By Amy Barrett, Amy S. Choi, Jeremy Quittner, Stacy Perman, and John Tozzi

Advice from Renowned Business Founders

Entrepreneurs always face challenges, and those who come from groups that have historically been marginalized—minorities, women, and gays—can face additional roadblocks in the business world. Some find the marketplace a level playing field on which their status doesn't matter, as it might if they were trying to climb the corporate ladder. Others who face discrimination in their industries tackle it as they would any other obstacle. We asked 14 successful entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds what, if any, additional challenges they have faced, and what advice they can offer to entrepreneurs starting out today. Flip through this slide show for edited excerpts of these conversations.