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.

Chloe Carter

One of my favorite go-to quotes is “you’ll catch more flies with honey than with vinegar.” Kindness and approachability both go a long way when it comes to business relationships, entrepreneurship and networking. You can be the smartest person on a team or in a room, but if you lack basic emotional intelligence and empathy, you’ll find it difficult to grow in your career. Relationships are so central to business and career success; it’s impossible to reach the next level without first mastering the art of kindness and emotional intelligence. Read More>>

Arrian Curry

I think the answer lies in your ‘why.’ When things get hard—and they will—it’s natural to ask if it’s even worth it. But for me, I’ve learned that if the reason I started still holds weight, then I have to keep going. There’ve been times I’ve felt stuck, doubted my creativity, or questioned whether I was making a real impact. But I always came back to this: I didn’t come this far to only come this far. Read More>>

Rowena

My personal charm is wrapped up in my impulsivity and spur of the moment experiences. Because I wear my heart on my sleeve, I am all too quick to feel before I think. So, taking risks is basically engrained in the fabric of my being.

I can’t fully explain how and why I am so inclined to do what most people aren’t willing to do. I love to diffuse a socially awkward moment with warmth and/or comedy. I live for a hard cold cold call in hopes it closes with a sell. I get a high when the camera light turns red or the recording sign blaringly shines “ON AIR.” If it’s uncut, unedited, or unscripted raw footage, I’m here for all of it! Read More>>

Erica Carter

I’ve spent my entire career in real estate. Most recently I was the Vp of sales for the oldest private builder in Texas. Real estate is all I have known and I have been good at it. Last month I took the biggest risk of my life by leaving the comfort of that career to focus full time on Prayers and Pilates. It’s scary and exciting all at once but that’s what makes it worth it. God has called me to reach people by blending faith and fitness and the first step was leaving my executive salary and putting my faith in him. Read More>>

Kaylee Fifer

I have always been a time and goal oriented person due to my upbringing of being a collegiate athlete. Forcing myself into having strict timelines and setting realistic goals has played a pivotal role in making steps forward, organizing my time effectively and having success along the way. Being able to set a schedule, stick to it and have intentions for myself is not only satisfying but encourages me to keep moving forward on some of those “harder days.” Read More>>

Bronson Schwartz

Honestly, just staying consistent and putting in the work every single day—even when I didn’t feel like it. Whether it’s getting in the studio, playing shows, organizing events, networking, handling social media or marketing, I’ve been grinding behind the scenes. One thing I’ve learned that’s helped me push through the slow seasons is this: opportunities come in waves. Don’t get discouraged if it feels like nothing’s “happening” right now. Keep building your craft and your brand, because the momentum always comes back around. At the end of the day, it’s been a mix of passion, persistence, and surrounding myself with people who have the same mindset. Read More>>

CMC Collective

What makes me happy is seeing people from all walks of life come together through our shared passion for cars. Whether it’s at our events, on our socials, or just out in the community, it means a lot to watch ‘the collective’ grow and have a positive impact on Cyprus’ car culture. That sense of unity, purpose, and progress is what drives us. Read More>>

April Littmann

A lot of people still think interior design is just about picking out pretty furniture and arranging accessories, and while that can be part of it, that’s really just the tip of the iceberg. What we do at Neighbor Interiors goes way deeper.

Our design process is highly technical and incredibly detailed. For each project, we build a full design book that specifies every finish, fixture, and material in the home. We’re talking detailed room-by-room schedules that clearly communicate to the builder and trades what’s going on the floors, the walls, which hardware goes where, and all the way down to the grout width and color. Read More>>

Tosin Opaleke

By the end of my career, I want to be globally recognized as a transformative figure in African entertainment, storytelling, and cultural influence. I want to build a multi-platform legacy that spans comedy, live events, television, and business, all rooted in authenticity and excellence. My mission is to establish institutions that nurture talent, shift narratives, and amplify African voices worldwide. A core part of my journey is empowering and mentoring younger people — helping them find their voice, believe in their dreams, and create boldly. I want my work to inspire joy and fearless self-expression across generations. Read More>>

Mati Fombang

I think a lot of people can relate to wanting to control outcomes and their environment..it’s human nature. But the consistent theme across all of my experiences, from corporate to nonprofit to tech and now running my own business, has been surrender. Surrendering to change, and learning to flow with transitions instead of resisting them, because transitions are inevitable.

Entrepreneurship has a way of holding up a mirror. It shows you your habits, your fears, what drains you, and what energizes you. It asks you: What really aligns with who you are at your core? I’ve gone through transitions I wanted—and others I thought I didn’t. But all of them taught me that while things may ebb and flow, my habits and mindset need to stay grounded. Read More>>

Amanda Soukoulis

I don’t believe in work-life balance. The term “balance” suggests a teeter-totter where professional success must come at the expense of personal fulfillment, or vice versa. Instead, I champion work-life harmony. When I’m taking care of myself and serving others authentically, both my personal and professional lives flourish together.

I used to embrace nonstop hustle culture until a health crisis forced me to reevaluate everything before starting my business. My only option was to slow down and apply what I call my “AAAs”: What could I automate, abolish, or assign outward? I stopped believing I needed to work on my weaknesses and instead focused on leveraging my strengths. Read More>>