VANESSA AGUDELO
Allow us to introduce you to Vanessa Agudelo, a Houston native of Colombian descent who takes immense pride in her role as a devoted mother to her two lovely daughters, Alina (15) and Catalina Bella (8). Vanessa is a woman of remarkable talents and responsibilities, and her unwavering dedication and passion for achieving her goals always shine through, even when faced with challenges. From an early age, Vanessa was instilled with the values of hard work and perseverance, which have served her well throughout her 20s and now her 30s.
Vanessa is a driven individual who enjoys working and creating new opportunities. Despite not needing to work, her strong drive prevented her from sitting idly by. Instead, she established businesses that cater to women, drawing inspiration from her role as a mother to two daughters.
This was a natural fit for Vanessa, as she has always been surrounded by girl friends and has hosted numerous gatherings at her childhood home. Now, as an adult, she has scaled up these endeavors. Vanessa’s priority was to create something that felt authentic to her.
If you are interested in learning more about Vanessa’s story and her many impressive accomplishments to date, we invite you to read on. While we cannot predict her future plans, we can assure you that Vanessa is a remarkable individual who is worth getting to know.
HOUSTON BUSINESS WOMEN:
Vanessa is the visionary Founder and Director of the Houston Business Women Association.
This association is dedicated to supporting and promoting established business owners in Houston through various platforms such as online, print magazine, and in-person events. Vanessa’s focus is to unite female leaders, innovators, and business owners in the community.
Her ultimate goal is to create brand awareness, generate new clients, and cultivate long-lasting friendships among like-minded individuals.
Vanessa diligently handled all legal procedures, branding, and promotion for her innovative concept, behind the scenes, in November of 2018. In early 2019, she devoted her efforts to marketing for the planned launch of HBW in May of that year. It proved to be a challenging task to introduce something novel to the Houston market since many were unfamiliar with the purpose of our association. However, now in 2023, we are elated to have established and normalized an association that has served as a source of inspiration to numerous other organizations.
Vanessa took on a new challenge when she entered a field she knew nothing about. It was tough in the beginning, but after months of hard work curating the magazine, she finally pulled it off. She decided to celebrate her accomplishment by hosting a magazine launch party. Vanessa invited all her clients and guests to attend the event and witness the unveiling of the cover woman, Malia Morales. It was a night to remember, filled with laughter, music, and good vibes. Everyone had a great time, and Vanessa couldn’t have been happier.
In March 2021, Vanessa had the pleasure of hosting the highly anticipated Women’s Summit. It was a wonderful success, with a total of 35 vendor tables, over 20 sponsors, over 20 volunteers and a fantastic panel of 8 individuals. Additionally, she was thrilled to feature a fashion show highlighting 5 incredible boutiques and over 20 beautiful models. The event was additionally made memorable by the introduction of HBW new cover woman, Dr. Lisa Patel. Vanessa is eagerly looking forward to next Summit and all that it will bring.
Additionally, Vanessa’s membership program has experienced significant growth since its launch in January 2020, boasting over 130 monthly members from various fields. Vanessa has successfully launched two print magazines featuring local businesses, established two members-only office space, introduced HBW merchandise, organized multiple networking events, and embarked on new projects. Vanessa now has a board of ten accomplished businesswomen working together to achieve greater success.
AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS:
Vanessa was honored with the prestigious “Business Leader of the Year Award” and received
recognition from the City of Houston at the Mujer CBBA Gala in 2021. In addition to this, she has garnered several other awards from various organizations, such as the “Most Influential Award” “Woman Who Empowers Award” “Entrepreneur on the Rise Award” and “Creating a
Movement Award” Vanessa’s efforts to highlight and connect women in business have also
earned her seven recognitions from the City of Houston, the State of Texas, and Nationally. It is noteworthy that Vanessa did not apply for or pay for any of these awards, and she remains grounded and proud of her hard work and dedication. Being acknowledged for her
achievements is truly an honor for her.
