voyage houston magazine interview

10 episodes

Welcome to the VoyageHouston podcast where we interview the most inspiring business owners, artists and creatives from in and around the greater Houston area.

VoyageHouston Voyage Houston Staff

• Society & Culture
• 5.0 • 1 Rating
• MAR 14, 2024

Social Media Influencer & Stand Up Comedian

We’re so lucky to have a great guest with us today to discuss his journey and entrepreneurship and so much more. Manny is also a content partner. Content partners help Voyage in so many ways from sponsoring our mission, spreading the word about the work we do and collaborating with us on content like this. Manny Griggs | Social Media Influencer & Stand Up Comedian Intro: I’m a social media influencer and content creator. CanvasRebel Story: https://canvasrebel.com/meet-manny-griggs/Website: https://youtube.com/@Mannygriggs?si=z-C-1oY4AbBlLxTWInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mannygriggs?igsh=MXV4NW94Nmhqazk0bw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

• OCT 9, 2023

How the Best Real Estate Agents Add Value for Their Clients

We’re so lucky to have a great guest with us today to discuss how the best real estate agents add value for their clients and so much more.  Ronisha is also a content partner. Content partners help Voyage in so many ways from sponsoring our mission, spreading the word about the work we do and collaborating with us on content like this. Ronisha Hodge | Real Estate Agent Intro: I’m a community planner and realtor that cares about people and the built environment that surrounds them. Voyage Story: https://voyagehouston.com/interview/check-out-ronisha-hodges-story/Instagram: ronisha_hodge

• OCT 8, 2023

Anti-Aging: The Science & Practice of Helping People Look and Feel Younger

We’re so lucky to have a great guest with us today to discuss anti-aging: the science & practice of helping people look and feel younger and so much more.  Dr. Kim is also a content partner. Content partners help Voyage in so many ways from sponsoring our mission, spreading the word about the work we do and collaborating with us on content like this. Angie Kim, MD | Anti-aging and Regenerative Medicine Specialist Intro: Helping you achieve healthy, youthful skin through nonsurgical cosmetic procedures. Voyage Story: https://voyagehouston.com/interview/hidden-gems-meet-angie-kim-of-glow-up-md/Website: https://www.glowupmdspa.com/Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/glow-up-md-katyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/glowupmdspa/

• SEP 24, 2023

Building a Brand & Being an Entrepreneur in the Houston Area

We’re so lucky to have some great guests with us today to discuss building a brand & being an entrepreneur in the Houston area and so much more.  The panelists are also content partners.  Content partners help Voyage in so many ways from sponsoring our mission, spreading the word about the work we do and collaborating with us on content like this. Christine Galib | Author, Founder Intro: I work with startups, entrepreneurs, and investors and I am also an author. CanvasRebel Story: https://canvasrebel.com/meet-christine-galib/Website: https://christinegalib.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/christinegalibauthor/ Dominique McGee | Founder/ Director of Operations Intro: A bit of everything. Shoutout Story: https://shoutouthtx.com/meet-dominique-m-mcgee-survivor-leader-breakin-khainz-founder-actress/Website: https://www.Breakinkhainz.orgYoutube: https://www.YouTube.com/breakinkhainz1Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/breakinkhainz Kandice Cole | Directing Employee Experience for @narrative4 Intro: I facilitate experiences rooted in creativity and joy that lead to positive well-being. CanvasRebelStory: https://canvasrebel.com/meet-kandice-cole/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kandicecole/ Madison Hines | Visual Artist, Clothing Brand Owner, Podcast Host, Metaphysical Practitioner Intro: The work I do is creative and inspiring to others. CanvasRebel Story: https://canvasrebel.com/meet-madison-hines/Website: www.shopxwizdumbx.comInstagram: @xwizdumbx | @queen.akiayah | sacredsesssOther: https://linktr.ee/sacredsesspodcast https://linktr.ee/akiayah https://linktr.ee/xwizdumbx Stuart Weingartner | Apartment Locating Service Intro: I own an apartment-locating brokerage. Shoutout Story: https://shoutouthtx.com/meet-stuart-weingartner-small-business-owner-licensed-real-estate-agent/Website: www.findespot.comInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/findespotlocatorshtx/Other: TikTok @FindeSpotLocatorsHTX Alexandria | Food & Dinner Party Enthusiast Intro: I am a food writer and content creator. Website: https://linktr.ee/DinnerwithalexandriaInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dinnerwithalexandria/

