After two decades as a high-impact executive, Jess Lane found herself laid off from a unicorn tech company she helped build—a moment that catalyzed her entrepreneurial awakening. Rather than return to the grind, she chose to rewrite the script…
After building and selling a successful business, Justin Wilhelms took a leap into his true calling—helping overwhelmed business owners regain control. In this edition of the Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Spotlight, Justin shares how he evolve…
After discovering the transformative power of leadership coaching, Kelly Kienzle took a bold leap from working within corporate frameworks to forging her own path. Through one-on-one and team coaching, she empowers mission-driven leaders to reclaim …
Garrett Paul went from feeling professionally adrift to co-founding a fast-growing accounting firm with childhood friend and CPA, Matt Jones. While Matt leads on the technical front, Garrett drives client relationships, business development, and str…
After being laid off, Tomas Franc chose not to job hunt—he chose to build. With a background in SaaS and a long-standing passion for fixing knowledge gaps in fast-moving teams, Tomas launched NextKS: an AI-powered Slack-native platform that tu…
After trading the grind of underpaid academia for the thrill of entrepreneurship, Kristin Clark found her calling by helping others share their stories. As the founder of Elite Content Creation, a boutique ghostwriting and hybrid publishing agency, …
After years of working under someone else's banner, Angel Ortiz made a bold leap during a business presentation—unveiling ZITRO Construction Services LLC to a room full of peers. What followed was a journey fueled by deep family inspiration, u…
After being laid off shortly after maternity leave, Cody Gillund transformed uncertainty into clarity—and clarity into a business. As the founder of Grounded Growth Studio, she partners with early- and growth-stage tech leaders to realign mark…
Brittney Hannah didn’t just learn AI—she transformed how others engage with it. Through her company, The Sainth, she’s helping mission-driven teams move from curiosity to confident implementation, bridging the gap between strategy,…
Mike Ali turned uncertainty into unstoppable momentum. As the founder of OnPath Marketing, he traded a traditional finance career for cold outreach experiments that evolved into a thriving AI automation agency. Through the Wantrepreneur to Entrepren…
After years of building programs within corporate walls, Shelley Simkins finally listened to the inner voice—and her friends—telling her it was time to build something of her own. That leap of faith birthed Proquesto, a platform transfor…
After two decades in the Marine Corps, Mike Vincent didn’t chase a new title—he answered a deeper calling. Now co-leading Kaleo Coaching, he helps leaders move from burnout to clarity by aligning with their strengths and leading from ide…
David Black didn’t just leave a job—he reclaimed his freedom. What began as a bold leap away from corporate constraints evolved into Ready Set Search, a performance marketing agency helping underdog brands punch above their weight. In th…
After a pivotal return from maternity leave, Ana Arguello realized that settling for less wasn’t an option—not for her, and not for the future she envisioned for her daughters. Fueled by clarity, purpose, and a dash of boldness, she laun…
Ann Edwards transformed years of frustration in traditional healthcare into a visionary wellness brand that’s redefining how we heal—inside and out. At TherAnnu, she bridges clinical care with high-tech spa treatments, offering a powerfu…
After years in the tech world, Arthur “Artie” Chang saw a persistent problem—fragmented communication systems that left businesses lagging behind. Fueled by a vision to unify and elevate customer engagement, he founded PanTerra Net…
After years of leading high-stakes tech transformations, Megan Maloney took a leap from corporate constraints to entrepreneurial freedom. A pivotal betrayal on a major project lit the spark, but it was her first independent pitch that sealed her ide…
Dave Olsen’s entrepreneurial evolution began with a bold question: “Why can’t you have both?” That mindset shift sparked the creation of Nimbl, a modern accounting firm built to liberate founders from the grind of back-office…
Caroline Breeding’s path from loyal employee to bold founder is marked by a deep commitment to both people and purpose. After nearly a decade scaling someone else’s business, she launched Intuitive Learning Solutions to revolutionize edu…
Erik Barnett’s journey from protecting his mom’s hacked computer to launching HomeSirens—an “internet security officer in a box”—is a masterclass in mission-driven innovation. What began as a personal problem quic…
After decades of coaching leaders inside a global powerhouse, Mitchell Schuckman faced a forced retirement date—but chose reinvention over retreat. Launching The Schuckman Group allowed him to transform his deep well of leadership expertise in…
When Rukmini Banerjee stepped out of her COO role last fall, she didn’t expect a casual coffee shop conversation to ignite her next mission. But hearing firsthand about the emotional toll caregiving takes on busy professionals led her to co-cr…
From remixing Slim Shady to reshaping compliance tech, Jack Murphy brings bold energy and fresh perspective to Motion 3 Technology. What started with a leap of faith and a resignation letter has evolved into a dual-pronged VCIO/CTO and MSP firm maki…
Congxing Cai’s journey from spark to solution began with a problem he couldn’t ignore: brilliant candidates losing opportunities due to interview anxiety. That frustration lit the path to founding Synco AI—an interview copilot that…