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.

Becky Feigin | Content Creator + Creative Strategist

When I originally started my business, it was 2018 and I was only 23 years old. I had recently lost a contracted position in Creative Strategy and didn’t know what the next step for me was. I had always toyed with the idea of starting my own social media marketing agency, but didn’t think I would do that until I was at least 30 years old so that I could gain experience in the corporate world first. But, when an opportunity presents itself, I am known to jump on it. I was young, my parents were helping me out a bit, and I was still on their health insurance – can you name a better time to take a chance and start your own business?! Read more>>

Vincenzo Lomio | Self-Development Content Creator

Growing up as an immigrant of the United States, I had very few guidelines to navigating life in this country. My content all centers around getting a deeper understanding of our life experiences and humanity. Currently, I have a YouTube channel @TheVinDiagram, a Substack Newsletter @TheVinDiagram, and a podcast @CreatingYourConditions. Read more>>

Maria Jordi

I define success as the ability to balance professional achievements with a fulfilling personal life. True success, for me, means not only reaching goals and creating impact through my work, but also having the time and presence to enjoy life with family and friends. It’s about building a life where I can pursue my passions, leave a positive mark, and contribute to others’ growth—both personally and professionally. In the end, I believe success is measured by the meaningful connections we foster, the joy we find in our everyday lives, and the legacy of kindness and value we leave behind. Read more>>

Shania Accius | Executive Director of Zawadi Cultural Collective (501c3 nonprofit)

Zawadi Cultural Collective has been helping the community for many years. One of our largest impact projects is our weekly food distribution. Every Saturday we serve community that is dealing with food insecurity. We serve an average of 100 families a week who have been coming to us on a consistent bases since the start of our distribution 4 years ago. We are different from most distributions in that we let the community pick the items that they want. We set up our distribution like a farmers market allowing the community to choose from a wide variety of breads, fruits, vegetables, meats and more. Read more>>

John (viet-triet) Nguyen | Multidisciplinary Graphic Designer and Artist

A lot of my work has been inspired by social justice. My hope is that my work represents voices and issues that need to be amplified. I think we are in a point in history where we, as a society, are lacking on raising awareness of various social issues as well as access to education and information. I think we can do a better job with taking time to learn as well as taking time to find the courage to advocate for others. That said, we also do a better job of spreading joy and celebrating whatever needs to be celebrated. So I hope we are taking pause to be joyful in our own ways. Read more>>

Grace Nguyen | Third Generation Jeweler

“Act out of love” is a principle that I hold dear to my heart. “Act” meaning showing your love through your behavior is very important to me. Anyone can say anything but your actions show your priorities and your genuine heart, so I try my best to make sure my actions and my words are in sync.
Since LOUPN is based on the idea that what goes around comes around, I believe that these acts of love, whether it’s the heart of encouraging others, helping friends through challenging times, or simply being a listening ear, or sharing a snack, will come back to me. I’m grateful that I’ve been experiencing many acts of kindness coming back to me from the LOUPN community, solidifying my belief. Read more>>

Molly Champlin | Artist and Educator

Being present with and supporting other artists, friends, family, and students gives me a strong sense of purpose and motivation. I love the way my communities overlap and mix, how our actions together are more powerful than as individuals, and how we keep each other motivated through tough times. Recently, I’ve also deepened my understanding of the value of physical and emotional health. Working big in the studio is one way I force myself to stay present with my body. I’ve found I need a certain level of willpower and athleticism to stick with the big paintings which keeps me grounded. I also enjoy taking time to move outside of my art practice. Read more>>

Jackson Mercado | Actor

If you can do anything else well besides the thing that you love, like acting, you should do that instead, because the career path is too difficult. I think a lot of people say the right thing in the wrong way. 
Although I understand the intention behind it, I think it’s more nuanced than that. We live in a hustle culture where if you’re not going a hundred percent all the time towards your goals, then it’s viewed that you’re slacking or that you don’t care. The reality of it is, especially something like acting, you grow into the emotions and into your point of view, which will often be challenging and in flux. You grow into what life is, and the more life experience you have, the more you’re able to give back into your art. Read more>>

Eeshan Kamath | Cinematographer

One thing outsiders might not realize about the film and cinematography industry is how much of the work is about collaboration and problem-solving on the fly. While the final product might appear seamless and artistic, the process often involves navigating unexpected challenges like working around weather changes, tight schedules, or equipment malfunctions and finding creative solutions as a team. Read more>>

Raven Mills. Virginia Solis Kamerie Crenshaw | Menstrual Health Educators & Advocates

One thing outsiders are probably unaware of about the menstrual health industry is the significant lack of education and resources available for young girls, especially in underserved communities. Many girls start their periods without truly understanding what’s happening to their bodies or how to manage their cycles confidently. This education gap not only leads to confusion and stigma but can also negatively impact their mental and physical health. Read more>>

Terah Gisolo | Founder & Owner: Real Good Rescue and Rug Specialist

My end goal is to build Real Good Rescue into a powerhouse of compassion and efficiency, so that we’re in a position to say ‘yes’ to saving any dog in need, no matter what. I envision a future where we have the financial stability to pay our incredible staff—no more relying on volunteers to do all the heavy lifting! I want the Real Good Rescue brand to be recognized not just across the country, but globally, as a symbol of excellence in dog rescue. When people think of us, I want them to know that we’re not just doing the work—we’re doing it well, thoughtfully, and thoroughly. Read more>>

Dr. Molly Burrets | Clinical Psychologist

One of the most important lessons my business has taught me, is that despite the well intentioned encouragement of a generation of feminists before me, a working mom in the United States today can’t have it all. I know that sounds disappointing, but it actually can be so freeing to release yourself from the endless pursuit of “having it all”, and to instead relentlessly pursue that which matters most. Determining what matters most has been a deeply personal and essential process that required me to identify my values, do the hard work of setting boundaries to create space for what is aligned with my values, and to unapologetically limit the elements that distract from my purpose. Read more>>

Priya Patel | Publisher/Business Owner

Don’t give up! Our (amazing) awards program with my magazine Kiddable was off to a slow start. But this year the participation quadrupled. There is lots of room to grow but this exponential growth proves it was worth staying the course. Read more>>

Jerry Lee | Editor & Director

My life has been split between 3 countries. I was born in Chengdu, China before moving to Melbourne, Australia when I was 8 years old. I spent most of my life in Australia, before moving to the US for college and have been here ever since. I think living in three different continents has made me a very adaptable person, and also gave me perspective on understanding and empathizing with all sorts of people from various backgrounds. This upbringing has definitely helped me a lot as an editor, as the job constantly asks you to empathize with characters you probably have never met in real life, and craft the nuances of their performances on screen. Read more>>

Kyal Legend | Actress

I was born and raised in Toronto, the eldest of four children in a family of Filipino and Jamaican heritage. My mother, a single parent, worked tirelessly to provide me with every opportunity to thrive in the arts. She put me through Montessori school, enrolled me in countless art classes, and at just eight years old, supported my competitive dance journey, driving me weekly from the GTA to downtown Toronto so I could train with the National Ballet of Canada, never miss an audition, and attend acting classes. I’ve always been an expressive and precocious child, who loved to perform, and connect with people—traits that mirrored my mother, who had her own impressive history in showbiz, from performing at Massey Hall to turning down a chance to tour as a backup singer for Mariah Carey. Read more>>