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.

Lady Blanca | Drag Queen, Performer, Producer, Songwriter

I am inspired by life. I am inspired by death. I am inspired by everything around and inside of me. My fear of death fuels my desire to stay alive and to continue pushing my art. Everyday is a new opportunity to be and feel inspired. I’d say that on a deeper level, my connections with my family and friends really keep me grounded and help me grasp onto new experiences which I then turn into moments of pure artistry. My mom, to be exact, has inspired me in shaping my persona, a strong independent Latina woman that has unfortunately been through many life-changing events that never really seem to stop her. Read more>>

Julianna Rubio Slager | Artistic Director & Choreographer

As an artist I’ve had to incorporate many small habits into my daily life in order to stay on track with my goals. I’d say the first thing is that successful habits are small things – they aren’t huge or revolutionary. For me it starts with my morning routine. I always prioritize sleep. For me that’s 8-9hrs a night, and I try to be very disciplined about that even in busy seasons. The second is that I spend 10-15mn in natural light at the beginning of everyday. Typically for me that means sitting in my room with the window open, and sometimes it means walking my kids to school. I always get a good breakfast with protein and I try to spend 10-15mn doing prayer and meditation. Read more>>

Keyshawn Phelps | Author I Motivational Speaker I Engineer

The most crucial factor behind the success of my brand “The Mindset Shifter” is a genuine passion for inspiring others , coupled with an unwavering belief in the transformative power of positivity and resilience. I strive to not only share motivational messages but to ignite a spark within individuals, encouraging them to embrace challenges, cultivate their strengths, and embark on a journey of continuous self-discovery. This shared journey towards empowerment and fulfillment is the heartbeat of my brand’s success because i live it everyday Read more>>

Joani DiCampli | Creator and Owner of Boobalicious Body Hygiene Products

When I first came up with the idea to start my business I did not even know where to begin and the thought process of this to me was I was in the unknown on how to even begin to start a product line let alone how to even get started. So I did what I thought was the right step to take was to go on Google and learn on the process of making the formula for my deodorant, where to go to order material and products. I started to write things down, learn as much as I could from the internet and started to understand little by little. Read more>>

Krystal Gillis | Co-Founder, CEO

The inception of Tighties as a business stemmed from a profound realization that the realm of orthopedic care could extend beyond medical intervention. Drawing upon years of diverse industry experience and the collaborative efforts of experts, we outlined key initiatives which all brought us back to one centered point: we wanted to help active people stay active by alleviating known obstacles such as pain, mobility, endurance and time. As the resounding affirmative answers unfolded, it was evident that we were on the brink of something transformative. The potential impact of our products in enhancing people’s lives was undeniable, so it was a matter of laying out the map and finding the right team to bring it to life. Read more>>

Warren Ko | Biologist & Music Producer

I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area from a middle-class family. Both of my parents were immigrants from Hong Kong, who–like many others–came to the US for better opportunities for themselves and their children. Though neither of my parents were musicians, my parents enrolled me in piano lessons and I spent a significant part of my childhood playing and studying classical music. This was not necessarily because of my own personal desire to play music from a young age, but because of my parents’ instinct as first-generation immigrants to prioritize investing in their child’s future. Of course, I can look back now and appreciate my parents’ decisions, but I had many moments in my childhood where I dreaded playing music that I wasn’t emotionally connected to, such that even the sound of my piano teacher’s car pulling up outside the house would bring me intense anxiety. Read more>>