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.

Marissa LeJune

Working to create a business structure that benefited the season of life my daughter was in. All credit goes to the father of my daughter who helped me understand how important thinking about my daughters development and health would be affected based on how my day was structure. It took me a season or too for it to sink in but once it did I was able to scale in a way that benefited our family. For example, when I first started I originally offered dog walking.  Read More>>

 Judith Rios

I’m deeply inspired by God and wellness. God is the foundation of everything in my life—my peace, my purpose, and my strength. He’s at the center of who I am and how I live, and I truly believe everything good flows from Him. Wellness is another huge source of inspiration for me. It’s something I’ve studied and worked on intentionally in my own life, not just to feel good physically, but so I can show up fully for my family and friends, and truly enjoy the life I’ve been blessed with. Read More>>

Jezz Villanueva

For me, success is rarely a stroke of luck; it’s often the result of consistent habits and dedicated effort. Two habits that have profoundly influenced my journey are consistency and hard work.

Consistency is key. It means showing up day after day, regardless of how I feel or the challenges I face. This commitment to my goals has allowed me to build momentum and make steady progress. Hard work complements consistency beautifully. It’s not just about putting in hours; it’s about being fully engaged and striving for excellence in every task. I believe that hard work opens doors and creates opportunities. Read More>>

Kathleen Fomunung

The most important lesson I’ve learned on this journey is the power of protection and intentional stewardship—not just of your brand or intellectual property, but of your people.
Your brand is more than a logo or an Instagram grid. It’s your name, your reputation, your story. And it deserves to be protected fiercely—legally, emotionally, and operationally. That means being mindful of how your ideas are shared, how your work is presented, and how your team is supported. At Cloud Nine Creators, our intellectual property includes not just the creative designs we produce, but the systems, relationships, and energy that bring it all to life. Read More>>

Brandie Pyburn

I’m from Dallas, Texas — born and raised in a city that showed me both sides of life. My foundation was rooted in the church; I grew up surrounded by prayer, praise, and the presence of God. But like many, I also encountered the pull of the streets. I navigated two very different worlds — one filled with spiritual discipline, and the other with survival and street smarts. Read More>>

Irene Kwong

Work-life balance has always been a challenge for me, especially in the early days of Simply Gilded.
When I was first building the business, I was also raising two toddlers and working nearly full-time, which often meant long nights designing, fulfilling orders, coordinating with manufacturers, and answering customer emails—sometimes until 2 or 3 in the morning. At that stage, balance felt almost impossible. Read More>>