• SEP 18, 2023

Building a Creative Career in/around Houston

We’re so lucky to have some great guests with us today to discuss building a creative career in/around Houston and so much more.  The panelists are also content partners.  Content partners help Voyage in so many ways from sponsoring our mission, spreading the word about the work we do and collaborating with us on content like this. Mae Renee | Model, Actress, Mama Bear Intro: Aspire to inspire. Voyage Story: http://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-trailblazer-mae-renee/Instagram: https://instagram.com/_dior_doll?igshid=2pwyw1rvfgxOther: TikTok - @_diordoll Stephanie Hobbs | Fashion Stylist / Consultant Intro: My name is Stephanie Hobbs and I own a is a professional fashion styling business that specializes in personal/fashion styling & wardrobe, personal shopping, virtual styling, photo shoots, consultations, closet revamps, speaking engagements, and fashion show coordination. - Style Me Stephanie has its own product brand of statement tees, pop-of-color hats, and handbags with customers across the country. The Style Me Stephanie signature style in every outfit is a pop of color. Voyage Story: http://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-stephanie-hobbs-of-little-rock-arkansas/Website: www.stylemestephaniear.comInstagram: @stylemestepharOther: TikTok - @stylemestephar NaijaKhloe | Content Creator & Selfcare Advocate Intro: Content Creator Voyage Story: http://voyagehouston.com/interview/daily-inspiration-meet-constance-iyamu/Website: https://msha.ke/naija_khloe85Youtube: www.youtube.com/@naijakhloe Andrés Monnier | Artist - Sculptor & Business Man Intro: Creator of materialized consciousness hidden as collectible design. Shoutout Story: https://shoutouthtx.com/meet-andres-monnier-artist-sculptor-business-man/Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@andresmonnierInstagram: https://instagram.com/monnierandres?igshid=MWI4MTIyMDE=

• SEP 17, 2023

Entrepreneurship, Branding & Marketing

We’re so lucky to have some great guests with us today to discuss entrepreneurship, branding & marketing and so much more.  The panelists are also content partners.  Content partners help Voyage in so many ways from sponsoring our mission, spreading the word about the work we do and collaborating with us on content like this. Sarah Sed | Owner of Houston Axe Throwing Intro: We teach people to throw axes and knives through guided personalized instruction both on and off-site since 2017. Voyage Story: http://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-sarah-sed-of-houston-axe-throwing/Website: www.houstonaxe.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0WpCZd1_V_2r7oY-KZKSyAYelp: Houston Axe Throwing Bellaire, & Houston Axe Throwing KatyInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/houstonaxethrowing/Other: TikTok: @houstonaxethrowing Jennifer Gabiola | Branding & Marketing Expert For Introverts and Sensitive Souls Intro: I help introverts and sensitive souls own their quiet voices and fierce power to build brands that make a big impact. Voyage Story: http://voyagehouston.com/interview/inspiring-conversations-with-jennifer-dawn-gabiola-of-dawning-soul/Website: https://www.dawningsoul.com/Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/user/DawningSoulInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dawningsoul/Other: Linktree: https://linktr.ee/dawningsoul Podcast: https://anchor.fm/quietvoicebigimpact Misti Buard | Food Truck Mentor Intro: I provide marketing strategies and inspiration for aspiring food truck owners. Voyage Story: http://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-misti-buard-brand-appetit-houston-surrounding-areas/Website: www.brandappetit.comYoutube: @thefoodtruckladyInstagram: @thefoodtrucklady Abrar Ansari | Management Consultant, Coach and Mentor Intro: Advisor, coach and mentor helping people transform... Voyage Story: http://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-abrar-ansari-of-mclean-virginia/Website: www.managementbyintent.comYoutube: https://youtube.com/channel/UCsrN-XPl2cwgW93IGaALZFA

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Voyage Houston Interview

Conversations with the inspiring ariane roesch.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ariane Roesch.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Ariane. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there. I feel like it’s never quite a linear path and there were a million choices and circumstances that shaped me to do what I’m doing: being an artist living in Houston, TX.

I went to the University of Houston to pursue a Bachelor in Fine Art. My mother has had an art gallery since I was seven years old and I think the continuous flow of artists coming to exhibit, discuss, and sell their art had a profound effect on me. They brought a kind of freedom with them, a freedom to engage differently with life, asking questions and not just marching forward in absolutes or adhering to the norms.

