We are so thrilled to be able to connect with some of the brightest and most inspiring entrepreneurs and creatives from across the city and beyond and this series in particular gives us the honor of introducing these folks to you in a unique way – we go beyond the story of how they got to where they are today by asking them to reflect on a variety of deeper questions that we hope will help you better connect with them, their stories and their brands. Ultimately, our hope is that more of us will spend more of our money with independent artists, creatives and small businesses and we think getting to know one another at a deeper level is step one.
April Willis
I would tell my younger self that all of this hard work will pay off. Every high school party skipped, every job worked whenever there was a chance, and every leadership role carried will matter. She will earn a full-ride scholarship, build a life rooted in discipline, and create a business she can’t even imagine yet. It will all be more than worth it. Read more>>
Narkesha Brown
Some of my defining wounds came from realizing that not everyone who has access to you deserves closeness. I learned that people can admire your strength and still not protect your heart. That awareness was painful, but it was necessary. Healing came through boundaries, discernment, and learning to trust myself again without becoming hardened. Read more>>
Renay bossy Graham
Hikey- hay world… It’s like my catchphrase or it is my catchphrase. I’m bossy I’m a licensed cosmetologist. I’m from the West Coast. The thing that brings me joy outside of cosmetology doing hair, making everything and everyone gorgeous. I started my journey into content creating , it’s been a rollercoaster ride. Read more>>
Katie Butler
I’m deeply committed to the belief that reevaluating our relationship with alcohol — or removing it entirely — can be one of the most powerful, immediate ways to improve quality of life. More time, more energy, clearer thinking, stronger relationships, better mental health, and real healing aren’t abstract long-term promises; they’re changes that often begin the moment alcohol is no longer part of the equation. Read more>>
Sarina Lora Davidson
My mom, Cindy Ramos-Davidson, saw me clearly before I ever learned how to see myself. She recognized my leadership, my voice, and my sense of responsibility long before I had the confidence or language to name those qualities as strengths. When I doubted myself, she never did. Read more>>
Anna Tagliabue
What I’m most proud of building is the invisible infrastructure behind Pelush, the values, systems, and long-term vision that don’t show up in a single product or image. Behind the scenes, I’ve spent years questioning how fashion operates: where materials come from, how stories are told, who benefits, and who pays the hidden cost. Read more>>
Reasa Selph
Yes. And it came at a real cost. When my son suffered a catastrophic medical failure following an emergency room visit at Methodist Dallas at Southlake, I was forced into a lawsuit I never sought but could not ignore. Standing up for him meant challenging a powerful institution, absorbing significant financial strain, and navigating a legal process designed to wear people down. Read more>>
Thomas Bradley
I would say this to my younger self: “You’re not behind. Every long night, every sacrifice, and every step of obedience is shaping you into the man you’re becoming. Stay faithful, stay curious, and don’t doubt the calling on your life—God is guiding every part of your journey.” Read more>>
Ally Stuckless
I would stop overcommitting and saying yes to things that pull me away from the life I actually want to be present for. I would stop rushing through moments and measuring my worth by productivity. Knowing time was limited would make it even clearer that presence, health, and meaningful relationships matter far more than keeping up or doing more. Read more>>
Jasmin Dice
My character, integrity and dignity. I pride myself on being a decent, honest person that treats people with respect. Read more>>
Brenda Melgoza Ciardiello
Two years post MFA, I feel I am finally settling into a slower, more intentional pace in my life and artistic practice. This pace is dictated by an intentional rebalancing of my family and work life. Read more>>
Jessie Craig
Many engaged couples view a wedding planner as a luxury rather than a necessity. While not every couple needs full-service planning from start to finish, every couple needs someone involved closer to the wedding day. No matter how organized or Type A a couple may be, there are always loose ends, timelines, and vendor coordination that need to be handled before the wedding happens. Read more>>
Bianca B. King
That they’re exhausted by their own ambition. Many high-achieving women entrepreneurs I work with have built impressive businesses and careers, yet they’re tired. They followed the broken playbook: hustle harder, sleep less, grind now, rest later. But “later” never comes, and now they wonder if this is really what success should feel like. This exhaustion is compounded by the weight of everyone else’s expectations. Read more>>
