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.

Briana Burton | Founder & Project Director

I founded Hems & Brims because there is an urgent need for change in the fashion industry. There is a long history of disparity within fashion. Countless Black fashion creatives have been overlooked despite their tremendous impact on the industry. Our talents deserve to be recognized and celebrated. Read more>>

Porcilla “Ziggy” Charlton | Mogul

To me, success is achieving the desired visions and goals you’ve set for yourself, resulting in happiness. Maximizing your potential and environmental influences, and being able to overcome negative aspects thrown at you, is all success to me. While I am still setting goals for myself, this year I celebrate 20 years in the modeling industry and very much consider myself successful… Read more>>

Asheena (Shelly) Davis | Business Owner

Honestly, there is no giving up for me. I’ve always believed anything worth having, is worth the fight. I may slow down a little, but giving up is not an option for me. If something is not working for me, I re-evaluate and make necessary changes. Then, I move forward. Read more>>

Roselyn Omaka | Creative Director of Bolanle Media and COO of Sinc Healthcare

When I’m faced with the decision to keep going or move on, I always come back to my purpose -to help spread as much light as possible into the world. I started this journey to use media as a force for good, to inspire people, and to leave a lasting impact on the world. Read more>>

Melanie Johnson

From an early age, I was taught the value of independence and the importance of hard work. Starting in my late teens, I embraced these principles and have consistently proven to be reliable and self-sufficient. A pivotal moment in my journey was reading “Swimming with the Sharks.” The advice within its pages resonated deeply with me: to truly succeed and stand out, you need to outwork the average person. If others are working eight-hour days, I was determined to put in nine. This mindset has been a guiding force throughout my life and career. Read more>>

Yolanda Barratsingh | CEO- Suckafree Sage Men’s Aromatherapy Company

Zag by Marty Neumeier: Our branding and marketing strategy is built on the Zag process, which helps create radical differentiation from others and identify white space within markets. There is a process for designing a brand that Marty Neumeier teaches, and it’s exactly what we’ve executed on. If anyone reads his book, you will clearly identify our Zag. Read more>>

Angel Dweh | Singer -Songwriter

I draw inspiration from life’s beautiful moments spent with my family, friends, and my devoted
fans, whom I lovingly refer to as “Angels.” The vibrant music, sounds, and diverse cultural
heritage of Liberia, Africa, also deeply inspire me.
Growing up in a Krahn ethnic household in Liberia exposed me to various languages spoken by
different Liberian tribes. This multicultural upbringing has greatly influenced my journey as a
singer-songwriter and dancer. Inspired by my parents’ spirit of giving and their dedication to
helping others, I’ve come to understand the importance of making a positive impact on society. Read more>>

Pat McNeely | Creaive Director/ Designer/ Illustrator

What makes me happy is seeing the creative process come together. The idea that begins as a “what if” then grows into a final end product. I’m lucky to have a dual outlet for creative projects. As a creative director, I design and create broadcast animation, visual effects, and commercials. Additionally, I paint and illustrate to release that part of my brain. Read more>>

Miguel Rosas | Cinematographer

The end goal is to travel the world and create videos everywhere I go! One of my biggest dreams is the chance to visit different places around the world and experience different cultures there is. To make this answer short I want to become a full time videographer and travel the world! Read more>>

Lautaro Monardo | Visual Effects Artist

One of the most important lessons that my career has taught me is to do the simple things right and keep moving forward. I played tennis my whole life and I attribute a great part of my values and work ethic to the sport. It is a sport where size and strength do not matter as much as good technique. Dedicating countless hours to the sport and the technique behind every stroke has taught me the importance of working on my craft. Also to enjoy perfecting my craft. It happens sometimes that we are presented with a very complex and difficult task it can be daunting. At the beginning we might not know how to do something, but I always tried to do the simple things right and move forward from there. The solutions to many problems will start to appear as we move slow and steady, there will also be other people along the way who will guide us and provide us with tools to solve these problems. I always tried to listen and be humble while learning something new. By doing the simple things right and keep moving forward, I believe I’ve found a good formula to embark on a daunting task. Read more>>

Simone R. Johnson | Founder of Dear Future Husband & Wife And Editor and Chief of The Journey 2 “I do” Magazine

The most important lesson my business/career has taught me is that words mean nothing; you have to have things in writing. Written agreements provide clarity, accountability, and protection for all parties involved. Read more>>