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.

Courtney Rietman | Mom & Small Business Owner

I had just transitioned to being a stay at home mom of two under two. I left my career of 8 years where I had worked my way up into a management role where I oversaw 17 people. I had a lot of responsibility and while that was tough, it was fulfilling because I had worked so hard to get there. Read more>>

Danielle Reddick | Nonprofit Founder & Full Spectrum Doula

The thought process behind starting Tiny Hearts Remembered, Inc. in 2021, was due to my personal experience of a blighted ovum miscarriage in 2016. The mission, vision, values, and programs were developed through a needs assessment, research, and lack of resources for those impacted by pregnancy and infant loss. Read more>>

Abbey Bower | RN-BSN, small business owner

In creating content for nurses, my thought process was to give new nurses and seasoned nurse alike, hope, care, and support. Our healthcare system puts a lot on the workers, and misses the point of caring for the caregivers often. If we don’t take care of ourselves, we won’t be ble to give good care to our patients. Read more>>

destiny sampson | Licensed Esthetician & Mobile Bar Owner

honestly, it was very hectic because I had so many ideas and I was ALWAYS brainstorming and had so many ideas and I was just trying to rush and do everything and I had to learn to just stop. Be patient. Pray about it and let it flow. Read more>>

Kimberly Fankhauser | California Yoga Owner, ERYT 200, RYS 200, RYT 200, Reiki I, ACE, CPT, Sound Therapist & Mother

This is my 2nd yoga business. My first was inspired by my first mother in law who I practiced Pilates & Yoga with weekly who encouraged me to get certified and open a business in a beautiful building she bought at an auction intending to be a spa, she fell very ill (cancer) during her divorce and asked that I bring life into the empty space so I did. Read more>> 

Johnny Wu

We heard that the International Horror Hotel Film Festival (in 2023) is looking for owners to take it over, I took the plunge along with 6 others to continue this legacy, the film festival is one of the friendliest indie film festival in Cleveland, Ohio catering to Scifi, Acition, Horror, Fantasy and Thriller films, it has been one of the staple of what Cleveland can offer and bringing a lot of filmmakers around the world here. Read more>>