We’ve always tried to ask the questions that matter but that are too awkward for people to ask their friends, family and coworkers without seeming dramatic. One of those questions is about mission and purpose – when’s the last time you asked a friend what their mission was? Too often we don’t talk about our own missions and don’t ask those close to us about theirs with the result being that our missions remain secret. Are you just a doctor or are you a doctor who wants to be there for patients in the way you wished your father’s doctor had been? People have incredible and meaningful missions, and we hope our conversations asking folks about their mission can inspire more such conversations in your life.

Emma Holland

At The Collab, our story is rooted in a deep desire to create a space where women from all backgrounds can come together to work, connect, and thrive. Located just 20 minutes north of Nashville in Hendersonville, The Collab is more than just a coworking and event space. Our mission is to provide a dynamic, approachable environment where women can find support and inspiration, and where anyone can host their ideal gathering or celebration. Read more>>

Leslie Ayala

I was a first generation Latina student athlete. Growing up, you are taught to pursue school to become successful. That was the dream my family carried on their backs when crossing the border. After six long years of college and earning my degree, I thought I had everything I needed to become successful to achieve their dreams. But as I stepped into the job market, something didn’t feel right. Despite having the qualifications, I was unfulfilled, stuck in a cycle of going through the motions of life that didn’t inspire me. Working a 9-5, waiting for PTO to accumulate to have a vacation didn’t seem fitting for the life that I wanted. Read more>>

Kristin Richardson

My overall mission for Sherah has always been to provide more support to women so that we keep more women in the workforce, keep them moving up the ladder to leadership positions, and ultimately to achieve gender parity and equality, especially at the C-suite level. That gets hard when women become mothers because even in 2024, women still take on an unfair share of the responsibilities at home in combination with the gender wage gap at work. In order to prevent working mothers from stalling in their careers or leaving the workforce altogether when they don’t want to, I knew first-hand the need for a solution that would provide tangible daily support to alleviate the stress and pressure mothers feel juggling a career, family and running a household. Read more>>

Seth Whitted

My mission is deeply rooted in my personal experiences growing up in a single-parent household, watching my mother struggle to make ends meet. witnessing crime, poverty, and mental health issues all around has always fueled me as a creative entrepreneur. Like many others, I wanted to solve my family’s problems but saw many good young men, including myself, turn to crime in an attempt to change our community and circumstances. This path often perpetuated negative cycles within our community due to a lack of exposure to better opportunities. Read more>>

Andrew Rodriguez

I’ve been an entrepreneur my whole life. I’ve started my fair share of businesses, and its in my DNA; my Grandfather was an entrepreneur, my mother as well. Back in 2017, I was playing around with the idea of starting a food truck or food cart in our local college bar scene here in Southern CA. After a lengthy search, I discovered that it was actually more costly upfront to start a mobile business, than it was to start a brick & mortar. Upwards of 6 figures, and an incredible amount of regulations that made it impossible to build on my own. I thought, this can’t be real, there has to be a more affordable, easier option for people who don’t want to take out a business loan or pay 5-6 figures for a small cart. This is where the idea of ‘Arete Food Trailers’ was sparked. Our entire mission was to provide the most cost effective option for people to start a business, and now we do just that, offering the best value in the industry. Read more>>

Alexis Karpf

North American Canicross (NACC) was founded in June of 2019 for the purpose of promoting canicross as a competitive sport in the United States. Its rules and regulations were derived from rules in practice by the International Sled Dog Federation and have evolved into a framework that offers multiple title programs to meet the demands of a growing sport. North American Canicross defines canicross as the sport of cross country trail running with dogs. Canicross can be run with one or two dogs, always attached to the runner. The dog(s) wear a non-restrictive, free-motion harness that attaches near the base of the dog’s tail to a bungee cord or elastic line. The line reduces shock to both human and dog(s) when the dog(s) pull. The line must be the minimum of five feet in length and not exceeding nine feet when fully extended. The human teammate is attached to the dog(s) by a hands-free hip belt. Read more>>

