Anita Talamantes Graham
Anita Talamantes Graham has built a distinguished career in early childhood education and entrepreneurship spanning more than three decades. She began teaching in 1992, eventually earning a master’s degree in Educational Leadership, and has worked in a variety of roles including assistant principal, Head Start director, and district manager for a corporate daycare company overseeing 10 schools across four states. In 2011, she founded her own daycare, 5-Star Learning Ranch, where she has maintained a high-quality, family-oriented environment with low staff turnover, emphasizing teacher development, team building, and strong relationships with families.
Alongside her work in education, Anita is the founder and owner of Anita Marie Apparel, a fashion venture she launched during the COVID-19 pandemic. Through creative initiatives like monthly Facebook Live “$30 Thursday” events featuring real women as models, she has successfully built a brand focused on accessibility and inclusivity. Even while semi-retired, she continues to manage both her businesses while balancing family responsibilities, including caregiving for her elderly parents and working as a substitute teacher for local charter schools.
Anita’s professional philosophy centers on integrity, trust, and empowering her staff and students to succeed. She values high-quality early childhood education, staff ownership, and hands-on mentoring, believing that a supportive and honest environment is key to long-term success. Her combined experience as an educator, director, entrepreneur, and community leader reflects a lifelong commitment to making a meaningful impact through education, family engagement, and creative entrepreneurship.
• St. Mary's University- M.A.
• Stephen F. Austin State University- B.S.
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say I have very old-fashioned, very old-fashioned Hispanic parents, and their work ethic was embedded in all three of us children. My parents were so driven, and that's all we saw was how hard they worked. My dad, when he was in his 80s, he didn't care, he still went to work. My mother graduated high school, I think my dad made it to the 8th grade, but the work that they put into us was the ground level, where it all started. As I got older, different people influenced me, but I can say that as I'm sitting here talking to you, those businesses wouldn't be successful without the people around me - those women who I gave a portion of my business to, the ones who model for free for me to support me. It's people you trust, and you learn to trust. I've been burned a lot. I had one business that was taking over for me because I gave away too much, and I learned a hard lesson from that. But I've learned through my experiences what to do and what not to do, and I've surrounded myself with incredible people who have my back. I gave my director 10% of my company and my assistant director 5%, so that's 15% of the company that belongs to them, and because of that, I have peace of mind knowing that there are people I can trust running my business even when I'm not there.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
When asked about advice that Anita would share with Young Women readers she shared that it's important to give back to those who have supported you. Build a network of incredible people who support you and have your best interest at heart, and share gratitude with them by sharing your successes and not being greedy. Also think outside the box, continue to explore new ideas and follow the path that is speaking to you personally. Anita has always had a love of fashion and jewelry, as well as shoes and shopping and this is why she wanted to create a space for others to be able to adorn themselves in beautiful ways with Anita Marie Apparel.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Keep an open mind and think outside the box. I did, and it led me to create something beyond traditional education. One of the most important things I've learned is don't be greedy. Early on in my business, I realized the value of my director and assistant director, and I gave my director 10% of my company and my assistant director 5%. When I show them the finances and give them their portion of the profits at the end of the year, it creates trust and peace of mind. I have no worries about my business running when I'm not there because I've invested in the people around me. Yes, that's 15% less when I sell it or in profits, but I have people I can trust. You learn through your experiences what to do and what not to do. I've been burned before - I had one business that was taking over for me because I gave away too much - but I learned from that. Build a network of incredible people who support you and have your best interest at heart, and share your success with them. Don't be greedy with what you've built.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Trust is absolutely fundamental to me, both in my work and personal life. I've learned through hard experiences what it means to trust people - I've been burned before when I gave away too much of a business and it was nearly taken over, but that taught me valuable lessons. Now, I'm very intentional about building trust with the people around me. I show complete transparency with my director and assistant director by opening up our finances to them and giving them ownership in the company - 10% to my director and 5% to my assistant director. That transparency and sharing of success creates peace of mind for everyone. I also deeply value not being greedy and giving back to the people who support me. My models for Anita Marie Apparel volunteer their time and won't take a penny from me except for the clothes they model, and I'm so grateful for them. Family is number one to me - I just moved back from Illinois to Texas to take care of my parents who are hitting their 90s and still living at home, because when your parents need you, you just move and do as much as you can. My parents instilled an incredible work ethic in me and my siblings, and even though my dad only made it to 8th grade and my mom graduated high school, they worked so hard to give us everything. That foundation they gave us is something I carry with me every day.