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.

Riccardo Alessandrin Ricky305

I decided to start as a DJ because I had this passion since high school. Let’s say that for me music is very fundamental and can change the life of all of us, I try in my small way to give positivity and desire to live, like music has this effect on me. Read More>>

Melissa Letellier

Before I had children, I used to measure success by the things you could see and count—luxury items, name brands, square footage, the kind of car you drove. I thought success meant having more, doing more, and being seen as someone who had it all together. Read More>>

DJuana Lewis

One of my go-to affirmations is, “Risk and reckless are not the same thing.” It’s my daily reminder that stepping out of my comfort zone is necessary, but it should always be done with intention and strategy. Every significant move I’ve made in business has carried some level of risk, and honestly, if it feels too safe, it usually means I’m playing small. Read More>> 

Gabriella Pellot

Risk-taking is a decision made at least once during everyone’s lifetime. Whether you’re risking your time or money, it’s inevitable to avoid. As an entrepreneur, risk-taking was just that 1% of the unknown that comes along with the journey. As Wayne Gretzky said, “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take,” and that’s stuck with me through this entire journey. Read More>> 

Marcia Neumann

The purpose of my business is to promote self-love and self-validation through self-acceptance and integrity in a world that is so ill due to betrayal, jealousy, and unhealthy competition, all caused by the erosion of genuine values that have been corroding throughout society. Read More>>

Tania Jokic

What inspires me?
Love and joy are the two key emotions that are the main ingredients of my soul and guide me every time I start to create something new. I have an immense desire within me for all people to feel love and joy, and that has always been my guiding star. And whenever I start to create, I feel with my whole soul that my hand is guided by God. Read More>> 

Nick Brooks

Ever since I was young, creating things has been a part of my everyday routine. I started music lessons at nine years old and began exploring digital art in my later teens. My music project naturally became an intersection of these broad interests. Organizing my audiovisual skills into the “haven woods.” experience has given me the opportunity to showcase my art through a productive medium. Read More>> 

Aadya, Harshita

One big habit that’s helped us is showing up, even when things feel messy or uncertain. We didn’t always have everything figured out (we still don’t!), but we kept showing up with heart.

And honestly? Keeping a little google doc full of random ideas. Some turned into full-blown projects, others were just funny thoughts, but giving ourselves permission to dream and capture those ideas made a huge difference. Read More>>

Melanie Borjas

For me, the most important factor has always been creating from the heart. Everything I do carries a piece of my soul. I don’t just make designs; I create moments, emotions and pieces that people carry with them forever.
I believe people feel that. They connect with the intention behind the lines, the colors, the details. There’s poetry in the process… in listening to someone’s story and turning it into something they can wear on their skin or in their heart.
My brand grew because it’s real. It’s imperfect, evolving, but always honest. I don’t create to impress…I create to express, to heal, to celebrate, to remember. That emotional depth is the thread that weaves everything I do. Read More>>

Alejandra Ramirez

The value that matters most to me is authenticity through quality.
I started Alquimista because I struggled to find truly natural products here in the U.S. — especially ones that didn’t irritate my sensitive skin or damage my hair. Back in Colombia, I was used to high-quality, natural options. But here, many products are filled with synthetic chemicals, preservatives, or ingredients that I can’t even pronounce — and over time, those can seriously affect our skin and hair health. Read More>> 

Gabriella Di Falco

The most profound lesson my career—and especially my journey with Elect Lifestyle—has taught me is the transformative power of understanding and anticipating the unspoken desires of our clients. True luxury isn’t about simply fulfilling requests; it’s about intuitively knowing what will surprise, delight, and resonate, often before it’s even expressed. Read More>> 

Luis Acosta

At the beginning, finding balance between work and personal life felt nearly impossible. When you start a project with as much passion as El Artesano del Pan, you pour everything into it—your time, energy, mind, and body. I’d wake up thinking about recipes and fall asleep dreaming about fermentation. It was beautiful, but exhausting. Read More>> 

Alexa Cruz

It’s definitely evolved for both of us. For me (Alexa), life and work have really become intertwined, especially as a mother. There’s this constant pull between two powerful forces, wanting to be the most present, loving, intentional mom I can be, and also wanting to pour into my passions and build something meaningful. It’s not always easy, and the truth is, it rarely feels perfectly balanced for us. But I’ve learned that instead of choosing one over the other, ny sister and I try to blend them. My son is a part of this journey with us and he comes along to the studio, he’s with us when we are working on content or setting up for an event. Read More>>