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.

Carla Calderas

Healing wasn’t originally a business idea. It started as something I was searching for myself. As a teenager, I experienced pain, trauma, loneliness, and periods where I felt lost. There were times when I felt like I was drowning under the weight of it all. I knew I didn’t want to stay there, so I started looking for answers. Read more>>

Sarah Ziese

As a parent, the greatest impact I’ve had is helping my children navigate their emotions while showing them that growth comes through trial and error. I don’t strive to be a perfect example—I strive to be a real one. Read more>>

Joanna Suazo

As a single mom to a 7-year-old, I believe the most important thing I’ve done is lead by example. I want him to see that no matter how challenging life can be, it’s possible to pursue your goals with determination, faith, and hard work. Read more>>

Baylee LeBlanc

Believe it or not, building my business has been a series of choices that involved risk. There has never been a guarantee that it would succeed. Countless internal and external factors influence the success of a business, and while we can do our research, study market trends, and prepare as best we can, there are no guarantees. Read more>>

Marisela Jimenez

Making a difference in the lives of people. Because that is my purpose, and I enjoy what I do. Read more>>

Lydia McGlaun

With Mystic Brew, the idea wasn’t to just create a cafe, but I want to create a space where people feel seen, even if it’s just for a few minutes while they are holding a drink. I am starting small at markets and events, and what I found wasn’t just customers, it was community. People who were once strangers became familiar faces, then became friends. Read more>>

Jose Luis Osorio

I pursued a creative career because I like to tell stories with my camera. I like to document and create things from everyday life and bring a different perspective so people can appreciate the visuals. Read more>>

Tawnie Breaux

Great question. I think work-life balance changes throughout our lives. At different seasons, we naturally spend our time where we believe we’re needed most. Sometimes that’s building a career. Other times it’s raising a child, caring for our health, nurturing relationships, or simply finding ourselves again. When we’re young, we’re often trying everything. Read more>>

Heather Armijo

I’ll be honest, when I started my business 12 years ago, I was terrible at managing a balance between my work and personal life. At the time, I thought being fully booked meant working every day and being too busy to keep up. Raising kids of my own, I quickly realized this needed to change. Read more>>