After graduating, I became more involved in the Houston art community. Developing my work, organizing exhibitions, meeting other artists, giving talks, and in general having a great time. Houston is one of the best places to be as an emerging artist: there are ample opportunities from renowned organizations plus a community of artists, collectors, and other arts professionals that is approachable, accessible, and supportive.

Although things were going well, I felt a bit stuck with the art I was making – I was in a rut. So, I decided to get my MFA at the California Institute of the Arts. It was a bit of a shock to defend my artwork, finding answers to why someone should care about it. What makes it important and why was I even making the things I was making? Pursuing a masters degree can be a tricky thing (especially considering the cost these days) but those two years helped me further my art practice and, more importantly, expanded who I am and what kind of life I wanted to live.

In the funny but beautiful way that life sometimes works, I landed right back in Houston. My husband Zak Miano, who I met two weeks before leaving for California, and my mom were a big draw to come back but I also started to miss and appreciate the unique concoction that makes up Houston. Although it is one of the most diverse cities in the country, the southern hospitality pervades. Plus, it is such an odd city with its no-zoning regulation, the intensity of flood events, and the thick humidity embracing you like a sweaty friend that it sometimes seems crazy to love living here!

But I have now put down my own roots. Zak and I built a house in 2016 from the ground up with the pier and beam foundation burrowing 13 feet down into the earth. Our half-an-acre lot is filled with trees, some which have forged their roots for decades standing strong and tall. Our dream to build was not easy and my latest project details our journey to homeownership. The memoir/how-to book “How to Build: a House, a Life, a Future” ( http://www.atmenpress.com/portfolio/items/howtobuild/ ) weaves a practical how-to guide to building your own home in Houston into an enticing narrative. To make the venture financially feasible, we moved into a 20 ft. shipping container on our property without electricity, water, sewer, or even a fence. Over the course of two years, we managed or assisted in all aspects of the construction and built our new life, slowly regaining standard comforts such as running water and continuous electricity. The story ended up being a meditation on affordable housing, the student loan crisis, and what happens when a generation can’t afford to invest in their community.

The book is currently available to pre-order with the release happening in September – a reading + release party is scheduled for September 19 at Gallery Sonja Roesch.

Has it been a smooth road? I don’t think it is ever a smooth road for anyone forging their own path. You have to be comfortable with and embrace a constant state of worry, fear, doubt, mixed with utter happiness and pride that you are in control of your life and the meaning it creates.

My advice to anyone starting out is to be resourceful in finding opportunities, learn to be disciplined with your work (even if you are not getting a paycheck, treat it like a job), and don’t be afraid to be persistent – never underestimate the power of a follow-up.

Just keep going… and enjoy what you’re doing!

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of. I am a visual artist that is interested in how we situate ourselves within a mechanized society, specifically exploring ideas of comfort, risk, and how we define success. I don’t really have a “go-to medium” – the format depends on the concept, what I want to communicate, and the situation in which it is displayed or disseminated.

I’ve done room-sized installations using light wire as well as collages. I like working with fabric, either as a sculptural material or a surface to draw on. My recent exhibition “VIP” included a series titled “Deadliest Climbs” ( https://arianeroesch.com/deadliest-climbs/ ) which are black chalk drawings on white felt of the 10 deadliest mountains to summit, an audio piece titled “Find Your Calling” that you listened to through a red phone ( https://arianeroesch.com/find-your-calling/ ), and a big oval-shaped red carpet track on the floor titled “I am a very important person” ( https://arianeroesch.com/i-am-a-very-important-person/ ).

My recent book project is a somewhat new direction but in a way, it addresses ideas that I’ve been continuously interested in: physical and psychological structures that make up our every day, self-help literature, and how we measure success. I also have an interest in distribution and thinking about the accessibility of art. Many of my projects involve making multiples and I see this book as yet another multiple with various available versions – limited edition, hardcover, paperback, and ebook.

Looking back on your childhood, what experiences do you feel played an important role in shaping the person you grew up to be? My family moved to Houston from Germany in 1996 (I was 11 years old) for my father’s job in the oil&gas industry. My mother had opened an art gallery five years prior which she has continued to this day (Gallery Sonja Roesch is located in Midtown –  www.gallerysonjaroesch.com ). After a few years of living in Houston, my father decided to leave his job and start a business importing picture frames from Germany. Growing up with two self-employed parents meant all hands on deck: stuffing envelopes for mailings, helping out during receptions, assisting with website development, etc. I think some parents try to shield their kids from the ins and outs of running a business but it was for me one of the best learning experiences – seeing the persistence, discipline, and constant innovation that is necessary to being your own boss (this is all in hindsight since at 16 nothing your parents want you to do is cool!).

