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.

Peter Petties

My favorite quote is: ‘My biggest fear is looking back at my life one day, thinking about the things I wish I had done.’”

That line hits home for me because I’ve built my life around pushing boundaries, personally, professionally, and physically. Whether it’s pursuing a Doctorate in Chiropractic while managing large-scale IT projects or stepping into a cage as a professional MMA fighter, I’ve chosen paths that require discipline, risk, and resilience. Read More>>

Chynelle Brownlee

My favorite quote is “ make it make sense”
Logically thinking, anything that makes sense will evolve. Anything that doesn’t make sense I try and stay away from. Let’s be clear, nothing good comes from a place of confusion. Read More>>

Nicole Connell

There are so many chapters women walk through on the path to and through motherhood: Infertility, loss, grief, trauma, role balancing and burnout, and often a complete lack of self-care while juggling a million responsibilities. Traditional healthcare doesn’t leave room, especially within the constraints of insurance reimbursement, to care for women on an in-depth level. There’s rarely time to ask the deeper questions, to listen closely, or to hold space for all the fear and uncertainty that comes with each chapter. Read More>>

Elizabeth Forster

To be honest, the answer to this question is simple, I chose me. The decision to choose me over anything else was the best decision I have ever made. Prior to entering the world of entrepreneurship, I held onto an identity that prioritized what I did verses who I am. For over 10 years I pursued veterinary medicine as my career and to become a veterinarian and within that journey I assumed the role of becoming a veterinarian.  Read More>>

Maddie Cobb

I want to use my voice to speak for those who can’t. I’ve never been one to sit by and keep my mouth shut, and I want to use my craft to help speak up for underrepresented communities. I want to tell real stories, and I don’t want to sacrifice authenticity just to make an audience comfortable. Real life is ugly, sad, and uncomfortable, but it can also be beautiful and filled with joy. I want people to know that their stories matter, and that they are never alone. Especially for other creatives, I want them to know that you don’t have to change the entire world just to give your story and your characters the value that they deserve. If you only help one person, that’s still one person that you’ve helped. Read More>>

Marcus Brooks

Authenticity. When I began getting into the independent animation industry, one thing I didn’t particularly care for is the amount of oversight in the design process that pertained to marketability. A story is carefully crafted alongside its visuals, characters, themes, so on and so forth. So on my first project, being told “We can’t have three black protagonists on the cover because it won’t be good for marketing,” radicalized me pretty hard. Now that I understand more about marketing and the design process, I understand the symbiosis a little more, but above all else I want to deliver experiences that are as unique as they are quality. Read More>>

Elena Calderaro

What value or principle matters most to you? Why? The value that guides my work and my life is service through education. As someone who rebuilt her life from scratch after immigrating from Venezuela, I’ve learned the power of sharing clear, practical information—especially within communities that are often overlooked.

In the last few years, I’ve focused on creating resources in Spanish that help immigrants better understand complex processes. I don’t give legal advice, but I do believe in the impact of a well-organized guide, a workshop that answers common questions, or a community group where people feel heard. Read More>>