Thinking through whether to start a business – whether to take the risk, whether to go out on your own – isn’t easy. So we asked some entrepreneurs we admire to tell us about how they thought through the process of starting a business.

Kevin Davidson | Business Development Officer

When I started in the Real Estate business, I was in Property Management. I needed to figure out how to get in front of Real Estate Agents and get their attention. My boss and I quickly realized that there is a gap missing in what Real Estate Brokers taught their agents. The Brokers do not teach their Agents how to grow their business. With my background in Marketing and my education from the University of Houston – Clear Lake, I decided to turn my knowledge into Continuing Education (CE) Classes with the Texas Real Estate Commission. Read more>> 

Ludmila Claro | President at Brazilian Women Foundation

I wanted to do something that could bring together the Brazilian community in Houston so that everyone could feel back home for a bit. We hope to accomplish this through events, concerts and the opportunity to help each other out. I also wanted to show a little more about Brazil to all the communities in Houston. Read more>>

Andre Kelton | Book reviewer

I started my Instagram page because I was previously in the book business as a Black bookstore entrepreneur running a store named Ourstory. And when I had to close the store, one of the things I missed most, was the conversation around books, and so I was hoping to replicate those conversations, debates, heated discussions in the IG space. I post about books that I’ve read, and I believe are worthy of being shared. I don’t just post books with pretty covers, but if I post it, I include a brief review of the book. Read more>>

Brianna Davison | Hair Replacement Specialist

My thought process was about the freedom of being able to do things on my own terms and freely pouring into my own visions. Read more>>

Ian Fry | Percussionist, Executive Director

I wanted to be able to make my own gigs rather than always be waiting for others to call me. Read more>>

Abrielle Brumit | Houston Hair & Makeup Artist

I grew up with an entrepreneurial father, spending many of my teenage years and summers working closely by his side. Watching him navigate the challenges and triumphs of running his own business filled me with admiration and curiosity. I was inspired by his knowledge and wondered what it took to achieve such success. This experience planted the seeds for my own entrepreneurial journey, fueling my desire to start and grow my own business. Read more>>

Yessica Arellano | Soft Play Area Creator

Almost a year after I lost my mom to lung cancer, I decided to start a side hustle to help me with the process of grieving. My mom would always say, “busy minds were better” and since I worked for a financial company for over 10years assisting small business owners start and grow their businesses, I felt comfortable starting one on my own little did I know that being in the front end of your own business is completely different than just advising. Read more>> 

Sahvanna Loge | Hairstylist & Content Creator

I’ve always been a “people person”, I love everything from meeting new people, to chatting for hours while they sit in my chair. I wanted to start something that I could build relationships daily, make an impact on peoples lives and make women feel beautiful. -And that’s exactly what I’m doing! Read more>>

Tangela Broussard | Goal Achievement and Accountability Coach For Mother’s and Wives

My thought process behind starting my life coaching business, Pathfinder’s Experience, was deeply rooted in my personal journey. I wanted to support women, especially mothers and wives, who aspire to achieve their goals but feel constrained by the demands of everyday life. After the birth of my second child, I found myself feeling stuck, overwhelmed, and lost. Like many women, I put my dreams on hold, struggling to find time and energy for personal goals amidst the responsibilities of motherhood and marriage. However, I remembered that before this challenging period, I had always been a self-motivator, driven by a strong sense of achievement. Read more>>

Kay Herbert | Fashion stylist , designer and journalist

My thought process behind my business is that I have always had a love for fashion since I was a little girl . I knew that I wanted to be in the fashion industry whether it was modeling , styling or designer. I love making people look and feel good. I believe that Fashion and Psychology go hand and hand because what you wear will boost your mood . I just honestly want to help others with the gifts God gave me. I build authentic relationships with each one of my clients. Read more>>

Adryn Mari

My business started out as a necessity. It was the pandemic; the edible landscape company I worked for was shutting its doors and I needed employment. So, I took a couple clients to continue maintaining their gardens and The Natural Healing Collective grew from there. I realized that the only way to explore all of my passions in a space that supported my needs as a POC woman was to become my boss and create a company that reflects and honors who I am. Read more>> 

Laurel Lampasas-Carroll | Founder & Creator of Life of Laurel

I always loved to create, but when my grandfather got sick, it became a form of self care for me. It got to a point where I started creating so much that it only made sense to start selling some! The choice to begin to donate 10% of sales to Alzheimer’s Research Foundation was a natural next step to do so from the origin story of what the business was created from, and something I love to do in remembrance of my grandfather’s life, too. Read more>>

Linda Reyes | Floral Designer

My endeavor was to spend more time with my growing family. So once I was in a position to quit my job at the flower shop, I did just that! Working as a small business owner allows me to be flexible with my family/work schedule, and to me that is invaluable. Read more>>

Brittnie Tran | Baker

I started creating cakes at the end of 2021, after stumbling upon a random cake decorating video on YouTube. I thought it was extremely relaxing and mesmerizing to watch them decorate these beautiful cakes, and since I have a pretty steady hand, I told myself – I can do that too! I fully baked and decorated my first cake that same week. I have always loved creating all things food in the kitchen, so having another hobby centered around that was exciting. After about a year of making plenty of cakes, the hobby started to become expensive and at the same time, people were asking me to sell them my creations. So naturally, Kalabar Cakes was born. Read more>>

David Barney | Graphic Designer / Artist

While I was still working for a startup creative agency, I remember most days I would come home and get into some deep talks with my wife in the kitchen. Conversations about starting our own business would always come up. We dreamed of it constantly, but could never step out and make it happen. The dream was always in our hearts and minds but the path was unclear until the agency fell through. Read more>>

Chris Ortiz, Natalia Salivia, Daniel Daniel Rengifo and J0shua Ricks

Ultimate Prospect was created to give underseen athletes a chance to shine and pursue their dreams of playing college sports with an athletic scholarship. Often, only the top athletes get noticed, leaving many talented players overlooked. Our goal is to change that. We provide amazing videos that showcase each athlete’s skills, along with in-depth interviews that allow them to share their story. Additionally, we create stunning graphics featuring their stats and a personalized logo, helping them build their own brand. Read more>>

Raymond Auzenne | Artist and Manager

It has alway been a goal of mine to be successful in the music industry. I initially I believed I was going to be making money by recording and releasing my own music. I learned the ins and outs of the studio and recording process out of necessity. I didn’t know it would take me further and expand my skills that surrounded creating music. These attributes later landed me in places and provided opportunities that would allow me to make a living working in the field of production. I decided to start an LLC to hold myself accountable. It gave me a perspective and drive to become successful in a space that I am well versed in and love. Read more>>