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.

Amy Kummer

Taking risks has been an integral part of owning my own business. Each decision, whether big or small, involves stepping into the unknown and facing potential challenges head-on. However, taking these risks has rewarded me with a valuable opportunity to trust in God to provide and guide me through uncertainties. I know that he will never fail me and that gives me the confidence I need to boldly make business choices that others may view as a risk. Read more>>

Tiffany Scales

11/30/10 I asked God not to wake me up in the morning without purpose. I woke up 12/1/10 from a dream and immediately went into action. By 12/10/10 I filed with the state as a nonprofit, my first poetry feature was 12/17/10 where people brought donations of hygiene items to attend, and 12 families received plentiful kits before Christmas. Read more>>

Kelly Connell

I am the first creative to break the mold in a family of educators and STEM professionals. My family also moved internationally several times throughout my childhood, so I was used to feeling like an outsider everywhere. Thankfully, wherever we moved, I found a band program to join, where I played my flute. Being in a band program always felt like coming home. My young world travels and multicultural music education ignited a lifelong love of learning, music, and creative collaboration as I grew. The countless hours I spent practicing, the joy of performing in front of an audience, and the friendships I formed through music are some of my favorite memories from childhood. When thinking about my life after high school, being a music major felt like the natural next step. Read more>>

Gayle Y. Fisher | Educator-Parent, Empowering the World of Learning Differences and Neurodiversity

My son was in deep trouble. He had almost died before age 2 in an anaphylactic reaction to fire ants. I fell into a very large hole of research and interventions. I really couldn’t sleep or eat. It was hard to breathe, all I could do to keep my head on straight. Early on, I started putting all I had learned onto my website, to help others, to collect my thoughts, to attempt to find peace of mind. Read more>>

Shaneisha Dodson | Doll maker & Producer

At this moment, the most important factor behind my brand is God. I pray about most things pertaining to my business/brand. If it’s meant to be, everything will work out. If not, God will close that door. Read more>>

Amber Lipscomb | Film Producer and Visual Designer

A guiding principle for me throughout my life has been to stay curious. As a creative, its crucial for me, to keep evolving, remain open, and listen to my inner truth. I cannot stay stagnant in my growth for too long and find the most inspiration when I push myself to explore new boundaries. Read more>>

Susanna Wang | Freelance Harpist & Music Educator

Over the past five years, my work life balance has shifted pretty dramatically. In my 20’s, I pushed myself to work a lot more and a lot harder. I think this is a common path for young professionals trying to make their way in the world. If there’s any time for putting in long hours and taking every bit of work that comes your way, it is while you are young and energetic. The fact that I enjoy my work does make it challenging to say no to good opportunities that come my way. Gradually, however, I was able to understand that taking care of myself is also important. I learned a lot about emotional health and self-care and started finding self worth beyond my work and accomplishments. It’s no coincidence that it was about five years ago that I met my now husband. We’ve been married for three years and are expecting our first baby this fall! These life changes have helped me re-evaluate priorities and adjust my expectations for the amount of work I can take while maintaining a healthy relationship with my husband and preparing for parenthood. I will always value the years devoted to building a career and driving all over TX to maintain teaching jobs at universities. Those opportunities have taught me valuable skills and placed me around wonderful musicians and colleagues. Now I find contentment in working closer to home, providing reliable and consistent instruction to my students, and enjoying meaningful jobs that perhaps aren’t as “glamorous” as I envisioned for myself at the start of my career. There’s no single right way to go about work life balance – there are different seasons of life for different roles and opportunities. In my current life stage, I am learning to lean into a more relaxed work life that doesn’t push me beyond my limits. Read more>>

Emily Dunleavy

When I first began my career as a therapist, I was full of enthusiasm and a touch of self-neglect. My passion for helping others quickly led to burnout as I became overwhelmed by the emotional needs of my clients while ignoring my own needs. The same passion that brought me to this career was now draining my joy and creating significant anxiety. Read more>>