By far, the topic that comes up most in our conversations with entrepreneurs and creatives is risk. We’ve had conversations about risks that worked out and risks that did not. We’ve seen eyes light eye sharing about career-trajectory changing risks as well as folks sigh about the risks they wish they had taken. Below, we’ve selected and shared some of those thoughtful conversations.

Mariana Rios | Licensed Esthetician & Cosmetologist

I believe taking risks has been the reason I have been able to pursue my dreams to become a reality and get to where I need to be in life. I think about risk as a necessity, a need to do. I think of it as the push & pull that we all need to get something done, wether it’s related to our personal life or career wise. To step out of our comfort zone and really take that leap of faith knowing that you could fail at something and still doing it because you can learn from it and try again. Taking risks has been the reason I am where I am today. Beginning from my childhood; I was born in Sonora, Mexico and my mother took that risk and leap of faith to leave everything behind and start from zero here, we both did al thought at that time I didn’t realize just how big of a change it was until I started getting older and understanding how big of risk and sacrifice that was, to leave family, friends jobs and start all over again. It has been motivation for me to follow and continue to take risks in my personally life as well as in my career. I had been doing hair styling and lash extensions for the past three years, but I wanted more for myself and after months of contemplating I finally went for it and decided to enroll myself in school again to obtain my second license which was my esthetician license to specialize in skincare and results driven skin treatments. During my three years as a cosmetologist I was booth renting at a salon and a few months ago I finally decided to take that big risk and open up my own suite and become a business owner. It was very scary and a big change for me but I am so glad I push through that fear and did it. Read more>>

ida liu | New Media Producer / Instagrammer

“Don’t choose comfort when you should struggle.”

I used to be afraid of taking risks, afraid of all the uncertain and unplanned things. When I first entered the workforce and prepared for my first job, I chose the job which is more related to the department I graduated with, the Department of Journalism — an automotive media reporter. Read more>>

Deanna Kupcik | Chamber President/CEO

I’m not sure if I call it risk taking, but I have operated on intuition. Just listening to my instincts takes me in a direction and I do not look back. If something fails, and it will, then I evaluate the situation and figure out if small changes can be made or if we just try something different. I can honestly say, this has worked for me for 35 years. Read more>>

Kimberley Urcadez | Crochet Artist

When it came to risks and my business I definitely took a few. My first one was just starting my business, I had first begun when COVID hit. At the time I was working and attending the University of Arizona; it became really tough having to go from one job to the next because of COVID and still do my classes. My then boyfriend at the time took on all the work to let me stay home and figure it out. I got back into crochet again and that’s where my business began. Read more>>