Houston’s Most Inspiring Stories

Every neighborhood in Houston has its own vibe, style, culture and history, but what consistently amazes us is not what differentiates the various neighborhoods but rather what they all have in common.  From the Fourth Ward to Sugar Land (and everywhere in between) we’ve been blown away by how many creative and talented people call Houston home.  Check out some of the inspiring stories we’ve discovered throughout the city.

Jessica Mitchell

Now I’m in the entertainment industry! Onney who is now a mentor of mine, interviewed me on her show (Think Outside of the Box) We met and gravitated towards one another! Onney has trusted me to assist her in the music industry, which led me to bringing models to HD for President videoshoot! HD song “Touch Down 2 Cause Hell” and dance went viral on Tiktok which caused the youtube views to reach over 100k in one day, from there I started my career in the entertainment industry! I played a police officer in Houston’s movie Dirty 3rd (new generation) and now I’m branching off to start a music label, which is my new Business Venture “Luckycharms Label” Read More>>

Joy Aracena

The passion started after I had my first home. Buying a home is one of the dreams everyone has and I learned my lessons throughout the process. I realized I could’ve done better but I can’t go back in time so I decided to take my classes and get my license. Being a Realtor that anyone can trust & rely on is what everyone needs. I didn’t have one back on the times I was the “buyer” so here I am! Be an advocate for the best interests of my clients, educate them, understand and listen to them, just being there for them, that’s what I’m here for. Read More>>

Adi Zevulun

In the beginning, I just worked with the Israeli community because of the language barrier. I am a people person and love helping people. I had visions of opening up a med spa for years. Fast-forward 15 years later, I am opening one up with my business partner, Claire Bormaster. We offer state-of-the-art lasers that do skin resurfacing, laser hair removal , hyperpigmentation, melasma, rosacea, acne scarring anti-aging and more. Read More>>

Curran Guiney

We eventually found the perfect location: a historic 1956 Southwestern Bell building that was completely abandoned—no roof, no water, no sewage. It was a massive undertaking to restore it, but now it’s a thriving center for musical creativity. The hard work has paid off, and we’re proud of how far we’ve come, with many exciting changes still ahead. Read More>>

Ikeem Powell

I’m kinda like an entrepreneur I kinda work when I want but I make content basketball/fitness… I love being In shape and the I’m proud of starting from a beginner to elite in the fitness and health category. Read More>>

Kele Helm

I got started with Interior design when me and my significant other started our Airbnb journey , i staged and designed each one just for fun . From there i had friends and family loving the work i did so they had me design their homes . I then created a Instagram, thought of a name and began to get referrals and inquiries Read More>>

Marcela De La Paz

Then there was Vanessa Byrd the mother God gave me… she has been my mother and my kids nana since I was 20 and she will forever be that! I am so grateful today for everything I have… i recently started seeking true love in the tv show “Enamorándonos “ in Unimas and I feel soo blessed… I will soon be going to audition for “Nuestra Belleza Latina” and I cannot wait to tell you all where that takes me…. As a model & Actress I am ready to show my talent to the world. Read More>>

Mark Flores

After a year of witnessing incredible transformations, Pastors Mark and Sharayah felt a call to take the movement on the road. They began hosting monthly Fire Nights across southeast Texas, collaborating with different churches and ministries to reignite the flames of revival. Blind eyes were opened, people left their wheelchairs, and countless other signs and wonders occurred. It was nothing short of the church ablaze with Holy Spirit fire, demonstrating the radical, transformative power of God. Read More>>

Chef Jeffery Williams

But all the credit goes to my mom and her love and patience with me when I was younger and wanting to know everything about cooking Read More>>

Leah Haley

I was in college and realized I was there for the wrong reasons and not for myself. I had a major event happen back home and it just made me realize i needed to be pursuing what I was passionate about. So I started cosmetology school and harvey hit. I still graduated but jobs were hard to find. The year I decided to go out on my own was the year of covid. So ive had two major disasters per se trying to get my career going. But now i share a huge suite with my best friend and im booking clients well in advance! I couldn’t be more grateful to be where i am. Read More>>

Lola Ogunbakin

I started my business as a side hustle while I had a full time job attending culinary school.Cooking has always been my passion and owing my own restaurant has always been my long term goal. I have a kitchen where I currently run. Read More>>