Being an artist could be said is like running a business: you not only make stuff but you are also in charge of marketing, distribution, and selling. The good news is that YOU are in charge, and you can choose what kind of artist you want to be! Throughout my career, these early lessons on being self-employed have been key: you have to be flexible and disciplined, resourceful and persistent, always thinking one step ahead towards the next project.

• Book: How to Build (limited edition): $25
• Book: How to Build (hardcover): $20
• Book: How to Build (paperback): $10
• Book: How to Build (ebook): $5

Contact Info:

• Website:   www.arianeroesch.com
• Email:  [email protected]
• Instagram:  instagram.com/arianeroesch
• Facebook:  facebook.com/arianeroesch
• Other:   www.atmenpress.com

This interview appeared on August 13, 2019.

LAUREN HALEY STUDIOS

Music Education in Houston and Sugar Land

Special Feature Interview in Voyage Houston Magazine!

Posted on April 3, 2019

Happy Spring, Everyone!

I’m thrilled to share with you my feature interview with Voyage Houston Magazine. I had so much fun collaborating with them on this inspiring piece! Click here to view Meet Trailblazer Lauren Haley – Voyage Houston Magazine. 

Speaking of interviews, check out  Mind Over Finger and listen to Dr. Renée-Paule Gauthier’s latest podcast , which features renowned violist Michael Klotz ! Both Dr. Gauthier and Mr. Klotz also studied with Zvi Zeitlin , and it’s an absolute delight to hear them reminisce and share their own wisdom as well! Two LHS students, Christian and Jordan, will be studying viola with Mr. Klotz this summer at the prestigious Josef Gingold Chamber Music Festival of Miami . Congratulations are also in order for LHS violinists Catherine and Elizabeth, who have also been accepted to the Josef Gingold Chamber Music Festival (at the age of 11!).

In other studio news, congratulations to Riya, Archana, Vivika, Neha, and Ananya on their successful March orchestra performance at Carnegie Hall! Special shout-out to Ananya for her concertmaster solo!

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My Interview with Voyage Houston Magazine

Happy Sunday, everyone! I hope you all are having an amazing evening and not too hungover from Cinco de Mayo festivities. LOL I just wanted to come create a quick post about some exciting news! 😄 I had my  first official interview published in a local Houston magazine named Voyage Houston this past week!

First, I was featured in Voyage Houston’s “ The Influencers ” section a few weeks ago and then they asked me to do an interview. Being able to share my story in hopes that it will inspire others to keep on persevering through all of their obstacles has always been my most important reason for doing any of this. I have so much planned for the next few months and I just want to keep on allowing people into my life so that they can see my progress and be inspired to tackle their dreams. I’m so grateful for the opportunity! I’m hoping this interview will lead to more opportunities and for me to really get my foot in the door for my business endeavors. 

It would mean the world to me if you all clicked on the article, read it, and share it with your friends and family. I appreciate you all for the support that you have shown me so far. I wouldn’t have been able to get this interview if it wasn’t for you guys. 

Here’s to more interviews, sponsorships, ambassadorships, and business endeavors! Cheers! God is really showing me to trust Him to get the desires of my heart. 

If you aren’t already following me on social media I think you REALLY should. That’s where you’ll see behind-the-scenes snapshots of my recipe creations and also share some insights into my life. Here are the links:  Bloglovin’, Facebook ,  Instagram ,  Twitter  and  Snapchat to stay up-to-date. Also, please subscribe to my  YouTube channel because I will be adding another video next week!

Brittany Hollie

Hey! I love to cook & bake just as much as I love to eat and share knowledge of food with others. I'm a mom of 1 fur baby, owner of an online bakery and I love to invest in real estate in my free time. Oh, I also live with Fibromyalgia and other disorders.

Roasted Poblano Chicken Enchilada Skillet

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Voyage Houston Interview

I recently made y’all aware about my interview with Voyage Houston. I few weeks ago, I was contacted through email letting me know that a friend had nominated me for and interview and they though I was a good fit as well. I was so excited. I chatted back and forth with someone from their editorial staff. They sent me the interview questions and I was able to fill them out and pick out some of my favorite pictures too. There was so many pictures to choose from so I just chose some of my most current and absolute favorite ones. It was so cool to see it go live last week too! I’m so thankful for the opportunity. You can read my Voyage Houston Interview  HERE . Thank you so much for your support and for following me along in this journey with me!

