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.

Tiffany Gallen | Visual Content Creator

My artistic journey began in 2002 as the gallery specialist at Z Gallerie in Scottsdale, AZ. There, I brought the Kierland Commons gallery location to number one in the company for four years by creating art walls that told individual stories in sections throughout the gallery. Over the last decade, I dedicated myself to raising my three daughters while developing my iPhone photography skills as a creative outlet. I was able to capture the incredible, everyday moments of being a mom, and share on Instagram which drove me to fine-tune my craft. Read more>>

Leah Cretella Joseph Adiletta | Owners of Maricopa Botanicals

We were inspired to start Maricopa Botanicals from our passion for creating beautiful, plant-filled spaces and our desire to foster a sense of community through southwestern decor and eclectic plants. Decorating our own home with lush plants brought us immense joy, and we saw an opportunity to extend that happiness to our neighbors in Tempe and the surrounding Phoenix metro. We wanted to create a space where people could come together to explore unique and diverse plants, share ideas, and receive personalized advice on enhancing their homes. Read more>>

Shay-ann Scott, Nmd, Lmt, Cst | Naturopathic Physician, Medical Massage Therapist , CranioSacral Therapist

I started my first business at 19, driven by a combination of necessity and the desire for flexibility. At the time, I needed to help pay for chiropractic school. Working for myself made it easier to attend a rigorous program while earning money. Although I had jobs over the years, self-employment made the most sense, especially later on when I needed to support myself and my children after going through a divorce. Read more>>