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.

Amber Bechthold

I’ve worked in the aesthetic field in just about every role you can imagine — from front office coordinator to office manager, operations manager, and eventually as a licensed aesthetician on the provider side. Wearing all those different hats gave me a 360-degree view of the industry and confirmed that aesthetics was where I belonged. Read More>> 

Chelse Freeman

I’ll be honest—there have been plenty of moments when I felt ready to call it quits. I’ve told my husband more times than I’d like to admit that maybe I should just go get a 9–5 job where the weight of success isn’t 100 percent on my shoulders. But after the tears and frustration pass, I always find myself pressing forward, because I know I couldn’t forgive myself if I walked away from this dream I’ve poured so much into. Read More>> 

Viji Venkataguru

The most important thing I have done as a parent is to let go of control. Most times control comes from a place of fear, past trauma, insecurity and anxiety . These emotions are normally projected on immediate family members, when anything goes wrong or goes in a way that we didn’t anticipate it would. While adults around us cope our projections differently, the children are most impacted. Even though most kids, due to the love and connection they have with the parents, adapt to their parents’ emotions, on a long run, this becomes a part of their personality. Read More>> 

Marisela Lugar

I am inspired by nature and children. I love to see how a new special hand crafted garnment brings them and their mamas joy! Most children light up when they see their personalized gift especially with their name on it and the babies just look do adorable in them. Read More>> 

Zeke Forever

Music has always been in my life, ever since I was a kid. So I will always be inspired by Pop and R&B music. I think working on the new era of music, I was really inspired by the idea of creating a space where I could put everything I’m feeling, everything I’ve learned, into one project. It’s about building a world that feels honest to me, sonically and emotionally. Read More>>

Esther Hambolu

I’m happiest when I’m surrounded by good energy. Whether that’s laughing with my friends at a field day, dancing at a club with Afrobeats blaring, or getting sweet messages from people who believe in me and my content. I love building community and bringing people together because it reminds me that joy multiplies when it’s shared. Read More>> 

Elisabeth Victoire

Intentionality. It’s important to me to build a brand and products that reflect my principles. Creating functional, high-quality foods that genuinely support people’s wellness and running a business that gives back to the community. Intentionality drives every decision at Old Mill Goods: from thoughtfully sourcing ingredients to telling a story with purpose, and building a brand people can trust. Read More>> 

Danielle Hodges, Sammi Flores, And Cassidy Younghans

One piece of conventional advice we disagree with is the idea that children need to be constantly managed, directed, or kept on a strict path in order to succeed. Traditional wisdom often says that kids won’t learn or grow without heavy oversight—but we’ve seen the opposite to be true. When children are trusted, given space to follow their interests, and supported in making real choices, they flourish in ways that are deeper and more meaningful than any prescribed curriculum could produce. Read More>> 

Happy Akpom

One piece of conventional advice I completely disagree with is the idea that creatives, especially content creators need to have a niche. I hear it all the time: “Just find your niche and stick to it.” And I get why people say it as it can help with marketing or growth but for me, it feels limiting. I don’t want to be trapped in a box that forces me to only express one side of myself. Creativity is fluid, messy, and multifaceted, and I want my content to reflect that. Read More>> 

Rachel Scruggs

My end goal is to bring brands to life through in-person experiences and activations. I’ve spent over six years in marketing, building the online presence for brands, and while I love what I do digitally, I know the real magic happens when people can interact with a brand in person. COVID showed us how much we crave connection, and there’s no better way to connect with your favorite brands than through experiences that are fun, memorable, and personal. Read More>> 

C. Maesher

I am from PG County in Maryland. I grew up in a large family, and my dad had a huge influence on my interest in music. One of my favorite memories is of him driving us to school as we listened to mixtapes of his favorite songs which included contemporary R&B, hip hop, funk, and reggae. This definitely shows up in who I am today as a musician and vocalist who loves to explore different sounds and showcase appreciation for other musicians’ works when I perform with my band. Read More>>