Ashlyn Jones

My fiancé and I started our professional pet-sitting company in August 2022, fulfilling a dream we’ve had since our childhoods—caring for animals. Our mission is simple: to provide the best possible care for our clients and their beloved furbabies. Every pet we look after is treated with the same love and respect we’d give our own. We’re committed to being trustworthy, compassionate, and always excited to meet new clients and their pets. Join us as we share our journey of turning a lifelong passion into a business built on care and dedication. Read More>>

Jesus Campos

For over three years Exclusive Trailer Rental was establishe in 2021. We Stared with 1 trailer and now grown to 10+ trailers that vary between Car hauler, Equipment, Enclosed, Utility and Dump trailers. Read More>>

Mi$ta The Stranger

I’ve dealt with a lot of closing doors and wicked people in this industry. Keeping a clear conscience is hard at times but it’s a must Read More>>

Joram Kwashie

Marble World is heading to become one of the most sought after site for scouting young and emerging talents from Africa and other parts of the world. Read More>>

Min Ju

As much as I feel super guilty about leaving my kids on stroller with youtubes while we were both working on our feet, I can now say that my hardworking didn’t go to waste and I am proud of who I am being able to take this far with the family support. Read More>>

Charles Sapp

My name is Charles Sapp and I’m a writer. I grew in Houston and played football at the University of Houston, but writing is my first love. I’m on a journey to continue evolving as a songwriter and tell more impactful stories. My most recent album, ‘Summer Street’, tells stories about overcoming and resilience of the heart. Read More>>

Christiana Kallon

Well am still struggling on building my community and how to engage people , I have a lot to say , but am practicing articulation and my English speaking skills, but am patient with myself so I know my struggle will end soon and I come out and blossom Read More>>

Lemoyne Alexander

The transition from Hip Hop to Rock has allowed me the versatility to becoming a more globally resounding musician and songwriter that has allowed me to bridge the gap cross culturally to bringing my music around the world. I also have upcoming tours and music videos that are on the way with a documentary entitled “LEMOYNE” that Chronicles the life and true heart of the music artist and musician which is scheduled for release coming in 2025. Read More>>

Sidney Luxx

I started singing at the age of 7, it was like another door of myself unlocked. I would always sing Halo by Beyonce or any Ariana Grande song that was on the radio.I was shy to show my voice for a very long time, it took me years to become confident in my singing Til this day I say I’m a performer not a singer, although I am more confident now, dance is still my strength. In 7th grade I found out about garage band and started to play around on it, I fell in love with the frequency of music and building beats that I would hear in my head. My sister is the only person I would let hear them, she was the only person I trusted with this little secret of mine at the time. Read More>>

Brain Orchestra

I feel I have been blessed with a lot of the opportunities I have gotten but I also don’t forget all the work it took. It’s a lot of trial & error, investing $$ that you won’t always make back, etc. It’s never perfect & the struggles get worse if you don’t take care of yourself as a human first. From personally experience, I tell people that without being fulfilled as a person outside of music, you’ll never feel fulfilled with your art. Read More>>

Dwain Travis

Since then, I’ve done many projects as a freelance dancer around the South East US, co-founded the Juxatapose Arts Collective (a semi-professional dance company in League City), spent two seasons as a dancer with Houston Met Dance, and I’ve recently entered my 6th season as a founding member of the Houston Contemporary Dance Company under Artistic and Executive Director Marlana Doyle. Read More>>

Jackie Rideau

Once I arrived at her home, we were congregating on any women’s favorite go to gossip, men! At some point during the conversation I said, ” You know because they’re blocked, because they won’t block my blessings! ” We laughed and she replied with, ” We should put that on a shirt! ” I giggled and said ” Yeah, we should! ” With excitement she said, ” Let’s do it!” Cara grabbed her computer and notepad as we started spinning around ideas for the shirts we wanted to design. By the end of that conversation, we started our mission vision of D.N.D., Do Not Disturb LLC. Read More>>

Radha Tamerisa

Being a woman in this field meant that, from the beginning, I had to prove myself among male colleagues. While my mentors were supportive, there were constant external pressures to demonstrate my competence and leadership in an environment where women were often underrepresented. It required not only clinical excellence but also resilience and confidence in the face of skepticism. Read More>>

