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.

Tyonia Janae | Entrepreneur & Private Chef

As an Private Chef, Caterer, Content Creator and Entrepreneur, I live a constant roller coaster of wins and losses. Consistency is the name of the game. As my journey has evolved over the year, I tend to take on victory more because even the losses are an opportunity to learn and grow. Ultimately, with anything anyone is pursuing in life, I think it’s important to ask oneself if you still have a deep passion and love for what it is you are pursuing. Have you met any goals since you started? Are you currently making money back from all your hard work or are you at least confident the payoff is going to happen? You finish what you start & keep going. Ultimately, I believe in myself and what I’m doing so I feel an obligation to make it happen. Laser focus, dedication, and consistency are usually gonna get you there at some point. Read more>>

Tyrone Dinh | Lifestyle Photographer

As a photographer, I’ve witnessed firsthand the power of photography in bringing joy and smiles to people’s faces. There’s something magical about capturing moments of genuine happiness, whether it’s a candid laugh, a shared glance, or a tender embrace. When people see these moments frozen in time through my lens, it often elicits smiles and evokes positive emotions. Read more>>

Chris Gilbert | Community Leader & Philanthropist of the Working Class

What am I inspired by? I am inspired by being able to help. Help what you say? anyone, anything and everything that needs help. Growing up, I worked and worked and worked. I know what the real is, I know what the struggle is. Rolling coins and paying for gas with change. Going a day or two without eating until I got paid. I did farm and ranch jobs, worked as security in a night club in Houston, Repossessed Vehicles and Performed multiple physical labor jobs until graduating from college. When I graduated and started getting good jobs that allowed to earn enough to start giving back I have. I like to consider myself the “Philanthropist of the Working Class” as I am always looking for things to support either financially, with my time or both. I have had many people from all walks of life in and from many different geographic areas help me out. Many people I didn’t even know who were complete strangers to me all for the pure kindness of it. One situation that always sticks out to me is when an elderly black gentleman came rushing over to me in his wheelchair moving his arms as fast as he could saying “Don’t do that, Don’t do that” “Your going to crack your block” “Start it up first” what it was is that my truck was overheating and I was about to pour water in the radiator before starting it back up. Situations like that and what seems like a million others is what inspires me to “Pay if Forward” to pay the kindness and helpfulness forward. I have always felt blessed by the the people who have came into my life and lent me a helping hand and I try to do the same thing back everyday. Read more>>

Gemma Garcia | MSW Candidate and Mental Health Advocate

Thinking about my death and contemplating what it is that I want to leave behind as my legacy has probably been one of the smartest things I have done in the last couple of years. At the end of 2021, I gathered with a few friends while we completed an extensive exercise during which we reverse-engineered our lives. This exercise allowed me to discover exactly what it is that I want out of mine. When I do eventually die (ideally a long, long time from now), I would like to leave behind a community; a space for women to find safety and strength to heal and move forward in their own lives. I want to be remembered as a loving mother, partner, and friend, as well as a prolific writer in my field. And, of course, if you’ll indulge me… I want to be remembered as a lot of people’s favorite psychotherapist, haha. Read more>>

Projectbabyjv | Recording Artist

The way that I was brought up alone I believe helped shape and mold me into the Man that I am today. Having that “Never Give Up’” attitude installed in me at a young age, is something that I still live by till this day. I don’t believe in ‘giving up’ or I “cant” do it, I just keep trying until I find a way to make it work. And that’s a mindset I’d like to believe that all the greats have in common. Read more>>

Khalill Ali | Creative Director/ Fashion Designer/ Stylist/ Model

It’s a very selective community but also much more open & accessible than others usually expect. it’s always more about who you connect with, rather than what you know about or are able to do Read more>>

YouGenious | The Misfit of R&B

To always be my most authentic self. To me, songwriting is therapeutic.
I have learned that under any circumstance, you must never lie to the doctor. The caregiver in this case is either the notepad or the microphone. And on the microphone, I only spit truth. No matter the case. Read more>>

Kathryn Clayton | Legislative Affairs Liaison, Attorney

Earlier, in my career, post school, post graduate and post law school the equation for work life balance really only contained those two parts. I had my one career to focus on and life was short hand for social activities and some self care. Now that I’m mid career and an entrepreneur the equation has expanded and life isn’t just a few social activities and a vacation lumped together. And even with the work side comprising of 2 businesses and the life side including my roles and mother, wife, daughter and friend the the balance sheet is not 50/50 and it doesn’t equal to 100. Read more>>

Mrs. Terell Hickman | Owner of Rell’s Real Fruit (M. Ed.)

My work life balance has changed immensely over the last 2-3 years. I was a full time law enforcement employee for about 10 years before deciding to move over to part time employment in banking. Taking a leap of faith, my support system, along with my drive to be successful I am able to prioritize my daily tasks in order to have a healthy work life balance. I have found that journaling & documents all notes in one place is extremely useful. I am a bit old fashioned, so I utilize the standard notepad and pen to keep my notes handy. Read more>>