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.

Jeremiah Hammerling

Werner Herzog always used to say: “Don’t be the fly on the wall, be the hornet that stings.” He’s speaking about making documentary film and acknowledging that the presence of a camera in an otherwise “real world” environment inevitably alters the events that occur. So the point is to acknowledge your presence and then act decisively. I think this applies to life more generally though also. We change the energy in a room simply by being there. So we might as well recognize the power we have as conscious activities of the universe and take ownership over how we make decisions, spend our time, and perfect our craft. Read More>>

 Jack Martins

My favorite quote would have to be Arthur Schopenhauer’s, “Do it or don’t do it: you will regret both.” If you can believe that, then there’s really nothing to hold back on. A regret kind of loses its own possibility that way, loses the element of fear, it at least makes the fear useful. I like to think of that while I’m trying things in my songs that I know might not work. Read More>>

Christina Pirard

The idea for my business didn’t come to me all at once—it evolved over time through a series of experiences that I believe I was spiritually guided to go through. I originally started out as a personal trainer, helping people strengthen their bodies and feel confident in their physical health. Over time, though, I began to notice that true, lasting transformation wasn’t just physical. My own journey through personal hardships, emotional healing, and spiritual awakening revealed to me that the mind, body, and spirit are deeply interconnected. Read More>>

Enrique Arteaga

People assume elevate.epo came from some dramatic awakening. It didn’t. It came from design—data design, system design, human design.

In 2022, I was tasked with building a national mental health report. That project opened my eyes to a simple but devastating truth: most of the tools we use to “measure” mental health are biased junk. They track symptoms but ignore structure. They capture surface emotion but miss underlying motive. Worse, they can be gamed—skewed by social desirability and masked pathology. Read More>>

Richard Hume

I’ve tried to show my girls that you can get whatever you want in life if you work hard, have a vision, make goals, persevere when doors don’t open right away, stay patient and positive. I’ve also taught them that life is not what always what you see, especially in this age of Photoshop, and AI, and especially in my business as a fashion photographer. Read More>>

Cass Michael

As a commercial beauty photographer, the industry that I work in and also the social media that we all consume is rife with retouched, face tuned, body altered imagery. Alarmingly, a lot of the time, you can’t even tell that these images (and now even videos) are altered. I couldn’t stand the thought that I would be contributing to an industry that made me feel so insecure about myself growing up and I don’t want to pass that on to future generations. Read More>>

Liron Liber

My business is about more than just filming events, it’s about preserving moments that strengthen communities, especially when they need it most. Recently, I documented an extraordinary event for the Lubavitch Educational Center in Miami during these challenging times for the Jewish people. Every shot I chose, every edit I made carried extra weight, this wasn’t just an event video highlights, but a statement of resilience and unity. Read More>>

Jenny Evans

What was your thought process for starting your business?

In 1999, Shawna Albright and I, Jennifer Evans Figueroa, founded Saving Faces Skincare. At the time, we didn’t know each other very well, but we both recognized a unique opportunity — and took a major leap of faith. We had been working for a company that was closing down, and after spending years building our own clienteles, we knew we wanted to continue working independently. Read More>>

Justice Jackson

As a visual artist I am most inspired by the world around me. Sounds a bit cliche, I know, but the world we live in is truly a marvel to behold as long as you take the time to do so. Technology has advanced much throughout the ages and we are now at a point where technology runs nearly every aspect of our lives, and that is a shared experience across many countries all around the world. To take a step back, or perhaps a few steps back, and take in the world is truly invigorating because it brings us back to the core of what it means to live and participate in this beautiful planet we inhabit. This concept and belief is what I try to imbue my artwork with. Read More>>

Sarah Lew

I am inspired by both dogs and art. The idea for my business, Paint my Buddy, was born from my love for my own dogs, the community I connected with through my dog’s instagram account, and their dogs as well. I couldn’t imagine a better way to share my passions than by combining two of my favorite things. And I continued to be inspired by everyone’s stories about the love between them and their pet. Read More>>

Damelys

My journey with LuxTheSmile began with a passion for beauty and self-love, but it quickly grew into something much greater. I’m proud to have been one of the first in the Chicagoland area to open a cosmetic teeth whitening business. Now, my mission is to inspire a new era of confidence. I want to be remembered as the woman who made confidence shine, one smile at a time.

I don’t just want to offer beautiful results, I want to shift the trend and show the world what cosmetic teeth whitening can truly do. It’s more than just a service. It’s an experience, a boost of confidence, and sometimes even a new beginning for someone. Read More>>

Savanna Bilsland

What makes me happy is connecting with other creatives and watching an idea or project come to life! It’s almost like seeing the light bulb go off. Since I’ve started my dance career in choreography and performing I’ve fallen in love with so many other forms of art and watching it come together. Read More>>

Darrin Schneider

I would love to have my successful fabric company blend with a high end furniture maker to create a brand that is available to everyone. At the end of my career I would love to be able to have one of my children take over the family business. Read More>>

Colin Galeste

Awards and accolades, while nice, aren’t my main goal. Ultimately, I want to feel proud of whatever work I’ve done. I want to feel fulfilled by my career through working with collaborators I respect, and doing work we believe in. I’d also love to be in a position to pass on my knowledge to the next generation. Read More>>

MATTHEW SHAMOOIL

Never give up. As long as you can firmly stand behind yourself, what you’re doing, and/or the product/service you have, always keep going no matter what obstacles come your way or how hard things may get. Read More>>

Weronika Rosati

It will sound so cliché but never give up. There are ups and downs in life, in your career and just generally around. There is so much that we don’t have power on but one thing we do – it’s we we react and how we pick ourselves up after a failure. just keep going, be passionate, be driven, be yourself. Read More>>