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.

 TC Cryder

My initial desire to start DJing came from a love of so much weird and cool music that I was never hearing anyone around me playing out and wanting to bring a highlight to the artists and sounds that I personally enjoyed. I eventually started producing with an eye to performing live because of a desire to bring my own personal sounds out into my sets and to have a unique aspect of live performances that stand on their own without being part of any of my own productions or DJ sets. Read More>>

Whitney Prather

My favorite affirmation is “Rooted and Established.” I founded Yokefellow Creative in 2018 and transitioned to full-time in 2020, this affirmation has been my constant reminder that I am strong. I’ve drawn from my faith in God both at the start of my entrepreneurial journey and now in my role as a Director of Communication for a nonprofit.

What I love about this affirmation is its power in moments of uncertainty. Whether I’m facing a difficult decision, preparing for an important conversation, or navigating complex interactions, these words remind me that I’m grounded in something greater than myself. I often whisper it to myself as a reminder that regardless of the challenges ahead, my foundation remains secure in my faith and capabilities. Read More>>

Ching Chung

I’d say that over the years, I’ve learned to lean into my curiosity and just see where it leads. While I’ve always been someone who carefully weighs decisions, there have been pivotal moments—ones that others may have considered bold or risky—where I simply followed a strong inner pull. And, more often than not, those decisions proved to be the most rewarding. Read More>>

Mark Cardwell

For most of my career, over three decades, marketing was my calling. I worked as a marketing director, manager, and sales leader, and eventually launched my own consultancy focused on helping small businesses and nonprofits develop strong strategic marketing plans. I even ran a 10-week course called The Essentials of Marketing Planning for several years. We’d pack my office full of passionate entrepreneurs and nonprofit leaders, and I loved every minute of it. It was fulfilling work. Read More>>

Tess Talbot

A career as an actor is something I have legitimately always wanted. As a kid my ambition was always to be performing on the stage in some capacity. Dress up was my favorite game, my twin sister and our friends were always coming up with soap opera dramas or dance routines, and we’d film them on my dad’s gigantic video camera. Read More>>