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.

Jacob Brinnand | Martial Arts Master

Hello everyone, my name is Jacob A. Brinnand, and I am what you would call a lifelong martial artist. I’ve dedicated myself to the pursuit of mastery in the martial arts, both personally and professionally. Some people never aspire to teach—they just want to excel at fighting. Teaching, however, is a very distinct skill. It’s not simply about getting paid to train; it’s about patience, breaking down complex concepts into digestible parts, and building students up from the ground up. Read more>>

Latasha Ingram

I’m a Native Houstonian, born and raised in the beautiful city of Houston with family from different areas of Lousianna. My southern roots have embedded a great deal of knowledge and tradition within me. I couldn’t be more grateful and thankful for my upbringing. I was a grandparents kind of kid, growing up mostly with my grandparents I quickly learned from all the lessons that were taught through daily encounters. In which I often live by those intricate lessons and experiences! Read more>>

Danna Gadalla

One of the most important lessons my career in teaching Pilates has taught me is the value of relationships. When I went through the sales program at the University of Houston, my professors always emphasized that ‘our network is our net worth.’ Being naturally sociable, I learned not only to leverage my existing relationships but also how to make lasting impressions on my clients and community. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to be where I am today. Many of my clients show up for nearly every event, supporting and sharing in my successes, while also standing by me during tough times or moments of self-doubt. If it weren’t for the relationships I’ve built, I wouldn’t be where I am today—and I certainly wouldn’t be enjoying it as much. Read more>>

Kimberly May

One of the most effective habits I’ve developed in running my business is the ’10-minute rule ‘. If a task can be completed in less than 10 minutes, I handle it immediately. This practice prevents small tasks from piling up and crowding the workspace. More importantly, it frees up the creative space, allowing ideas to flow and business operations to run smoothly. The productivity boost from this habit can have a positive impact across the entire business. Also, cleaning all my workspaces twice a week is a small and fast habit that keeps everything neat. A cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind; all it takes to refresh is a tidy place to work. Read more>>

ZAIN MOHAMMED

My biggest inspiration was Anthony Bourdain. He was the first celebrity chef to show to the world that it is ok to enjoy food that is not geared towards tourists and that are hole in the wall. The stuff he said really resonated with me, since I grew up going to small hole in the wall places in Saudi Arabia. I followed it when I went to Dubai last year. Most people like to splurge throughout the trip. I was able to find really delicious food that was under $10 (though I did splurge twice) Read more>>

Jayveon Jackson

STILL I RISE LLC is rooted in the belief that hip-hop has the power to cross cultural boundaries and impact communities in ways no other genre can. Our mission is to help the next generation harness this power by teaching them not only the artistic side of hip-hop but also the critical behind-the-scenes roles like videography, production, marketing, and management. We want to create opportunities for students to see beyond the spotlight and realize that their passions can lead to real careers within the industry. Read more>>

Favour Ayozie ( Shop Akachii)

“At Shop Akachii, we’re more than just a fashion brand. We’re a celebration of African heritage, a platform for creativity, and a force for positive change. Read more>>

Kenneth Harris Iii | Licensed barber/ social media influencer

I feel like taking risks is very important when you want to grow in your career or anything else in life. Taking risks in my life/career may have seemed confusing at the time but when you get the outcome you want from taking that risk it all makes sense. I’ve taken several risk in my career, I’ll never forget when I first jumped into the barber world I thought I would need a job as well , So I got interviewed at a hospital basically working in the cafeteria and taking the patients food long story short they never called me back for the job so that forced me to put one hundred percent effort into my craft, I could’ve looked for another job but instead I stepped out on faith which is a risk because you don’t know the outcome. Read more>>

Ekemini Ekwere

My business, Hwy6Studios, helps the community by delivering high-quality events and offering our expertise in fashion design, film production, photography, and modeling. Over the past year, we’ve become a trusted pillar in Houston’s culture, thanks to the success of our Phase 2 and Phase 3 pop-up shops, which attracted over 1,000 visitors and helped clothing vendors generate significant revenue, with some averaging $5,000 in sales. Read more>>

Alicia Briggs

In my personal journey, giving up meant dying. Giving up meant staying bed bound. Giving up meant never being active with my kids again. Giving up meant not living a life I had visioned for myself. Giving up was a non negotiable. I had to keep going or else. Read more>>

Lindsey Jenschke | Retail Manager and Farmers Wife

The idea initially came to us and then we just took it from there. When my husband and I first started working for the family farm people would stop and ask us if the could pick their own peaches from the trees. At first we thought who would want to do that? But ultimately it is the backbone of our business now as we are a primarily U-Pick farm. We have expanded from just peaches to strawberries, blackberries, pumpkins, flowers, and Christmas Trees. Read more>> 

Gabby Ring

Candlelight Coaching is the name of my company. Let me explain the meaning behind my business name. Most people are in pain unnecessarily and normally business leaders are high achievers and push through that pain. However there are times when fear, burn out, frustration, and stress impact a person’s mental and physical health to an extreme. An event occurred where someone died by suicide and left behind not only a large family but a letter that indicated it was due to their work situation. Read more>>

Sarah Coupland | Social Media Manager & Marketing Agent

Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can, or you think you can’t – you’re right.” And it’s so true. Our mindset can either be our biggest limitation or our greatest asset. When we believe in our ability to tackle challenges, we unlock the potential to do things we never thought possible. It all starts with the confidence to put our minds fully into what we want to achieve. And I have lived by this with my business. We are our only limit, and we never know if something will work until we try. Read more>>

Kellyannette Alspaugh | Lifestyle Boutique Owner

In 2006 I battled Ovarian Cancer, I spent 8 days in a coma,,, upon waking my daddy was laying in my bed crying and praying,,, and as daddy opened my hospital room drapes the very thing that came to my heart & mind was a favorite Bible verse of mine. Read more>>