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.

Mariette McCray

My favorite quote or affirmation is “Normalize Miracles”. This is because it is a reminder to myself and ladies going through their fertility journey that miracles are actually happening every day all around us. If you can shift your mindset to believing this and knowing that miracles are happening for you too, then you can ease into the fertility journey more. It is a beautiful way to think. Read More>>

Ben Gomez

I Remember growing up poor and wanting a custom anime birthday cake when i was 7
I was a weird kid do i did not have many friends, so when the time came for my birthday my family would not get me this cool custom anime cake that i wanted because it was too pricey and it would be too big and no one would be able to consume it all since it was just us and i didn’t have enough friends for a party.
Bakery’s dont take custom order’s for cheap and custom cakes, at least back then Read More>>

Bailey Myers

During Covid I was doing a lot of baking. I loved Macarons and have always wanted to try making them. I was really involved in my church back in Wyoming and was apart of the ladies ministry. We were doing a retreat and I was apart of the Hospitality team. I weas making 400 cookies for the Women’s Retreat and some of them were macarons. Lets just say they didn’t look like macarons. more like woopie pies. But they tasted good! After the women’s retreat was over I had multiple ladies ask me if I took orders for macarons and if I would bake some for them.  Read More>>

Giselle Arieu

As a mom of four (12, 13, 14, and 15) and the owner of Culture Kids Spanish in Motion, I’d say the most impactful thing I’ve done as a parent is raising my kids bilingual.

It’s not just about speaking two languages—it’s about giving them the ability to connect with more people, think in more flexible ways, and carry an extra layer of confidence and cultural awareness. In today’s world, being bilingual is such a competitive advantage, and I see every day how it shapes their opportunities and perspectives. Read More>>

Michael DANIELS

Other than working for myself, the most important decision I’ve made that contributed to my success was fully trusting God with my journey. My faith has guided every transition, from being on the court as a coach to now expanding my impact beyond it. Today, I focus on developing young people not just as athletes, but as leaders in life. I do this through my PACCEE program—Passion, Accountability, Control, Confidence, Energy, and Effort—which I’ve built into classes, eBooks, and mentorship opportunities. Read More>> 

Yvette Lopez

When I think about the ripple effect one person can create, I see it every day in my work.

My journey began without mentors or a roadmap, just a deep belief that every person is born with unique gifts, even if they can’t see them yet. That lived experience is the heartbeat of my companies: Development Culture, LLC and Dev Culture, Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Whether I’m working with high school seniors, new graduates, retirees, or immigrants navigating a new country, my mission is the same: to help people unearth their superpowers, map out their possibilities, and build a life that honors their true potential. Read More>>

Melanie Brooks

“The system broken yep,
Let’s give them 8 classes but no mental help.
No break between man than crazy what you mean?
Broken children becoming broken adults that’s what I see…. Read More>>

Leila McGlothen

My Nana inspired me to start baking when I was twelve. I began making small treats with her, and that’s when I realized I loved baking. Also, the Kids Baking Championship inspired me after I saw kids baking at a young age, which made me think I could do it too. Trying new recipes helped me improve my baking skills. Read More>>

Mark

People often remember me as someone who lights up the room — always laughing, smiling, and bringing energy wherever I go. What many don’t always see, though, is the discipline and work ethic behind the scenes.

I take immense pride in my DJ and music production career. While I may not be headlining festivals (yet) or performing for massive crowds, the dedication I pour into my craft is unwavering. I spend countless hours refining mixes, producing tracks, and pushing myself to grow as an artist. Read More>>

Jess Stewart

Persistence has been the biggest factor in my success. I dedicate long hours to creating art in many forms and make it a point to stay active in the community through art markets and events. Showing up consistently, even when it’s challenging, and having the drive to keep pushing forward has helped me grow as an artist. Read More>> 

Flores Brothers

We’re from Dallas–Fort Worth, born and raised in a family where hard work wasn’t just taught—it was lived every single day. Growing up, we didn’t have a blueprint handed to us. What we had was hustle, family, and the drive to carve out our own lane. That upbringing shaped how we see the world: resourceful, resilient, and unafraid to bet on ourselves. Read More>>

Isai Beltran

The world is in a state of great change. Many think we are in the end times and I think there’s some truth to that. Apocalypse doesn’t necessarily mean “death and destruction” but rather, “lifting of the veil” or “revelation of truth”. Years of undoing mental programming and binging information have led me to my current worldview. I think that Earth is a kind of training ground though some consider to be hell, prison, and even a soul trap. Maybe its a mix of all these things.. I’m not sure, but at the very root of its function seems to be the idea of control imposed by means of deception or manipulation. Read More>>

Tony Gonzales

Pursuing a creative career felt like a natural extension of who I am. I’ve always explored artistic outlets — sketching, painting, and portrait work. That background gave me a strong sense of composition, balance, and storytelling, which naturally translated into photography. Creativity runs in my family as well; both of my parents have artistic leanings, and my older brother expressed his talent through graffiti. For me, photography became the medium that brought all those influences together, allowing me to blend artistry with real human connection. Read More>>

Christy St Andre

I have been obsessed with researching EVERYTHING my entire life. I remember back in the 90’s, when I was in my late teens, I had to get an antibiotic for tonsillitis. I literally bought a super thick book titled “prescriptions”, then read everything that I could about what I was prescibed. Over the next few months I read that entire book, simply because I wanted to be completely informed with any and all information regarding any prescription that might ever be prescribed for myself or anyone that I knew.  Read More>>