Marisa Bowe

My first year of college, I worked at a retailer but to earn extra cash, I bought the mini red ear sliders (turtles) from downtown Los Angeles and sold them in a Walmart parking lot. I always found a way to sell and be creative in how I would pitch it. When I had my first son and the cost of childcare was super expensive, I took on real estate as a side hustle. I was a fresh out of college, first year teacher, and I was b-r-o-k-e. I found that there was a perfect balance between sales and education and took a side hustle and grew it into a referral based career that I absolutely love. Read More>>

Chaunice Neal

My name is Chaunice Neal and I am a middle child who grew up in both Florida and Alabama. Much of my younger years were spent back and forth between these two states. At a young age, I had a lot of responsibility as a caregiver to my brother Tru. He is my older brother by four years and was born with a condition called Spina bifida, a neural tube defect that prevents the spinal cord from developing properly and causing cognitive delays. Read More>>

Cortlyn Perkins

My journey starts in a challenging childhood where creativity was both an escape and a passion. From an early age, I was always looking for ways to express myself. In elementary school, I turned that ambition into a mini business selling duct tape wallets to classmates—my first taste of entrepreneurship. By middle school, I had my hands in all sorts of artistic projects, dabbling in different mediums and pushing the boundaries of what I could create. Read More>>

Ashley Mcfarland

The road has certainly not been smooth. Honestly, so many of my challenges were internal. A consistent wrestling with “Am I on the right track?” “Am I making a difference?” “Do I even know what I’m doing?” I think that is the struggle for a lot of people when trying to live life on purpose, with purpose. Read More>>

Cequisha Proctor

After that, I opened my own cheer gym in 2017 located in Pasadena which was damaged during Hurricane Harvey, 2 yrs later I found a new home off of Beamer and Scarsdale. I started with 2 teams to currently having 4 teams. Show Team (3-6 yrs old), Novice Team (6-9 yrs old, Youth Prep Team (7-11 yrs old) and Jr Prep Team (9-16 yrs old). We have numerous awards from 1st-7th place. 2024 my 2 prep teams won the Grande Finale in Orlando Florida. We compete in the Houston/Galveston area. Read More>>

Matthew Gullo

I started off like many, not knowing what to study in college or what to do after college. I had to go to A&M to be with my friends and I liked the town and campus. Exploring there massive book of degrees I didn’t see much I was interested in but I loved to draw, design, build, and organize so I found one degree that would allow me to do those things and that was architecture. So here we go. I went to A&M and got that degree in architecture. Read More>>

Texas Boyz

We started freestyling in HighSchool and posting the audio on YouTube and it carried us to this point Read More>>

SMH Printing

I Started SMH Printing About 10 years ago, to help small businesses like us grow and prosper. Read More>>

Yalessa Oro And Nayelly Ortiz

Shortly after high school graduation, in 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, Nayelly moved to Dallas for college and Yalessa started community college online. This was the first time since birth that we were away from each other. Almost everyday, we would Facetime to sing and play our instruments together. In the time that Nayelly was in Dallas she learned how to play the acoustic guitar. Read More>>

Raven & Feefee Caballero

I was always taking pictures and videos of our “girlz”. I was that annoying pet parent showing friends at work, “look how cute my babies are”. And, by babies I obviously meant my beautiful dogs of course. So I started them their own Instagram account, which quickly turned into 3 other Social Media platforms, and their own LinkedIn. We decided to try to become Amazon Influencers at the beginning of this year. We got approved on the first try. Read More>>

Saanvi Panda

It was June 2024, and I was going to volunteering at Houston Food Bank. As we were being introduced, they told us what kinds of people they sent food too. It got me thinking how many global causes are untreated and don’t get much attention. It lead me to the idea for Made4Good. A student-led company donating at least 70% of sold goods to donate to a cause we pick monthly. Doing this, many different charities get exposure for others to donate while gaining donations as well. Read More>>

Jeremy De Los Santos

Within 6 months we opened a satellite location in Navasota and I continued to grind and work hard. We grew the business, brought on an associate doctor, staff and learned even more about how to lead and develop people and a company. I also achieved Board Certification in Neuropathy from the College of Physical Medicine in 2020. Read More>>

