Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Raquel McDougall-McCown | Dual Licensed Massage Therapist and Esthetician

I started back in 2020 shortly after graduating massage school i was just doing travel massage then, going to people’s houses, jobs, events wherever I was needed. I wanted to create a space where I get to help people, a place that they could go to to escape day to day stress. Somewhere they could go to learn more about why they are feeling how they feel. I love connecting with my clients and making sure each service is tailored to them and what they need. I try to teach them how and why things are showing up how they do in both the skin and the body. As both a licensed esthetician and massage therapist I get to help people on both their inner and outer beauty and that’s one of the most rewarding things i could think about to do. Read more>>

Taylor Smith, MBA | CEO of Marketing Made 4 Success

I’ve always had an entrepreneur spirit. It runs in my family. I knew that in starting my marketing company, I would be able to help new entrepreneurs take one less task off of their plate. I am passionate about seeing women-led small businesses thrive and it is almost impossible to do so if you don’t have an online presence. Read more>>

April McClure-Whitehead | Owner

Honestly the heat in Arizona. I moved here 5 years ago from down south and never gave the elements any real consideration. Being that I was an Over-the Road trucker, until maybe my 1st summer here. After that on a personal level, I just knew regular lotion wasn’t going to work for my skin. So, I started to have other people try it out people with different skin conditions (i.e. eczema, severe dry skin, psoriasis, etc.), and they all loved the feel, ease, and results. So from that Chocolate Baby LLC was born Read more>>

Kirsten Weikart | Lifestyle Photographer

Photography has always, and will forever tell a story. As a child, and even still to this day, I love to look at old photos of family and friends. Physical photo albums will always be cool to me, and I have started to fill them up in my home for my kids to look at! When I had my first kids (I had twins- 2 boys), I couldn’t get enough of them, the storage was always full on my phone. A year later, I got pregnant with my daughter. For both pregnancies we did the newborn photos and maternity photos, and loved them, but I thought… I could do that too, and I would really enjoy it! So as a stay at home mom, wanting to do something I loved, while making a little extra money, I decided to turn it into a business. My husband graciously bought me a camera, and I just started take pictures of my kids throughout the day, and eventually started reaching out to friends and family to gain some experience. Over the past few years, my photos have made it on so many Holiday cards, and I love to see them! I love capturing other peoples families and little moments in time, and hope one day they look back on those memories, and share those stories. Read more>>

Anah Sison | Montessori and Wellness Coach

Reflecting back, I had an experience when I was a young teacher. I had a student whose behavior was so intense (fits of anger, violent) and I was not equipped to handle it. Other parents were starting to get concerned for their children despite of all the efforts of our school’s support team was not also trained at that time. (Private School) Read more>>

Kati Wasserman | CEO of Flagstaff Skincare Medical Spa, Aesthetician, Laser Technician

Starting my own business was driven by a mix of passion, a desire for independence, and spotting an unmet market need. My deep passion for skincare and belief in our services’ effectiveness inspired me to create a space tailored for those seeking top-notch skincare treatments. Read more>>

Gary Covert | CEO/Executive Team Coach

As a business leader, I was always driven by the quest for faster and bigger growth, and how to make my leaders and teams more effective in achieving it. I had a successful career, but I always wondered what more we could have done as a team. That question led me to become a CEO/Executive Team Coach, where I worked with hundreds of leaders and teams across various industries and sizes for over 10 years. I discovered that the key to success was being FIT: having Focus, Innovation, and Teamwork. FIT organizations were unstoppable. They dominated their markets and outperformed their rivals. On the other hand, organizations that lacked FIT were doomed. They failed to innovate, to align their teams, and to execute their vision. They posed no threat to anyone but themselves. I developed a systematic process to help these teams become FIT and achieve remarkable results, such as higher company value, profits, sales, and wining cultures. Read more>>