Starting and growing a business is hard, but often deciding to start the business in the first place is even harder. We asked some successful entrepreneurs from around the community to open up to us about how they thought about starting a business.

Rebecca Wilhelm

I have been gluten free since 2008 with a fairly serious intolerance. I remember the challenge I had early on to find okay gluten-free options, passable gluten-free flours and longed for a cookie cake more than I would care to admit.

When a gluten-free eater comes up to our booth and learns we are a bakery that also happens to be gluten free, their eyes light up. And the next words out of their mouths are typically something like “shut up, no way” or “this might be the best day of my life.” Read More>> 

Jackie Benjamin

Starting a business wasn’t part of the plan. I was working for a company I really liked, and entrepreneurship wasn’t even on my radar. But at the end of 2018, I went through some big personal shifts that gave me space to stop and think. One night, I woke up out of a sound sleep with two thoughts in my head: Help women and Start a business. It was random and unexpected, and I brushed it off at first. Read More>> 

Destiny Miller

Level Up Sis started as just a dream, but it quickly became my reality. I was scared at first, but deep down, I knew my brand had the power to impact women around the world. Read More>> 

Darina Shtepa

At a certain point in my career, it was important for me to try myself as a studio owner—to understand all sides of the profession, not just the creative aspects, but also the management side. I opened a small studio and gained valuable experience: I learned how to organize workflows, make decisions, and take full responsibility. It required a lot of energy, time, and resources. Read More>>