Jessica Forster

I’m married for 7 years and a Mom to 5 year old girl and 3 year old boy. With a background in interior design, sales, and the beauty industry, real estate was a natural attraction to me. I enjoy exploring new areas, events, supporting local businesses, meeting new people, and most of all helping others find a place to call home or invest! Read More>>

Zaria Woods

From an early age I’ve always been captivated by the transformative power of hair and makeup. At around 8 years old I would admire my mother meticulously style her hair and do her makeup everyday. Until one day she asked me to put her lashes on for her. Excited by how natural it came to me and how proud she was of my application I wanted to learn more. Read More>>

Daisie Lai

My love for beauty and skincare led me to pursue advanced certifications, and I didn’t stop at just becoming a licensed esthetician. I attended specialized trainings and received certificates from world-renowned programs, and several other prestigious courses in beauty and skincare. This extensive education empowered me to master advanced techniques like eyelash extensions, special lash lifts, and skin dermatology treatments, setting me apart in the competitive beauty industry. Read More>>

Jeremy Brown

They all were like YES, that’s the one. I then waited until I checked for the availability with the Secretary of State, and it was available, once I solidified the name I instantly got started with a newly found passion. I started 2024 off in church and learned that the goal should be to move in silence and specifically to move with (intention). I am a small business and I’m taking things as slow as it needs to go until I reach my personal goal. Needless to say metaphorically speaking CAJUN BABIES LLC represents my kids, and obviously the City of New Orleans and the whole State of Louisiana. Read More>>

Lyndsy Calato

My career in design played an integral part in the creation of Heureux XII. Design sparked a love for art forms of all kinds, introducing me to the finest craftsmanship in the world, from textiles and antiques to lighting and sculpture. I was captivated by how things were made and the beauty of creating custom-designed solutions. This passion for artistry and attention to detail naturally flowed into my equestrian pursuits. Read More>>

Mariana Ertmann

I came to Houston a little over a year and a half ago. It wasn’t exactly my first choice—it wasn’t New York, London, Spain, or Mexico City. But life had other plans, and Houston ended up surprising me. I found a city full of opportunity, meaningful connections, amazing friends, and, most importantly, love—the kind of love that helps you grow into your best version with confidence and purpose. Read More>>

Sanai Graden

In under a year, I was able to earn enough credit hours that would typically take most people at least two years to achieve. From there, I transferred to UC Berkeley. Although I was excited about attending Berkeley, I was unsure about my future goals. Having two successful entrepreneurs as parents, I just knew I wanted to follow in their footsteps somehow. I set a goal to start posting content on my social media platforms until I reached 10,000 followers. Read More>>

Rosa Cano

What started as a hobby in high school, became a degree at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, which became a professional career as a Lighting Technician, Board Op, Spot Op, Lighting Designer across the Valley, a Master Electrician at the Illinois Shakespeare Festival, a Resident Lighting Design Assistant at the Milwaukee Repertory Theatre, a Lighting Supervisor at the Dorset Theatre Festival, and now a Lighting Technician at Alley Theatre and a Lighting Designer in Houston. Read More>>

Cool Ricky Blues

I signed my first recording deal while immersed in the Blues genre, but that experience was far from ideal. Once the contract ended, I ran in the opposite direction as fast as I could. It was then I realized I wanted to be an independent artist, to have full creative control and to own my own record label, which I proudly do today. Read More>>

Simone Castille

Her Fitness Bootcamp which is hosted quarterly in Houston, Tx. This is a 1hr bootcamp that will get the heart pumping and blood flowing. Each bootcamp is dedicated to a specific cancer awareness month in honor of my loved ones who have passed. This dedication helps me remember to put my health first and never neglect the importance of a healthy lifestyle. We are not only here to push individuals to work out consistently, but also advocate and educate our audience on the importance of fitness and healthier nutrition as a whole. Read More>>

Kieng Vannak

As a professional dancer and choreographer, I spent hours rehearsing, performing, and moving. I noticed that most of the activewear out there either looked great but wasn’t functional, or it was comfortable but lacked style. I wanted both, and I realized others probably did too. That’s when the idea for my own clothing line started to form in my mind. Read More>>