DFW Executives Discuss Their Most Challenging Business Obstacles

The challenges that individuals face can vary greatly depending on their perspective and experiences. However, everyone will inevitably encounter challenges in life, and this is especially true for those running a business. To gain insight into the toughest challenges faced by Dallas executives, we reached out to them to hear their stories.

Josh Irving, Co-Founder and CEO of I&A Agave Spirits, shared that one of his biggest challenges was understanding how to motivate his employees to have the same level of passion for the company as he does. As the business scaled, maintaining this focus became increasingly difficult, but through consistent communication and team retreats, he was able to keep his team motivated.

Elizabeth Blau, Founder and CEO of Blau + Associates, discussed the gender inequity she encountered in the restaurant industry and co-founded the Women’s Hospitality Initiative to address this issue. She highlighted the low percentage of women who become executive-level chefs or restaurant owners despite a high number of female culinary school graduates.

Henry Woodruff, Managing Director of EPIQ Capital Group, shared the challenges he faced when establishing EPIQ in 2018. As part of the founding team, he helped build the company from the ground up, which was demanding but rewarding. Despite facing intense days and tough weeks, he reflected on the progress they had made after the first year and the momentum they had built.

These stories highlight the diverse range of challenges that Dallas executives face and how they overcame them through dedication, perseverance, and innovation.