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.

Joshua Robinson Electrically Gifted | Residential/ commercial Electrical Services

There were a lot of companies here taking advantage of people and scamming and I couldn’t watch it anymore. I truly do right by people and it’s very well known. Read more>>

Connor Farrell | Co-founder and Executive Director

As a competitive, year-round swimmer who trains six days each week, my daily drive to the pool requires that I pass the Triune Mercy Center, a local soup kitchen, where there is consistently a line of homeless individuals. During the spring of 2020, in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic, I spoke to the Pastor of Triune Mercy Center, Jennifer Fouse Sheorn, who confirmed that many of the homeless were not receiving adequate hygiene supplies to protect themselves from the pandemic. With my family’s help, Bright Lights Greenville began. Read more>>

Kim Gandhi | Chief Operating Officer

Showing my children how to be resilient. There are many paths to a successful life and career and no one has the crystal ball of which one to take. When the path you are on has a bump or mountain in front of it, figuring out the next step and not being afraid to fail and have to back up a bit to try a new path is still a way forward. Life and career are always full of pivots and my children know that there is not one job or career out there that will be pure nirvana. Finding the joy in key part of your role make up for some of the drudgery work that is required. And if the role/career makes you overall unhappy, go explore a new one. My career has not been a single one but all of them built upon the last and made for a fulfilling life-find the one that makes you wake up before the alarm in the morning and can’t wait to get started on the adventures of the day. Read more>>

David Borisuk | Portrait Photographer

Photography impacts the community in a variety of ways, but my favorite is the way it brings people closer together and strengthens relationships. Few other things are as bonding as looking through old pictures and reliving special moments together. Life is short and I want to be able to give my community beautiful pictures that they can look back on and cherish as long as they live. Read more>>

Nelson Richards | Managing Partner, Cartstowne Golfcart Housecalls

We’re successful because we understand our “why”. We’re not out here to sell golf cart service and repair. What we’re actually selling is leisure, freedom, happiness and fun. Our brand and company culture express the “golf cart life” internally and externally. Our company is fun and our objective is to spread joy. Simply put, our “why” is to transform golf cart ownership into an effortless and enjoyable experience.. Read more>>

Christopher Mizell | Caterer

Catering makes me happy. I love meeting new people and “wowing” them from start to finish. Once I meet them, we usually win them over. Read more>>

Tromell Gavin | Photographer/Videographer

The end goal is to have Suavé Visuals as a huge media company. I want to have short films, skits, schools, multiple studios, and etc. I want to create opportunities for other upcoming photographers, models, graphic designs, and editors Read more>>

Kelly Capriotti Burton | Author

Hurry up and wait. It’s such an oxymoron and probably an unappreciated cliché. But for my journey, it’s the truth. At age 44, I became a published author for the first time. I’ve wanted to be a published author my entire life. I started writing as a child; I completed two novel-length works before I graduated high school, but the time never seemed right to truly pursue it. I won a few contests and so forth, but nothing that was going to kickstart a career. So I took a lot of other paths, working in telecommunications, education, marketing, magazine publishing, managing a church office and then a running store. During those years, I became a mama and a licensed minister. I wrote a lot – promotional material, methods and procedures, magazine articles, blog posts, fan fiction. Read more>>

Louise Sturcken | Manager of Minnow Flagship 145 King Street

Keep Swimming. Keep asking for help along the way. Keep sharing your vision a day at a time. If you remember in a prior interview I wanted to relocate to Charleston. I had no idea how it was going to happen. I applied at Minnow and was working a tradeshow in NYC called Playtime. I thought let me leave the booth and go look for Minnow and put in some face time. Just as I was about to leave the booth a lovely woman from Charleston popped in to check out the brand I was representing Louise Mischa. Her name was Anna Shuford I didn’t know that at the time. We connected over children fashion and the tradeshow and then I mentioned to her how I wanted to relocate back to Charleston where she was from and that I was just about to step out to find the brand I wanted to work for. Read more>>

Nancy Palmie | Mixed-media artist specializing in watercolor

Having spent the better part of my adulthood as a corporate technical writer, and with a life-long appreciation of fine art, I forever craved a creative, artistic outlet. After I retired from corporate America, I discovered how much I love to paint and I haven’t stopped since the first day I picked up a paintbrush.
My body of work reveals the inspiration I take from nature. Drawing on memories from my early Wisconsin roots, from my years living in Colorado and California, and through extensive travels throughout the United States, this new-found passion has taught me that creating beauty from nothing is what I eagerly anticipate when the mood is right.. Read more>>

Jared Cobb | Videographer

I’ve known since I was 10-years-old and got my first camcorder that videography was what I wanted to persue. Something about creating creative content that can tap into any emotion was a big appeal to me, even at a young age. I love doing videography specifically because it’s a group process. Something like painting is a one-person job, but with a quality videography production, you’re relying on other talented people to all come together and make one great product at the end. It’s always immensely satisfying to finally sit back and watch the completed work knowing countless hours from so many people went into it. Read more>>

Ivey Jacops | Founder: SMART Real Estate Consulting and SMART Real Estate Solutions

As a salaried leader in my previous 8:30-5:30 corporate career, I had the following expectations placed on me: 1. Be productive during those hours
2. Be available to meet with the team during those hours 3. Offer support to clients during those hours and after hours when necessary (often) 4. Lunch meetings are essential to building rapport with the greater team and clients
5. And, my favorite, demonstrate an ability to think strategically Read more>>

Brenda Wilson | Retired Police Officer, Marriage and Family Therapist, entrepreneur and business owner of Pampas & More

Excitement, full of doubts, nervousness. I am still re-considering if my business is the right thing for me. It nust makes me happy the fact that people limes my product. Read more>>

Lauren Dove | Freelance Hair & MUA

You’re mad bonkers. Off your head… but I’ll tell you a secret all the best people are. I think the best thing to do is start. I chose a career that genuinely sets my soul on fire. Stay consistent, stay in your vision, have smart goals and plans. The rest is stepping out on Faith and leaving it up to Him. Read more>>