We were fortunate to catch up with some brilliant artists, creatives and entrepreneurs from throughout the Houston area and they share the wisdom with us below.

Grace Hernandez | Interior Designer & Creative Entrepreneur

I’ve thought about this one a lot. Over the course of my twenties, I’ve started 5 businesses and only one has actually stuck around. In my earlier twenties, I was pursuing starting a coffee business with some friends. Long story short, it never worked out, even though all the cards were initially in my favor. Read more>>

Morgan Colwell | Mama and Owner, Loved Beyond Measure Gifts

Not only am I a parent, I’m a girl mom. It’s a title I absolutely love, but also one that I have always felt comes with added pressures. Because when you have girls, you also have future women. And when you are raising the world’s future women, you also have to instill the knowledge that they are not less than in any way shape or form. Read more>>

Hilary Bresner | Licensed Clinical Social Worker

As a parent I want to believe I am shaping them as adults. My children have learned loyalty, respect and the value of healthy relationships. We talk a lot about our own support system and what we all need to succeed. I believe my children have learned what it takes to be a valuable person in society and what it takes to be a good friend and good brother.  Read more>>

Tallia A. Petrone | Ballerina and Choreographer

I find myself continuously inspired by history. When you look through cultures around the world, every society had a form of dance, many before they could even read and write. I think the art of storytelling, in and of itself, inspires me a lot too. One of my favorite poems is The Iliad. Read more>>

Bruna Pereira | Visual Artist and Muralist

I’m inspired by the the concept and the passion in the Naïve (Naïf) movement, specially from Brazil and Latin America. For many year I belittled and discredit my work as an artist for not being an academic trained painter. The insecurity of not having a university degree to prove or legitimize what I was yearning to ilustrate delayed my idendity process. Read more>>

Geri deGruy | Fine Artist

1. I’m an avid learner! I read about art, look at art, go to an art critique group, scavenge for new techniques, observe design and color in my daily life. I’m studying and learning as I go about living each day. 2. Taking risks as I work, something I prefer to call “play”, is not only the reason I can make interesting art, but It’s the reason creating is incredibly fun.  Read more>>

Luke Fischer | Owner and Operator of Luke William Productions LLC, Audio Engineer, Musician, Content Creator.

Two habits that have significantly contributed to my success are consistency and enthusiasm. Consistency is the cornerstone of achievement. By consistently working towards my goals day in and day out, I’ve been able to make steady progress and overcome obstacles along the way.  Read more>>

Rebecca West | Certified Nursing Assistant

“It’s business, it isn’t personal.” The idea that business isn’t personal simply provides justification for limiting our interactions with each other to surface level exchanges at best and at worst treating people poorly in the workplace because “it’s business”. It attempts to devalue human interaction into a simple exchange of commerce. Read more>>

Chad Olsen | Contemporary Artist|Painter

In 2017, I was living in NYC. On the surface, I appeared to be very successful, but I was burned out and was not happy. I recently became represented by Kiechel Fine Art in Lincoln, NE, and I was having trouble finding time to paint in the studio.  Read more>>

Audrey Payne | Writer and Hiking Enthusiast

About 10 years ago, I was dealing with a horrible spine injury. I had herniated a disc during a group exercise class and it made even the most mundane activities, like sitting at my desk at work, riding the metro, and walking down the street painful. Read more>>

Monique Esberry | Product Creator and Musician

Starting my business has been a journey that has taught me perseverance and self love. Initially when I began my journey, Ieas determined to help both people and pets that experienced severe skin issues. I learned how difficult it was to manage both channels and had to prioritize which market to provide products for. Read more>>

Caroline Rennequin | Artist

Several lessons… That some dreams do come true.
That evolving one’s professional activity is an opportunity for personal growth.
That the path is never easy… but it is essential to do everything possible to achieve one’s dreams! Read more>>