Remy Jules

The mission behind Elect Housing Solutions is deeply rooted in addressing the barriers that many underserved populations face in securing affordable, stable housing. At its core, the mission revolves around creating a safe, inclusive environment where individuals who may be marginalized—such as veterans, immigrants, those aged out of foster care, and individuals transitioning from homelessness—can find not only a place to live but a supportive community. Read more>>

Rachel Anderson

Most authors never sell more than 250 copies of their book in its entire lifetime. That is because they don’t know how to get the word out beyond their family and friends. My mission is to help small press and self published authors reach a broader audience, and sell more books than they thought possible. This effort became my mission after a book fell into my lap that needed promoting after I got laid off from a corporate job, and thanks in part to my efforts it ended up selling more thousands of copies. Read more>>

Ray Daniels

The mission behind starting Ray Daniels Presents and the programs we produce was built around the idea of “edutainment”. The marriage of creating a place where viewers can be not only entertained, but educated in a way that can actually benefit their everyday lives and dreams. The shows we run will make you laugh, will leave you learning something and are meant to challenge your thinking. It is the #1 media outlet in music that offers real world information, unique perspectives and most of all educational moments. Education is power and it is the number one human currency in the information age. Read more>>

Shana Mason

One Pour Girl, LLC’s mission is to redefine the beverage experience by bringing fun, creativity, expertise, and a touch of elegance to events of all kinds. We aim to be the go-to mobile bartending service, enhancing the atmosphere and creating lasting memories for our customers and their guests. The mission of my company is meaningful to me because: – It emphasizes my brand’s identity, helping customers understand what to expect when they engage with us. Read more>>

Dr. Latanya Tolan, Phd, Lcsw, Ma.ed., Ma

“I curate Soul Care and Wellness experiences that transform the lives of Black professionals and catapults them to achieving their God given purpose with ease”. The aforementioned statement is my mission which was established because of my God-given purpose – which is to make an impact on the Black community by affirming the importance of having a personal relationship with Christ so they can walk into their God-given purpose with ease. The foundational tenet of my Soul Care framework is having a personal relationship with God. I believe that we all were created by God as unique individuals, with and for a specific purpose and it’s our job to find out what that purpose is and to do it! So my mission is meaningful to me because it is my God-given purpose to help Black professionals figure out and operate in theirs! Read more>>

Noah Ballingham

How I Turned My Pain Into My Passion: The Journey Behind Formula Stretch March 2018: I was a stubborn high school athlete, always pushing my limits and lifting heavy. At that time, I believed that the heavier the weight, the stronger I’d become. That mindset led to my first lower back injury. I brushed it off, thinking I could bounce back quickly. But it was my first real lesson in how the body can rebel if not taken care of properly. Read more>>

Adam Derito

Adam DeRito was born in Poughkeepsie, NY and grew up in West Milford, NJ. He started his public service career as a local volunteer Fire Fighter, Emergency Medical Technician, and Search and Rescue Technician; specializing in high angle rescue and vehicle extrication. He moved to Colorado in 2006 when he was accepted to the United States Air Force Academy. He has over 12 years of experience in the upstream, midstream, and downstream oil and gas sector. Earning his Master of Science in 2015, Adam has extensive experience in hydraulic fracturing, well bore cementing, production facilities, completions operations, reservoir production methods, cased hole pump down perforating procedures, refinery operations, and industrial wastewater treatment. Read more>>

Victoria Outley

The story behind my mission really stems from my own experience as a mom. I’ve realized firsthand how easy it is for moms to lose themselves while taking care of everyone else. We’re expected to be everything for our families, but that often comes at the cost of our own self-care, confidence, and even sense of beauty. For years, I found myself in that space—feeling like I had to sacrifice my own well-being for the sake of those I love. But I realized that nurturing others doesn’t mean neglecting yourself. In fact, I believe you can’t truly care for others unless you take care of yourself first. You can’t pour from an empty cup. Read more>>

Brandi Barr

Business #1: The mission of Baseball Paaralan and BP GRIT is A. To operate a non-profit baseball association. B. To ensure our youth have the opportunity to play baseball throughout their school years, subject to limitations of facilities and size and number of teams. C. To encourage youth to develop good baseball skills to the best of their abilities and desires. D. To promote fun and team spirit as well as good sportsmanship to all players, coaches, parents, and fans. Read more>>

