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.

Mikaela Hunt | Chief Communications Officer

If you’re not in the communications and media industry, you’re probably not aware of all the different ways you can tell a story for maximum impact on your audience. The use of video, sound, the written word, special effects and more all go into a story that inspires movement on behalf of your client, customer, patient and more. The combination created can be unique to your organization when working with the right professional who understands your organization’s mission and unique selling proposition. Read more>>

Christie Duffy | Founder & Creator of Your Only Earth Sustainable Skincare

Most people outside the skincare industry don’t realize the major issues with greenwashing. There is an enormous amount of unnecessary ingredients, including harmful chemicals, in many skin care products today. This includes the “natural” brands, too. Lastly, there is overuse of plastics among skincare companies and this needs to change. We know better, so we should be doing better, right? Read more>>

Jordan Lacy | Hair stylist

Letting my salon go Read more>>

Brenna Detwiler | Artist & Designer

The simple answer? I pursue a creative career and a creative life because I truly enjoy creating. Creating to me is play. It’s extremely fun and it is SO satisfying. I’m a graphic designer for work, an illustrator on the side, and have recently become an enthusiastic glass artist as well. I find the most fulfilling part of my work to be in the final stages of creation – when all of the struggle and the experimentation begins to come together into one cohesive thought. I love surprising myself and have recently been pushing myself to leave my comfort zone. Read more>>

Kenyatta Crisp | Photographer & Fine Artist

“For me, creativity has always been my way of understanding and expressing the world around me. As a Black artist, I see art not just as a form of self-expression and an extension of myself. Pursuing an art career has given me the opportunity to explore and celebrate my cultural heritage, confront social issues, and contribute to positive change in my community. It’s a powerful medium through which I can share stories, evoke emotions, and connect with people on a deeper level.  Read more>>

Erin Nagle | Esthetician

I’d say my work life balance has definitely improved since the start of my career. I love to travel, which sometimes is hard while having a full clientele-but I have come to realize it helps me to not experience burnout. This past year I’ve been able to take vacations it least once a month, all thanks to my clients & it truly makes coming back to work more enjoyable. There are still events I miss or activities I don’t get to attend, but having clientele that you truly enjoy servicing, makes your job much more rewarding. Read more>>

Jeanclaude Ba | Self taught Chef, professional boxer, professional dreamer

Yes. My favorite quote is actually from finding Nemo. “Just keep swimming” ….. since starting this journey there have been so many points where I hit rock bottom and didn’t know how I would get through things. Getting denied loans, denied properties for the brick and mortar, etc. For some reason this is the quote that always pops into my head. Everything will always work out if you just keep moving forward, just keep trying, just keep working. Just keep swimming. Read more>>

Trish Smith | Pet Partners Registered Therapy Animal Team

“The purpose of life is to contribute in some way to making things better” – Robert F. Kennedy I love this quote. No matter what you have or who you are, everyone can do something to help others. It takes very little to be kind. Read more>>

Melanie Buchanan | Certified Cosmetic Formulator and Licensed Hemp Producer

After the shutdown, I decided not to return my daughter to public school, and to homeschool instead, That decision then ultimately led to the starting of this company, which in turn, inspired my daughter to start her own company. At 12 years old, she has been selling at markets for three years alongside of me, and has made quite a decent amount of money. More importantly, she has learned more from this experience than any curriculum we’ve used in our studies, and the knowledge she’s gained has been invaluable. Read more>>

Bre Oriolo | Interior Decorator

I started this business in reaction to losing my husband. Great loss + grief is a catalyst to taking a deep look into your life. “Tell me what it is you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” -Mary Oliver When you realize just how precious life is, you want to make sure you’re spending it doing something you love. I thought I was going to be in the education field my whole life. I realized, though, that I wanted flexibility and freedom. I wanted to work, and I also wanted to become a mom and be able to have a career that supported flexibility and freedom with that. Read more>>