support I would have loved to have as a new mom. I honestly didn’t have the right support when I had my first son, so my dream was to create an Empowered Mama Haven. As the sole owner at the time and no other financial backing I had to be creative. I started inside one tiny room with low overhead and then expanded into a bigger office space after a year. The perfect recipe for business success is to pour your heart into it and truly love what you do. Read more>>

Kira Reid | COO & Co-Founder

The Reach For The Stars (RFTS) Nonprofit Co-Founder and CEO, Carlos Aragon, found life in a simple Wal-Mart telescope after being homeless. Two years later him and his wife, Kira, started RFTS, in 2020 during the pandemic with a slightly different mission. Due to the demand at the time, they primarily served food. Delivering food to those in need, no matter their circumstance. With the food, however they provided an escape from the pandemic, a telescope. During 2020 and early 2021, they quickly realized that the youth that volunteered for the food program and the youth in the food program, all had something in common; they were all struggling with their social emotional well-being and mental health even to the point of suicide at the young age of 9. Read more>>

Karen Pfluger | Arizona Elopement Photographer

The entire reason I even purchased a camera to begin with was to document my adventures- traveling, hiking, exploring was a huge part of my life and I wanted to capture it all. When I photographed my first couple, I realized I loved that too. Back in 2016, I told myself I wanted to travel to epic places and capture couples- but I had no idea how to make that a reality. It wasn’t until my husband and I eloped that I realized I wanted to be the exact person I needed when planning my own elopement. I needed someone who could be a resource, help me find a cool location, amazing vendors, give me inspiration and ideas to make my day more intimate. Someone who would capture the moments along with the wall hanging photos. That’s what I want to be for future couples wanting to elope and that’s what brought me to create this business. Read more>>

Rex Fuller | Owner of Lux Original LLC, Boutique Real Estate and Small Business Media

Back home in Montgomery, Alabama I worked many years as a wedding and portrait photographer and had night shifts at UPS as a charger while I finished my art degree. I also assisted a local ad agency doing different jobs on commercial sets. While I was there I learned how to do many different jobs in media production–such as operating a camera on set, focus pulling, steadicam op, how to use a NLE to edit footage, etc. Those years of my life were fun and I learned a lot, but they were very hard. There was never enough money and I was constantly grasping at any work I could find that was creative. Read more>>

LaRiche Lamar | Founding CEO and Artistic Director, Empowered Theater & Arts

I started Empowered Theater & Arts with the understanding that my ethos around working for this population of individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD) is uncommon and yet necessary. Many inclusive arts programs are passionate about providing opportunities for those with disabilities. I believe these opportunities are not simply important to this segment of the population, but necessary to the growth of humanity as a whole. The voices and experiences of individuals with IDD have been silenced for too long. They are rarely afforded the opportunity to represent themselves and too often defined by outdated medical standards and social constructs that feed into issues like infantilization, poverty, and social isolation. Read more>>

Amethyst | Social Media Manager

Life has this funny way of pushing you in unexpected directions. It started with this mom-life realization—I wanted to be there for my husband and kids, AND have a little hustle. Flexibility was key. I landed a social media manager gig, and I was like, “Hey, I kinda love this!”. In my teenage years, I was all about graphic design and creative stuff, and here I was, coming full circle. Honestly, my husband is the one who really helped me take the leap into entrepreneurship. Many times. he had suggested that I branch out and start my own business as a social media manager. One day, during a serious brainstorming sesh he asked, “Why not?” and I didn’t have a non-fear-based answer for that. Read more>>