Women Are Now the Majority of the U.S. Workforce but Working Women Still Face Serious Challenges. Here are female entrepreneurs raising the bar in Houston.
Founder and Creator of Real Eyes
Nadia, wife, mother of two and an IT manager at an energy company, has always had a passion for eye care. She straddles the world of technology and beauty and has made it her mission to solve the problems people have with eye care. Using her knowledge of business, technology and skincare, she partnered with leading cosmetic scientists and beauty industry veterans to use her insights about the eye skin category to create Real Eyes, a Houston-based skincare brand upping the game and changing the way customers care for the delicate skin around the eyes. As a woman and minority in the computer science field, Nadia has a passion for helping to forge a gender equal world. This passion has led her to make the decision to donate 15% of sales to Girls Who Code from now through the end of March.
President of Força SC
Vanessa, wife and mother of three children under the age of three, began her career working in Engineering, Oil & Gas Consulting, Enterprise Risk Management, Corporate Strategy and Entrepreneurship for various Fortune 100 companies across the United States. As a former soccer player, she then decided to merge her business experience with her love for soccer and join B-Elite Soccer Academy as the Vice President and Co-Owner of the Colorado and Florida locations. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, B-Elite was ready to shut down their Houston locations. Price took this opportunity to buy them out and rebrand to create Força SC, a youth soccer club providing the highest quality training by teaching a methodology that focuses on developing smart soccer players.
President and CEO of Nan and Company Properties
Nancy is the President and CEO of Nan and Company Properties. She started Nan and Company Properties in 2014 from her kitchen table after seeing a need for premier luxury real estate services in the Houston marketplace. Nancy’s hard work, vibrant personality and dedication to the industry, her team and her community have been rewarded with recognition in Houston and nationally. She has been named one of the “Top 48 Most Admired CEOs” by Houston Business Journal and was the national winner of the “Enterprising Women of the Year” award by Enterprising Women Magazine. With a growing business experiencing resounding success, Nancy still finds time to volunteer and give back to several organizations. Most recently, Nancy and her family fed 1,390 Houstonians affected by Winter Storm Uri through partnerships and She is a loving wife and mother of two. Nancy aspires to be a role model for women through her work ethic, determination and generosity.
Co-Founder of WellnessSpace
Dr. Sonia Krish has more than 10 years of experience in the healthcare industry. Dr. Krish and her husband launched WellnessSpace, a co-practicing space that makes private practice accessible to all types of practitioners. They believe that the freedom to practice with flexibility enhances the quality of services practitioners are able to provide, which ultimately benefits Houstonians seeking care. Having completed her neurology training in Houston, Dr. Krish strives to serve the community that helped develop her roots as a physician. Outside of work, Sonia enjoys learning, reading and traveling. In her free time, she is learning how to slow down and integrate play into daily life from her children – who she regards as her greatest teachers in life.
Principal at Lee & Associates – Houston
Jill Nesloney currently serves as a principal at Lee & Associates – Houston, specializing in leasing office properties. With ten years of experience in the commercial real estate industry in Houston, Jill is one of the only female brokers in her firm. She holds her own in a largely male-dominated industry. Her direct and open personality benefits her clients because she rarely holds back on sharing her honest opinion, whether good or bad. She likes to think of herself as a velvet hammer – kind, yet firm. Jill’s other full-time job is being a mother, and her two children are her proudest accomplishment and greatest joy. Within the community, she loves giving back to organizations like Small Steps, Ronald McDonald House and Newspring, and is an active member of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (HLSR). Jill is also an active volunteer at her son’s church school and leads the parent organization and helps organize the social parent events and teacher appreciation week.
Founder of Ginger Barber Interior Design
Ginger, Founder of Ginger Barber Interior Design, has been a design force for Houstonians, and their second homes, since she opened her firm over 35 years ago. Barber pays close attention to detail, listening carefully to her clients in order to transform their homes into a retreat. Her extensive background in both traditional and contemporary styles allows her to meticulously combine the two in perfect harmony. In 2014, Barber won the Designer of the Year Award at The Decorative Center Houston. Ginger also serves as Vice President for Habitat For Horses, a non-profit focused on promoting and securing the safety, well being and health of horses.
Creative Director and Principal of Sarah West and Associates
Sarah’s influence in the architecture and design of projects has spanned over two decades. Sarah runs a multidisciplinary design firm encompassing design and project management holistically. Sarah’s extensive experience during the architectural, design and construction phases for selected projects spans across the United States. Other services her firm provides include consulting within the budgeting and planning phases of selected projects. She spent the last 20 years working for and alongside her clients to design and create lifetime homes, vacation homes, offices and corporate lodging. When Sarah isn’t working with her clients, she is a full-time wife and mom to three boys. She is a member of both the University of Texas President’s Development Board and the University of Texas President’s Associates. Sarah has also served on the Advancement Committee Board for Episcopal High School along with many other philanthropic efforts in the community.
Nelia Mazula is a Houston-based innovator, engineer and digital transformation strategist. This year, the Society of Women Engineers (SWE), the world’s largest advocate and catalyst for change for women in engineering and technology, has announced her as the recipient of five Patent Recognition Awards for her software patents focused on augmented reality, big data visualization and artificial intelligence. As an African American woman positively contributing to the wholesale digital transformation of an established industry like oil and gas, Nelia hopes to serve as an example and inspire more women of color to pursue careers in STEM. Nelia is currently working on an incredible project at the S.H.A.P.E. community center, one of the most visible and involved centers in Houston’s African-American community. She is leading the charge on a brand new room at the community center that will be dedicated to her late brother, Marcos Mazula. The Marcos Mazula Technology Center will provide STEM resources and activities to kids in the area who otherwise would not have access to learn about STEM.