Meet Kayla Cao | Founder of The Chrysalis Events

We had the good fortune of connecting with Kayla Cao and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Kayla, what principle do you value most?
Principle is everything to me. I truly believe that in any industry or endeavor that you embark upon, your principles need to be deeply rooted in the foundation that you build because as a person, you are constantly evolving, and as an entrepreneur, you will be molded and tested in many ways that may alter the way you do business, but there should be certain pillars that you do not compromise on. Four non-negotiable values that are at the backbone of my foundation are; Faith, Philanthropy, Integrity, and Humility. These four pillars are a way of life for me and the way I want my character to be reflected whether you meet me at the grocery store or in the board room. These are values that I will never compromise on because I refuse to allow anyone in my circle without a strong moral compass and a desire to pour back into the community.

What should our readers know about your business?
I started The Chrysalis Events in October of 2021. We are a balloon styling company based out of Houston created to transform your special day into a memorable event through balloons and backdrops. Truthfully, I had no idea what I was getting into when I first began. I have always been a creative person, so I got started by sketching my vision and then bringing it to life by cutting pipes, wood, painting, and blowing up balloons for friend’s and family events and parties. Funny thing, this wasn’t something I planned to turn into a business, I actually found myself posting on social media and then getting multiple inquiries which the inner entrepreneur in me could not turn down. This has taught me to see my value in the business world and I’ve had to learn a lot of time management and organizational skills since I am the full-time balloon stylist, a full time student in college and Real Estate school, as well as a part-time nanny, and cosmetologist. I wouldn’t say it was easy to build TCE since I am still in the process of building it, but the long hours and late nights are so worth it when I see the joy in the eyes of my clients. My goal as the owner of The Chrysalis Events is to truly transform your wildest dreams into a reality because I feel like everyone should feel special and celebrated for their birthday, anniversary, graduation, grand opening, and every other bit of life’s events. Although there wasn’t a written guide for me to follow, every inquiry has taught me and grown me as a leader and I want the world to know that I love and appreciate everyone for considering me to build a vision for those special moments in your life and it is my goal to make it as memorable as I can.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Let me first begin by saying that I LOVE Houston! I was born and raised in Houston and I truly would not have it any other way. Our culture is like no other. Come along, and let me be your tour guide for a weekend and we would 100% start with Brunch at Mi Casa. No that is not a restaurant, but literally my house! I love bringing people together and my mom always taught me that food was the way to everyone’s heart, so I would make Belgium Waffles, Pancakes, French Toast, Brown Sugar Bacon, Grits, Eggs, and lots of Fruit! Afterwards, I would either take you to the driving range at Memorial Park or teach you some golf at TopGolf! After an intense practice, I would take you to see my girls, Spencer and Blaise at Face Foundrié for a relaxing facial! Then, we would stop by Le Colonial for lunch and take a quick trip to Chinatown and stop for an Oolong Milk Tea at ShareTea on Bellaire. This would be followed by a little bit of shopping at my two favorite stores, Williams Sonoma and Sur La Table! For dinner, I would take you to North Italia for some delicious food! Afterwards, we would have to hit up one of Houston’s night markets/activities somewhere in downtown or even to Railway Heights to get some of my favorite Ice Cream from Scoop!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
This is a tough one for me because I have so many great mentors that I have met at different points in my life who have shaped the woman I am today, so let me narrow it down to a few. First and foremost, Ms. Osborne. She is one of my mentors and the founder of many different companies. She has not only taught me but has shown me that if you are intentional about your goals, you can accomplish any and everything. The next person I have to shout out is my other mentor, Brandon Montgomery. He is the founder of Forward and Beyond, a nonprofit organization that impacted my life tremendously. This is an organization that helped me overcome countless amounts of adversity and gave me the confidence to realize that the world is my oyster. One of my last shoutouts has to go to my high school business teacher, Ms. Omoruyi. She taught me the fundamentals of business and life. Every business idea I had was something we talked about and I am so grateful for her endless support, even in the moments when I wanted to give up. She is also the person that connected me with The Genesys Works organization, which is another nonprofit that I hold very dear to my heart because it was the seed that gave me an opportunity to work as a Commercial Services Intern at Williams and this was the internship that changed my life. My program coordinator, Xochitl, Director, Gary Venz, and the rest of the NWP team are a vital part of my success from their advice to the opportunities and support they continue to give me on every business endeavor I embark upon.

Instagram: @TheChrysalisEvents

Facebook: The Chrysalis Events

Other: Personal Instagram: @officialkaylacao

Image Credits
PhotosByTynaya