Phiana Scott
Outside of work, I find so much joy in watching my children grow in the activities they’re passionate about. Seeing them celebrate wins, navigate challenges, and learn how to correct mistakes with confidence and resilience truly warms my heart. Being present for those moments, where growth, effort, and self-belief meet reminds me what matters most and fills me with joy. Read more>>
Valeria Valderas
I hope the story people tell about me is that I made them feel genuinely cared for. That in moments where they felt unsure or vulnerable, I took the time to slow down, listen, and help them feel confident in their choices. I hope patients remember that I cared about more than results. Read more>>
Veronica Petty
At the heart of Simply Grace Gardens LLC are truths that guide everything I do, even when I don’t say them aloud. I believe that growth requires patience and care, whether in the garden, life, or community. Purpose matters more than perfection and thriving in what we were made for brings far greater rewards than trying to do it all. Read more>>
LaToya Holley-Scruggs
My earliest memory of feeling truly powerful came when I learned to walk away, turn the other cheek, remain humble, and trust God to fight my battles. In those moments, I realized that not everything requires a reaction or response sometimes, silence is the strongest form of strength. Read more>>
Alex Clair
I think, with this career especially, there are a thousand rejections before the ‘one’ acceptance. As cliché as that is, it is a truth, at least it is my truth. The amount of times I devoted myself for an audition for a job that ended with rejection, are countless. Read more>>
Nisha B
When I kept proving to myself how easy it is to manifest. Through the loneliness of being a single mom, through the embarrassment of not having a relationship with my father, the conflicting feelings of not having the proper stats to be successful. Read more>>
Jori Bowman
I feel most at peace when I’m outside by myself taking in the nature at its finest. Sometimes I can get that peace by just stepping outside at home. Lately I have found a nature reserve where I can be away from neighbors, cars rushing to their destination or any other distraction. I use the nature to guide me to my natural state of being. Read more>>
Florida Palmore
My grandmother! She taught me about God, which laid the foundation that I’m building on now. She encouraged my artistic side and affirmed me daily. She’s the person who loved me unconditionally and guided me to pursue my dreams. Read more>>
Kimberly Gist Miller
Whew. What a profound question. A core part of my personal journey has been the slow and intentional deconstruction of early conditioning—from people, systems, and institutions that tried to tell me who I was supposed to be. I say that with deep respect and gratitude for those who loved and supported me, and with reverence for my courageous ancestors whose sacrifices made my life possible. Read more>>
Deidre Wosnak
I am a firm believer in meeting challenges that enable growth, and with growth, there is change. I was born to be exactly where I am, a proud wife, mom and nurse. I am fortunate to have made it to this point in my career. Read more>>
Leisha Anders
The belief I am committed to no matter how long it takes is my belief in the power of love. When you practice love, there will be love. Every second. Every day. That includes all definitions of love. We are told all the time what not to do or what we can’t do. Read more>>
Treone Lewis
The fear of both success and failure has been the most prevalent in my life. On one hand, there’s a fear of messing up which prevents me from taking some risks. Over time, I’ve learned that risk is an inevitable part of life and you can miss out on a lot by not taking a chance. Read more>>
Jess Johnson
I remember talking on the phone one day to my paternal grandmother and I said: ‘Granny, I wish you could live forever!’ She quickly said: ‘No honey, that’s not what I want. The Bible says we are not meant to be here forever. ‘ That has always stayed with me. Read more>>
Brett Dyer
The life my spouse and I built quietly, in the margins of everything else, between our work, gallery openings, events, leadership decisions, and late-night studio hours. Pride lives in the teams shaped over time and in the students who stand taller because someone believed in them. Pride lives in the art made when no one is watching. Most of what matters cannot be measured. Read more>>
Sara & Mahmoud
Honestly? The part of us that felt we had to prove ourselves to everyone. That survival-mode version—overexplaining, overworking, saying yes to the wrong things, tolerating misalignment—served its purpose when Roof Raiders was just getting off the ground. It helped us build credibility, momentum, and trust. Read more>>