You can click here to read about other blogging accomplishments that I have had. You can also click here for another big accomplishment for me as well.

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Voyage houston magazine interview.

Voyage Utah Magazine picked up one of my postings somehow when we were traveling on vacation this summer. They got me in contact with their Houston office and asked to interview me. Take a look at the link below of their article that is live now in the Voyage Houston Magazine.

http://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-jason-boldt-of-tomball/

My desire is to drive traffic to my site and reach people who can use it for inspiration and show them there are answers to the struggles.

Ready for more?

I'm so honored to be published in Voyage Houston Magazine ! Read the rest of the interview here: Voyage Houston- Meet Ashley

Voyage Houston Magazine Publication | Meet Ashley Newman

Ashley newman photography, voyage houston interview.

Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours? My journey began shortly after we started having children. We had struggled to start a family, and at one point believed we would never have children. Two years of fertility treatments brought us our Eli and I never put my camera down after that.

Please tell us about your art. I hope my images share genuine, authentic connections. I want to inspire families by holding up a mirror reflecting their true beauty.

I’m so honored to be published in Voyage Houston Magazine ! Read the rest of the interview here: Voyage Houston- Meet Ashley

It's time to connect

I want to get to know you are the incredible journey you are on., let's grab a cup of coffee and talk about what you are looking for., hi, i'm ashley.

About the Artist

Ashley newman photography is a woodlands family photographer and storyteller specializing in outdoor family photography. in addition to lifestyle family portraits, ashley and her award-winning team offer day-in-the-life legacy sessions, outdoor maternity sessions, fresh 48 hospital portraits and in-home newborn photography. ashley newman photography serves montgomery county, north-houston areas: the woodlands, spring, conroe, houston and magnolia., you might love these too.

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Ashley Newman is the highest-rated family photographer in The Woodlands, TX and Greater Houston area. With 200+ five star reviews on Google, Ashley is known for her touching, bold and colorful style that captures real connections and tells a story. She specializes in family photography with fully transparent pricing. Disability advocate. Love is love. 

Ashley Newman Photography serves the entire Montgomery county and Harris county areas including: The Woodlands, Houston, River Oaks, The Heights, Rice Village, Spring, Conroe, Magnolia, Tomball, and Montgomery.

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Your Windsdaily Mercury/Uranus Ruled, Oya Venerated Music Blog & Spiritual Growth Space for 222.9 The Mothership Internet Radio...UPDATED ON WEDNESDAYS ONLY. Blog 3 of the 7 Series!

An Interview with Voyage Houston Magazine

What a divine Windsday! It was September 4th 2019. The day vibrated on a 25/7! Love and light to you, beautiful soul! Thank you to taking the chance to let you get to know a bit more about me. I know that allowing someone to guide you spiritually is a vulnerable place, so I open myself up more so that you can get more comfortable with me as a serving oracle in your life. This is an interview that gives you a little more about my spiritual journey, as well as my journey…enjoy reading this milestone!

Ase in Love,

By iiiYansa (eye-on-suh) Muse

iiiYansaje T. Muse is a spiritual counselor, poet, visual artist, author, Priestess of Oya in the Ifa/Orisa faith, and sole creator of 222.9 The Mothership Internet Radio. She enjoys bringing an artistic and practical application to spiritual living!

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Voyage Houston Interview

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A. Millar Photography

Interview with voyagehouston magazine.

I was recently contacted by Leo Collins, an editor with Voyage Houston Magazine, wanting to know if I would be interested in doing an interview for them about my work.  It seems that he had seen one of my photographs posted on Facebook and really liked it.  I was shocked they wanted to interview me.  Before getting back to him, I checked out the magazine to see if it was credible, because there are so many scams today.  lol  Well, I was impressed at what I found and contacted him with my approval to proceed with the interview.  The link below will take you to the article they did on yours truly.  I do know that the Magazine has a publication in a number of major cities within the United States and they are constantly looking for more artists to interview.  If you think they might be interested in your work, please contact them.  

http://voyagehouston.com/interview/meet-andrew-millar/

Exploring Life & Business with Adriana McGee of Space City Creative

Today we’d like to introduce you to adriana mcgee., alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. to kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started, i began my marketing career working at a small ad agency in the woodlands, formerly known as wright’s printing & marketing. looking back, i believe that was the best experience i’ve had in my career in such a short amount of time. i often refer to this phase in my career as “marketing boot camp” since it was extremely challenging and fast-paced but this experience helped me build a strong foundation as a marketer. in just 2 years, i had the opportunity to work for clients in over a dozen different industries. because the creative team was small, i had the role of about 3 people. oftentimes, marketers aren’t just marketers, they also have to know design, seo, social media and copywriting..

