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.

Dr. Jaclyn Pastena | Pediatric Occupational Therapist

I had spent the first few years of my career as a pediatric occupational therapist working at larger therapy clinics and was able to gain an abundance of both experience and confidence as a practitioner. As I was gaining a strong sense of who I was and who I wanted to be as a practitioner, I was also beginning to notice all of the nuances that went along with working for a larger facility. I had a strong desire to be able to provide the best quality of therapy to my clients without letting the restrictions of a larger system hinder my client’s therapeutic success or their autonomy. Read more>>

Xavier Luna | Owner and Chef

The thought process behind starting Luna Cafe stemmed from a deep-rooted passion for creating a culinary experience that goes beyond just food. We wanted to craft a space where people could come together, share stories, and savor delicious, handcrafted dishes in a cozy ambiance. Our goal was to fill a gap in the local dining scene by offering a menu inspired by both Mexican cuisine and American cuisine, using local ingredients all while providing exceptional service. Ultimately, Luna Cafe was born out of a desire to enrich our community through the joy of food and hospitality. Read more>>

Priya McCulloch | Interior Designer

When I reflect on my journey from working for someone else to entrepreneurship, the catalyst was witnessing the sacrifices many women made for their careers once they became mothers. However, amidst those sacrifices, I also saw a different narrative unfolding—the story of women designers who took the reins of their destiny by starting their own businesses, crafting their schedules to be present for their children while pursuing their passion. Read more>>

Monica Denisse Pineda | Founder & CEO

I find that in this life we truly don’t know how long we have to experience it. With this at the forefront, I believe every person deserves to live more at home in their bodies given it’s the home you carry throughout your life experience. Because of this and the lack of education on emotional intelligence, I launched a business for mental and emotional health to introduce a new concept of mental health workouts via circuit training at Avance Hub. I believe intuitive, experiential programs empower us with self awareness, self knowledge, and the self leadership to connect back to ourselves. My hope is that more people get to experience their inner world with compassion, safety, love, and flexibility. Avance Hub is not only a business but indeed a hub for collaboration, innovation, and thought leaders to emerge in a time where our generation must step up to the plate and play a different game. I feel a great sense of responsibility to participate in leaving the world a better place than I found it, contributing to the emotional impact on generations after us. Read more>>

Arlene Robotta | Tech guru extraordinaire

My thought process was rooted in a passion for innovation and positive change. I started helping people who didn’t know much about tech. I saw some instances where some were overly paying for technical services. I wanted to help. I saw an opportunity to create value by leveraging my expertise in technology and I decided to start my business focused on helping seniors or anyone needing help in tech at a fair price with patience and kindness. Read more>>

Briana Rambo, Patrick Mulligan and Katie Cooper | All Co-owners of Studio Create LLC

Prior to founding Studio Create, Briana Rambo, Patrick Mulligan, and Katie Cooper pursued careers in conventional nine-to-five roles. However, our shared passion for photography ignited a desire to transform our individual interests into a collaborative venture. When the opportunity to establish a studio arose, we collectively recognized it as the perfect moment to actualize our dream. Read more>>

Marisa Hernandez | Actress, Author, Producer, & Content Creator

I think my thought process came from a confidence stand point. I knew this is what I always wanted to do. I’ve always wanted to be an entrepreneur. I never really liked working for someone else. Starting my business was going to be hard work but I was ready for the challenge. When I started there really wasn’t another opinion, because I saw it as if it doesn’t work out, at least I know I tried. Read more>>

Andrea Davis, CCIM | Owner and Designated Broker of Davis Commercial AZ

I wanted to have more control over my own destiny and provide opportunities for others. There are a lot of young professionals who want to get into commercial real estate but don’t have the appropriate advisors or mentors. I endured this struggle firsthand and wanted to develop the company culture that I wished for and envisioned early in my career. When I opened the doors to Davis Commercial AZ, the goal was to grow and develop a successful boutique brokerage firm that offered a supportive and welcoming work environment to help individuals learn the business in the shortest time frame possible. My plan was to create a company where brokers could get hands-on training and experience as well as access the tools and guidance to build the necessary confidence to close deals. Read more>>

Meghann Jacobs | Feminine Embodiment Guide and Womb Healer

When I first learned about Cyclical Living and the fact that women’s hormones operate on a 28 day cycle, similar to the Lunar cycle, I was astonished. It helped me come to a deep understanding of why so many women feel out of sorts in a society based on the circadian rhythms of a 24 hour clock. Read more>>

Errin Mendibles | Founder of AZ’s only no cost, therapeutic eating disorder processing group.

