Khaliah O. Guillory
For anyone who’s ever felt sleep-deprived, Khaliah O. Guillory’s reasons for shifting careers from executive to entrepreneur are probably familiar. “I was a C-Level executive at a Fortune 500 company working 80 plus hours a week and traveling 75 percent of the time,” she tells GO. “Your girl was beyond sleep deprived!” Rather than slow her down, this exhaustion inspired Guillory to found Nap Bar, a Houston-based rest and relaxation experience for those who can’t budget seven to eight hours of sleep — or, as Guillory describes it: “an intentional curated sanctuary for the sleepy, health-conscious professionals, entrepreneurs, stay-at-home parents, and travelers to rest, recharge, and rejuvenate.” Nap Bar has landed her on Houston Business Journal’s coveted “40 Under 40” list of area entrepreneurs and was nominated for the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce’s Start-up of the Year Award in 2019. Nap Bar isn’t Guiillory’s only entrepreneurial venture, though. She is also the Chief Motivation Officer of KOG & Company, a platform that provides diversity and inclusivity training for businesses. As for her success, she tells GO that “being ‘out’ has affected my success in an enormous way. It left a positive impact on my mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. I believe we, as dope humans, reach the intersection where contribution meets satisfaction when we truly live boldly, courageously, and authentically.” In honor of her accomplishments, October 29 has been declared Khaliah O. Guillory Day in Houston. —RK
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