Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Samantha J García | Floral Designer & Event Planning

There are many steps we take that ultimately lead us on a path to the next chapter in our lives. I jumped into the wedding industry in 2021 out of sheer luck when I responded to a job posting for a wedding and event floral company. With my background in administration and law, I knew I would be a great fit behind the scenes. It was no surprise to me that I came to love working with florals and being on-site, watching an event come to life instead of staying in the office. As anyone in the wedding industry knows, it is not for the faint of heart.  Read more>>

Mariam Kamara | Social Media Manager & Clinical Advisor

Mix it Media came from this desire to lean into everything I love and take a chance on myself. I’ve always been passionate about creating—whether it’s curating the perfect social media feed, exploring new destinations, or sharing stories through my blog. I knew I wanted the freedom to do what lights me up while helping others grow along the way. So I thought, why not build something of my own? Read more>>

Shahnah Holt | CEO/Owner

The thought process behind starting my business was rooted in my desire to support the parents of the students I taught. In the beginning, I helped families by purchasing clothes and school supplies to alleviate some of their financial burdens. As a single parent, I fully understood the challenges of ensuring your children have everything they need—whether it’s for school activities, projects, birthdays, or other essential moments. At times, I’d ask my kids if we could celebrate Christmas in January or February, so we could help other families during the holiday season, and they were always supportive of the idea. Read more>>

Courtney Hayek | Fractional CMO & Marketing Strategist | Founder, J&H Creative Consulting

In the fast-paced world of marketing, I saw a need for change—and I knew I could deliver it. After spending over 15 years in marketing and leadership roles, I’ve worked with more marketing professionals and agencies than I can count. Time after time, I watched as they made big promises about results, leads, and revenue growth, only to underdeliver. It became a pattern: these agencies would pitch impressive-sounding strategies, yet when I asked data-driven questions about their methods, they rarely had answers. After years of hoping things would improve, I realized I could create a solution that genuinely served business owners. Read more>>

Jessica Meers, Phd | Clinical Psychologist & Sleep Specialist

In a word: freedom. Since becoming a mom I realized how valuable my time is, given how limited it is now. I could no longer work all hours of the day and night and I knew I needed better balance. I realized that the best way to do that was to take complete control over my career. Any time I spend away from my kids needs to have meaning and value behind it, otherwise it is not worth it for me. I truly love helping people get better sleep and live healthier lives, so it feels awesome to be able to do that on my own terms. Read more>>

Sebastien Lutomski | Parkour Gym Owner & Coach

There is definitely a hole in the Houston market for parkour if it’s the 4th largest city in America and doesn’t have a major, indoor parkour gym. If Believe Commit Achieve can be successful in the Woodlands, I can be successful in Houston. Read more>>

Holli May Thomas | Mixed Media Artist

I was nearing the end of my first career as a public high school English teacher here in the Houston area and mulling over what the word “retirement” meant to me. I still had a fire in my belly filled with energy and passion and knew that I wanted to expand my horizons and work on my other interests of painting and creative writing. So I studied and researched on how to make it happen and here I am! Read more>>