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.

 Gabriel Russo

Risk-taking has been a huge part of my journey, both in life and in business. I’ve learned that calculated risks are necessary for growth.

When I think about risk, I don’t see it as recklessness. It’s about weighing the potential upside against the downside and making an informed decision. Every big move I’ve made, deciding to build my own business, saying yes to things I know would challenge me came with uncertainty. But each time, I trusted that even if it didn’t go perfectly, I’d gain something valuable. Read More>>

Jenice Garcia

For me, risk is an essential part of growth—both personally and professionally. I believe that without taking risks, there is no real progress. Every major step in my career has involved some level of uncertainty, but I’ve learned that embracing the unknown often leads to the greatest rewards.

One of the biggest risks I took was leaving behind my career path in architecture in Venezuela to start over in the United States. Photography was always a passion, but turning it into a full-time business was a leap of faith. I had no guarantees that it would work, but I was determined to build something meaningful. Read More>>

Victoria Vita

It’s my favourite question, honestly!
I have always been a visionary, a leader, and a trendsetter—someone who could inspire others and ignite excitement around my projects. I’ve always felt a calling toward something greater, and now I understand that my purpose goes beyond life itself. It’s about leaving a lasting big impact—changing other people’s lives for the better, creating meaningful value, and ensuring that my talents, knowledge, and experience benefit not just me and my personal success but as many people as possible around the world! Read More>>

Shanae Cooper- Robinson

The habits that contribute to my effectiveness and success are my go-getter attitude and good work ethics. I am a practical person who pursues whatever dreams or aspirations that I have, I don’t sit and wait for opportunities to be handed out to me but rather chase them. The other attribute that I believe add to my effectiveness and success as an author, educator and thought leader is my strong work ethics. I work tirelessly and relentlessly for what I want, these I believe contribute to my success as an individual. Read More>>

Victoria Agulla Tagle

When I made the decision to start my own venture, I didn’t realize it would be the most important decision of my life. At that moment, it felt like just another step, a natural move toward something I was passionate about. But a year later, I can see how transformative it has been. Read More>>

Rebecca Mansueto

The most important lesson I’ve learnt is that life is always full circle including your career. To elaborate, the connections that you build over time if nurtured well can offer you opportunities in the future that you didn’t foresee. Read More>>

 Oksana Butovska

Since childhood, my parents enrolled me in various extracurricular activities: dance, drawing, puppet theater, bead weaving, and many more. Of course, they also signed me up for a modeling school. I was a favorite among photographers from an early age and even won a beauty contest, earning the title of “Mini Model.” Read More>>

Lauren Collorone

I decided to pursue a creative and artistic career because, growing up, I always had a deep love for the arts. Whether it was painting, decorating, singing, acting, or playing music, I was always drawn to activities that allowed me to express myself. My hope has always been that, through my art, I could not only connect with myself but also inspire and bring joy to others in the process. Read More>>

Francie Novo Dueno

When I started in the event business 31 years ago it was all or nothing. Over the past three decades I’ve learned to cherish the times with family and the families I create a core memory for Read More>>