Starting Bella Vita Tucson was driven by a critical need in our community. According to ANAD (National Association of Anorexia Nervosa and Associated Disorders), approximately 30 million Americans struggle with eating disorders, which have the highest mortality rate among mental illnesses. Every 62 minutes, someone dies from an eating disorder. Despite these alarming statistics, free resources for those seeking recovery are scarce, especially for minors. In Tucson, there are no inpatient or outpatient options for adolescents, and only two facilities in Phoenix cater to this demographic. This glaring gap in support prompted the creation of Bella Vita Tucson. We offer a no-cost therapeutic processing group for adolescents and their families, aiming to fill this crucial void in our community’s mental health services. Read more>>

Wade Johnson | Exploradora Co-Founder

Starting Exploradora was a way to create a mechanism that fosters community and generates financial abundance to communities around the world. We value the art of connection and coffee plays an integral role in connecting people from all over, from having a cup of coffee with a friend, to knowing where your coffee comes from, to putting money from coffee sales to programs that impact your community. After visiting coffee countries we noticed the rise of women in leadership on farms and felt like there was an opportunity to showcase this change. We decided to source exclusively from women farmers to ensure equitable pay, and have had the privilege of meeting true trailblazers in the industry. In addition, we donate proceeds to Springboard to Opportunities, a non-profit that provides guaranteed income to mothers living in low-income housing. We have begun seeing how the way we source coffee has positive financial impacts on communities at coffee origin and communities right here in the US. Read more>>

Desiree Horner | Business Consultant and Grant Writer

Ultimately, I wanted to help people while also putting to use the knowledge I have gained from school as well as my own personal experience. I would often look for grants to help fund opportunities within the community and found that there are a ton of different companies and agencies that you can get funded from. I also realized that starting your own business wasn’t as hard as it seems and with so many people having such great ideas, why not help them make those dreams a reality? Read more>>

Tanisha Ray | Counselor & Artist

I started Ease & Wellness Counseling Services because I wanted people and families to have the possibility of long-term care and support with a trusted clinician. There’s so much stigma surrounding mental health, especially addiction. I wanted to offer compassionate services to people living with substance use disorders and people affected by the substance use of another. I also wanted to offer consulting services to colleagues and organizations by creating culturally responsive, evidence-based, and creative programming. When I worked as a licensed substance abuse counselor in an adult prison, I directed and produced their first inmate-run play. It was a unique yet transformative experience. It showed me the power of the human spirit, collaboration, and creativity. Starting my own private practice would allow me to work with extraordinary clients and community partners, stretch my own personal and professional limitations, and go back to school. Read more>>

David Hepburn Jr | Transformational, Strategic Business Coach

I was a Marketing consultant and after growing 4 businesses over 100% and a 5th over 50% in 1998, when I went to talk with the business owners about what we would be doing for the following year, they all pushed back on what I had put together. I could not understand why they seemed to be sabotaging the work we had done. After several weeks of back and forth in a fit of frustration I FIRED THEM ALL!! (That was the 2nd best day of my life, after the birth of my son.) Read more>>

Samantha Jones | Hairstylist

When I started my first job at a corporate salon my plan was to always work in a salon for someone else. Starting my own business seemed like a daunting task that would lead to working on my own time and I very much just wanted a job that I could clock in and out of. But over time I started to realize that the flexibility of being able to create my own schedule rather than working until 9-10 pm every night was becoming more and more appealing so when a friend of mine moved into a suite I decided to take the plunge and join her! Read more>>