After the agency shut down, I began working in local government for The Woodlands Township as their Social Media Analyst. The team I was a part of, the Community Relations department, functioned similarly to an ad agency in that we handled all internal requests for marketing projects. The team I worked with was even smaller than the last, had the same rigorous workload and the same fast-paced environment. More than anything, we all became well-versed in Crisis Communications.

In my 4 years at the township, i worked through 3 hurricanes, a winter storm and the pandemic. sometimes, we had more than one crisis happening at the same time. from a communications standpoint, this meant we all had to work overtime on nights, weekends, and holidays to keep the residents of the woodlands informed..

Even though my title was Social Media Analyst, I also created ads, wrote press releases and magazine articles, oversaw conference and event planning, handled some website updates and was heavily involved with video projects – including writing scripts, making storyboards and filming Facebook Live videos.

I had enjoyed the work/life balance of 2020, so when my employer announced that we had to return to the office, i knew i had to make a change. i was going through a lot in my personal life that made it difficult for me to physically show up to work..

I had been undergoing a spiritual awakening where I began questioning everything; my old beliefs and habits, who I was and what my purpose was.

I was at a crossroads. do i keep going down the safe path with my stable 9-5 job that pays well or do i chase my dreams and start my own business and see where that takes me, i chose the latter and sold my house to fund my business. i was longing for freedom in every aspect. freedom to express myself creatively, freedom to work whenever and wherever i wanted and free from obstacles standing in my path to success., i founded space city creative in 2021 to fulfill my purpose of helping people on a grander scale. if i could help businesses that i felt truly aligned with and passionate about finding more customers, and those customers’ lives changed because of the business’ product or service, then i feel that i am fulfilling my mission. i strongly believe that technology and social media have the power to connect communities..

Don’t let the fear of failure stop you from moving forward. It’s part of the process. Believe in yourself, forget limiting beliefs, and create the reality you want to live. It’s never too late to reinvent yourself.

Adriana McGee

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome? It’s been as smooth a road as Memorial Drive (If you’re not from Houston, it is one of the bumpiest roads around.) There were many setbacks along the way and it was especially challenging since I work alone.

I had an attorney help me with the business formation and she misheard my business name over the phone and I had to wait for the correction documents to be processed to begin setting up my business bank accounts. Then, my business mailbox shut down so I had to choose a different location and fill out more paperwork and correct the formation documents AGAIN.

Meanwhile, I had a client I was waiting to bill but couldn’t do so for the first 2 months until I had all the proper paperwork.

Learning Quickbooks was also a struggle. Accounting wasn’t my strong suit in college but luckily I had YouTube tutorials and a friend help me out.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?

I help organizations with marketing strategy, social media management, graphic design, paid advertising and live stream video production (Facebook, Instagram and YouTube Live).

I take pride in thinking differently, providing quality work and measurable results. My brand is quirky and I believe that being different is exciting. Think of advertisements, what are you more likely to remember? The bland, serious commercial or the weird and goofy ad?

I started this business to make a real difference in the community and that means doing meaningful work. I enjoy humanizing brands and engaging with people or other brands online. Without engaging, you’re missing the “social” component of social media.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?

I believe in taking calculated risks. It takes courage to try something that’s out of your comfort zone but that’s where great things happen; that’s where the rewards are. Many of us fall into the trap of thinking a salaried job is safe, but that’s an illusion. There is nothing riskier than feeling comfortable because when you’re comfortable, you’re not growing.

We grow complacent with decent pay, health insurance, paid time off, and retirement plans, and we forget the bigger picture. Many times, we sacrifice our happiness and well-being for these “perks”. We live for the weekend and not in the moment.

I would say entrepreneurship is a huge risk in and of itself. Your success doesn’t solely depend on your work ethic anymore. Some factors, like market conditions, can be entirely out of your control.

Was I scared to take the leap into entrepreneurship? Sure. But what scared me more was having the same monotonous routine for the next 35 years just because it paid well. Money isn’t my ultimate reward anymore, it’s freedom.