Vanessa’s outstanding achievements and selfless contributions to the Houston community have garnered recognition. In 2019, she was invited to participate in the feature “Dynamic Woman”
and “Houston Power Player” by the esteemed Houston Modern Luxury Magazine.
Furthermore, commendations from the City of Houston and Councilwoman Sheila Lee Jackson further attest to her remarkable character and dedication to serving her community.
Vanessa demonstrated her philanthropic spirit by co-hosting a fundraiser for the American Heart Association alongside En Belle Epoque. Her unwavering generosity towards the people of Houston was once again highlighted during this event.
Vanessa had recently raised an impressive sum of $10,000, which procured one hundred $100 gift cards from HEB to provide much-needed assistance to those who suffered from the freezing and bursting pipes. En Belle Epoque Owner Bri Cheaung took this opportunity to award Vanessa for her efforts to get the Houston Community together and help raise funds for those who were not doing well during that time.
PRETTY IN PINK HOME:
Vanessa bought her first investment property in July 2021 with the aim of converting it into a full-time short-term rental. She gave the property a girly touch by painting it blush pink and named it the Pretty In Pink Home.
This rental is perfect for girls trips, bachelorette parties, bridal showers, birthdays, and similar events. Although her short-term rental is now thriving, it wasn’t easy in the beginning. Vanessa struggled to find a home without an HOA in place as she was adamant about painting the house pink. However, she stumbled upon a property online that was already a successful short-term rental and was painted blue. She immediately called her realtor to schedule a tour and booked a flight to see the property.
With her background in real estate, Vanessa knew how to negotiate and successfully secured all the appliances and main furniture she wanted. She only had to add her personal touch to the property. The house had recently undergone major renovations, so Vanessa did not have to do much.
Today, Vanessa considers the Pretty In Pink Home as one of her greatest achievements.
BELLA VINO LASHES:
Vanessa has a luxury strip lash brand called Bella Vino Lashes, which was named after her first business in 2013, Bella Vino Events, where she worked as a full-time wedding and event planner.
In 2020, Bella Vino Lashes was featured in the Houston Modern Luxury Magazine. The lash brand boasts five unique styles, and each set can be worn up to 25 times. Interestingly, Vanessa started this business during the pandemic. She contacted wholesalers in China and worked on designing and curating the brand’s aesthetic and packaging with the supplier. Additionally, she created the marketing for the brand and used herself to market it. Vanessa launched the lashes, and within 24 hours, she was sold out of the 150 lash sets she had planned to sell for a one-month period.
It’s truly impressive to see Vanessa’s lash brand sell out of 150 lashes in less than 24 hours. Her exceptional product has garnered a devoted following, including superstar Becky G and many successful businesswomen throughout major cities such as Houston, Miami, Dallas, Phoenix, Boston, Atlanta, Vegas, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis. Vanessa was in awe that she
was shipping her lash brand from her small town of Pearland, Texas, to all these major cities.
She was incredibly grateful for the support of her loyal customers. Vanessa’s journey in building this tangible business from scratch has been a valuable experience for her. Although she has shifted her focus to HBW, we anticipate her relaunching this remarkable brand soon.
REAL ESTATE AGENT:
Vanessa, a licensed real estate agent with a background in residential properties in Boston, Massachusetts, transitioned her focus to commercial real estate when she moved back to Houston. With a specialization in leasing shopping centers, Vanessa found inspiration from her
role at Hunington Properties to start Houston Business Women, aiming to connect with like-minded women already in business. As Houston Business Women grew, Vanessa relocated to
Miami, ultimately leading her to depart from her position that had supported her growth as an individual, as well as the company that had shown her tremendous support. While Vanessa remains licensed, she is currently considering her options regarding a potential return to the world of real estate.
Vanessa’s diverse abilities are truly inspiring. She approaches new challenges with enthusiasm and refuses to be confined to a single field. We can’t wait to see where her multifaceted talents
will take her next.
