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.

Teresa Perretta

As a former Vice President of a fast-growing start-up restaurant group, I repeatedly noticed the need for additional leadership in business development every time we opened a new restaurant. Whether it be strategic planning, project management for design and construction, building new leaders, developing a team, setting up operations, activating marketing and public relations, or performing the heavy lift through market entry, the amplified need for support was relevant. While a mature restaurant group may have resources to mitigate the turbulence, most independent restaurant groups do not. Read More>>

Yolanda Owens

I used to think of work-life balance as a concept like a balancing scale. It is not. it’s more like hydraulic pistons. One day my priority and time will go toward my family, another day or week, that will shift more toward my work. Work-life balance is a series of vicissitudes for various parts of your life. The question is are you guided by a slate of values that those around you, whether they are on the upper or lower end of your time and energy, they know where you stand? Read More>>

Carlisa Hayes

When I started my art business, my goal was to find ways to use my creativity to make a difference while also building a foundation for my own career. I graduated from Columbus College of Art & Design with a BFA in Graphic Design in 2020, right at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the world shut down and job opportunities uncertain, I took time to reflect on what I truly enjoyed. That led me to create custom outline canvases for people to paint during the pandemic, which not only gave me purpose but also brought joy to others. From there, I realized the potential impact my art could have, and that’s how my art business was officially born. Read More>>