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.

Mark Travis Rivera

In many ways, becoming a full-time creative entrepreneur in 2023 has forced me to reckon with my understanding of resilience and what it means to honor my life’s calling. It could be that I was born prematurely or am stubborn as hell (hello, Taurus energy!), but giving up is not an option I allow myself to have. Throughout the last two years, when things felt impossible and doubt and fear began to weaken my faith in myself and the Universe, I would apply for a job here and there. Read More>>

Theo Sayler

Part of having a business is experiencing success as well as failure. Not everything is going to go exactly as planned and you have to know when to give up and pivot on certain concepts you have for your business, as well as for your own personal ambitions. Read More>>

Ludwidg “lulu” Louizaire

People and their stories inspire me. When I look at my life, storytelling has always moved me. Perhaps it stems from my parents’ journey—overcoming challenges as immigrants from Haiti and establishing themselves in America. That theme of resilience and paying it forward has shaped who I am and drives me to this day. Read More>>

Andrew Ziffer

I want my legacy to be one of impactful service—to the people I work with, to public education, and to the communities I serve.

Professionally, I have over 30 years of experience in information technology, and commercial real estate. Read More>>

Angelyn Moultrie

Legacy is a daunting idea. I try not to think about what I’ll leave behind to the world because my fear is that I’ll leave nothing. But after I thought about this question some more, I refuse to believe my existence would have no impact. This fear of irrelevance is not possible. Simply because everyone is someone and everyone has a legacy whether they want to or not. Read More>>

Nikka Sorrells

As a certified group fitness instructor, I absolutely love leading classes like POUND, Barre, and Strength Training, but POUND holds a special place in my heart. As a Tour Crew Brand Ambassador for POUND, I not only get to teach but also help spread the energy and community that makes POUND so unique. Read More>>

Anna Lonelle

Worship makes me happy!! Having the opportunity to set an atmosphere that glorifies God, encourages believers, and reaches lost souls brings me joy. There is nothing like knowing the power and impact of worship. Joy is the fruit of being in His presence and I am grateful that I get to facilitate worship and lead people to our creator. When I see people set free through worship, it truly makes me happy. I also love private/ personal worship moments. Read More>>

Mia Lawson

Oftentimes clients don’t realize how much thought and chemistry goes into hair color. We love to seem like miracle workers, but really, it’s just science. Say a client with dark brown hair comes in and they want blonde highlights, we have to think through whether or not bleach is eating through previous color. Read More>>

Susan Roberts

One aspect of my work as a public health professional and the author of Whimsky Works that may not be immediately apparent to outsiders is the powerful role storytelling plays in bridging the gap between health education and childhood development. Important topics like skincare, hygiene, emotional well-being, and healthy habits are often overlooked in both educational and healthcare settings. Unfortunately, children are not always taught these essential concepts in ways that resonate with them. Read More>>

Whitney Johnson

The most difficult decision I had to make was to get my child diagnosed with Autism. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do because I had very little support. Read More>>

Shanle Bowen

The impact of being in the room, face-to-face with someone is so much greater than you realize! With so many of us interacting with each other primarily through digital means – social media, text, video calls – it can be easy to go the convenient route and forego meeting in person. Read More>>

Kimberly Walker

I’m originally from a small town near University of Ole Miss in Mississippi called Oxford.

Growing up through the years.. I’ve realized I always had a creativity in my blood. I spent my high school years being the camera person for the school’s year book club. My love for capturing people didn’t stop there. Read More>>

Alarie

We are ALARIE, Arielle & Alanna Brown, hailing from the Washington, DC metro area. Our upbringing and background have played a significant role in shaping us into the artists we are today. Growing up in church, with our grandfather and uncles as pastors and our mother as a piano teacher, we were surrounded by gospel music from an early age. Read More>>

Tiffany Thomas

The beginning of a career in the hair scene can be a stressful time. It takes a few years to build a solid book of clients. Not only can it be daunting to get behind the chair and trust your own skills, it’s hoping that anyone and everyone that sits in your chair appreciates your skills and comes back. It takes marketing on social media, sending promotions, and taking any walk-ins. While the complete focus is on building your books, it can be hard to have work life balance. That concept doesn’t mean the same thing to everyone, so working for someone else can provide an extra challenge for curating that balance. Read More>>