What would you do if family duty came calling – along with a big ol’ guilt trip? For Adia Howard, the COO of her family business RA Cosmetics, it meant leaving behind her steady career as an occupational therapist to dive into the unknown world of entrepreneurship. Andrea Marquez sits down with Adia to talk about how she’s not only redefining leadership but also carrying her family’s legacy forward.

Find out how Adia navigates the challenges of a family business, brings a fresh vision to R.A. Cosmetics, and discovers a whole new side of herself. Plus, you definitely don’t want to miss Andrea’s attempt at making custom shea butter with Adia – spoiler: it doesn’t go as planned.

If you’ve ever wondered what it takes to reinvent yourself inside a family business or how risk can open doors you didn’t even know were there – this episode is for you.

Got a bold leap of your own? Share it with us in an Apple Podcasts review, Spotify comment, or email us at thisissmallbusiness@amazon.com – you might hear it in a future episode.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

(1:51) Ever wonder what it’s really like growing up around a small business owner? Adia shares how watching her dad hustle seven days a week was both intimidating and inspiring.

(4:42) What would you do if you had to choose between a stable career and keeping your family’s business alive? Adia opens up about her crossroads moment and the guilt trip from her mom that pushed her to decide.

(6:04) Think you have to take a big leap all at once? Adia shows how easing in part-time gave her the confidence to eventually commit full-time.

(8:30) Worried you don’t have enough experience to switch paths? Adia proves you can learn on the job even when faced with permits, marketing and safety data sheets.

(10:13) Can bringing your personality into your business make a difference? Adia explains how her softer, community-focused leadership changed the culture at R.A. Cosmetics.

(13:50) Was the risk of leaving a secure job worth it? Adia reflects on the growth of R.A. Cosmetics and the impact of adding her own touch to the brand.

(16:40) Could your kids one day follow in your footsteps? Adia shares her hopes for her son and how she’s showing him that entrepreneurship doesn’t have to be scary.

(17:58) Can taking one big risk completely change how you see yourself? Adia reveals how stepping into the business reshaped her confidence and offers advice for anyone afraid to leap.

Entrepreneurship will always involve risk so how do you learn to control it instead of fear it? Dr. Lois Shelton, Professor of Management at the Nazarian College of Business and Economics at California State University Northridge, joins host Andrea Marquez to break down why the most successful founders aren’t thrill-seekers. They’re calculated decision-makers who know how to test ideas, filter feedback and adapt without letting fear or overconfidence take control.

You’ll learn practical risk management strategies for making smarter moves — like lean startup experiments and the “affordable loss” approach — plus how to know when to trust your gut and when to listen to your customers.

If you’ve ever talked yourself out of an idea because you didn’t feel ready, this conversation will change how you see risk and give you enough information to start or grow your business with confidence.

Got a bold leap of your own? Share it with us in an Apple Podcasts review, Spotify comment, or email us at thisissmallbusiness@amazon.com – you might hear it in a future episode.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

(01:54) What makes a “rebel with a cause” in business? Professor Lois explains how purpose-driven entrepreneurs think differently and turn ideas into action.

(04:06) Do successful entrepreneurs really love risk? Learn why they prefer calculated, manageable risks over extreme leaps.

(07:26) How can you test your idea without spending a fortune? Here’s two frameworks that help you reduce risk and gather feedback early.

(9:21) How do you know which feedback to listen to? Lois breaks down how to spot patterns in customer responses and block out advice that will send you off track.

(13:39) What are the biggest mistakes founders make with risk? From skipping market research to ignoring warning signs, here’s what to avoid early on.

(15:50) How can reframing failure boost your chances of success? Professor Lois shares why seeing every setback as a learning opportunity can actually make you more credible to investors and customers.

(19:32) What’s the first step you could take if you’re frozen by uncertainty? Discover how to use mentors, free resources, and small actions to move forward even when you don’t feel ready.

What if the thing that keeps your business alive isn’t a perfect plan but your ability to pivot, stay curious, and take risks along the way? Zoya Biglary, the founder of Fysh Foods, didn’t set out to become the internet’s fruit peeler but when her savings started to run out and her product needed a lifeline, she turned to the one thing she always relied on: the drive to figure it out.

Host Andrea Marquez dives into how Zoya created a sustainable raw fish alternative from her home kitchen, used content creation to keep the business alive, and navigated major shipping and product setbacks. If you’ve ever felt like you had to “know more” before starting, this episode will help you rethink what qualifies you to begin.

Got a bold leap of your own? Share it with us in an Apple Podcasts review, Spotify comment, or email us at thisissmallbusiness@amazon.com – you might hear it in a future episode.

In this episode, you’ll hear:

(01:54) What drives a founder to start a business from scratch? Zoya shares how her early exposure to social entrepreneurship shaped her path and led her to start Fysh Foods.

(07:58) How do you develop a food product with no background? Zoya breaks down how she co-developed her early formulas and landed in Erewhon.

(12:58) How do you fund a business when money runs out? Discover how Zoya went viral on TikTok and turned content into capital.

(19:00) Dreamed of getting on Shark Tank to grow your business? Zoya got there but still made $0 profit. She explains what went wrong and what she learned.

(22:25) What do you do when your product doesn’t scale? Zoya walks through her shift from DTC to wholesale, how she re-engineered her product to cut costs and expand, and the costly lessons along the way.

(29:12) Feeling stuck as a founder? Zoya shares how staying curious, even when things felt impossible, kept her moving through fear and uncertainty.