Jessica Cardenas

**My Mission: Opening a Boutique at 47 as a Bi – Racial Entrepreneur** At 47, I made the life-changing decision to open my own boutique, a dream I had nurtured for years. As a bi-racial woman, this venture is not just a business for me; it represents my passion, cultural heritage, and a desire to uplift my community. Here’s my mission and the motivations behind it: Read more>>

Jeremiah Jacques

My story derives from a very ugly place. A place that was supposed to be my home but on most days never felt like one. A place where I never truly felt safe expressing my beauty/artistry openly. Instead, for years I practiced & honed my talents so that one day I’d have the confidence to stand in my self-love in spite of all those who wanted me to change myself to be more like everyone else. Read more>>

Cindy Marabito

Years ago Reunion Rescue was founded to help save pit bull dogs, one dog at a time. Read more>>

Tay Milburn

Fringe Pilates’ mission is to serve those that love and heal on the fringes of society and mainstream fitness spaces. It’s important to me that folks who identify as people of color, queer, larger-bodied, and otherwise marginalized groups feel supported and embraced by the culture we’ve built at Fringe. Read more>>

Don Tashman

Our primary mission is to “spread stoke.” This means to spread the passion, enjoyment and love that we each harbor and which skateboarding and action sports helps engender. This concept of spreading stoke starts internally and spreads externally. It manifests in our products, our marketing, our focus on community building and our collaborative approach with our competitors. I like to refer to it as a “virtuous pyramid scheme.” We spread love and those that are attracted to it spread the love further. Read more>>

Regan Rouse

I have been active in the photography industry as a portrait photographer for 18 years. My mission has always been to find a way to support my clients and tell their stories through creative imagery. In 2022 I also began a personal documentary project centered around perinatal mental health. Through creative still photography and video, I created a platform to educate, offer resources, and open the important conversations around what needs are not being met before and during the postpartum chapter. Read more>>

Mya Johnson

Nestled in the heart of our community, Cyan Candle Co. isn’t your typical candle shop. It’s a sanctuary, a space where wellness, creativity, and healing intertwine. The story behind this unique business is one of passion, resilience, and the desire to create a meaningful impact on the lives of others. At the core of Cyan Candle Co. is its founder, Mya, whose journey has shaped the company’s mission to support healing and personal transformation. Read more>>

TRAE A YAKELL

Our mission is to provide our communities with a local source to clean organic foods of the freshest quality with the highest concentration of overall nutritional value. As well as, educating those unaware of the power of microgreens and the immense health benefits they offer. We provide facts and statistics to our curious clientele about the questionable practices of the Agricultural industry and its food supply chain. With a decade of professional cooking experience and the understanding of how our agriculture and distribution systems work. Seeing this first hand has given myself insight on the food world many do not have to privilege to fully comprehend. The nations food system is broken when it comes to overall quality for nutrition and health benefits. Big agriculture seems mostly invested in preservation and visual appeal. To grow food in this mindset, the USDA controls the majority of agriculture supply and uses extremely harmful chemicals to keep pests away from the growing products. Insecticides, pesticides, herbicides, and glyphosates, are the leading cause to what has plagued our nations people with and endless list of illness and disease, including cancer. Read more>>

Alexis Pettway

My mission is to change traveler’s perspective of the Caribbean. I want to show and educate travelers that the Caribbean has over 30 islands to explore and experience. I also want to show them that there is luxurious experiences to be had in the Caribbean, and that each island is unique has cultural differences, history, landscapes and more. Lastly, I want to educate travelers on the many lesser known islands in the Caribbean that are hidden gems waiting to be experienced! Read more>>

Krystal Martin

Thank you so much for asking about the story behind our mission. It means a lot to have the opportunity to share why this journey is so deeply personal to us at K&K Co. Our mission is rooted in a commitment to creating vegan, sustainable, and clean body care products that empower people to feel their best without compromising their health. This mission was born out of a very personal and challenging time in my life. A few years ago, my husband Al and I faced the heartbreak of an ectopic pregnancy. It was a devastating experience—one that changed the way I looked at the products I used on my body and what I allowed into our home. Read more>>