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.
Ally Aboud
I believe that occasions big and small all deserve festive attention. I have always had a love for events and party planning. It is a way to unwind and have fun with the people you are close to. Life can be so serious and fast; that it’s nice to take a step back and enjoy the big moments, accomplishments, or just take a break to be with the people you care about. Read more>>
Scottlin Smith
The name of my nonprofit is Love Travels Beyond, Inc. Oddly enough people automatically assume it’s a travel agency lol . As if simply spreading love is not so common. I thought of Love Travels simply by serving. I could see how contagious doing something for others could be. How the vibe in rooms change off of love. How people could be going through their darkest times but how serving others somehow made their day better. I could be going through the toughest time in my life but still choosing to serve and I could just feel the love and joy traveling all over my body. When I see people I’m serving light up I can see the love I have to give traveling through them. In summary I would say the name came from experience love travel through service events. Read more>>
Jessica Nelson and Stephanie Lindsey
Though we, Stephanie and Jessica, officially started Etch Design Group in September of 2015, from the day we met at the design firm where we both worked, it felt inevitable that we’d be in business together. We clicked immediately, loved each other’s aesthetic, and…we made each other laugh. By the time we opened our doors, we’d set clear intentions. 1. Etch would be a people-focused design firm with our appreciation for people shining through. 2. Etch would be a firm where you could love your job and love your family; this was non-negotiable. 3. Etch would stand for doing the right thing; if it came down to our financial gain or to our client thriving, our clients’ happiness would always win out. Read more>>
Nakita Gee
For years I was in club promotions and assisting a few small businesses with flyers and web design. Over some time I became the go to person for a lot of individuals looking for information on how to set up their business. I used to ask them why come to me and they would always tell me, because I knew a lot of different people to get a job done. So, soon after I kept battling on how I could set up a business to give these business owners a one stop shop team. It took me 5 years to finally put in works and a strategize what I could put together for all small business owners. I remember the night I sat at my cousins house and cried for hours trying to really put a business plan together that would be affordable and quality. Read more>>
Leigh Ann Cannady
The mission of Forsyth Academy of Performing Arts is to foster a creative, safe, professional environment for students to develop skills essential to the performing arts and beyond. We developed that mission statement before we ever opened our doors to the public and it remains the heartbeat of what we do every day. In our industry of performing arts, there is often an assumption that if students don’t go on to pursue the arts professionally, we haven’t been successful. I simply don’t agree. The performing arts are especially suited for providing opportunities for children and young adults to develop qualities that will serve them well no matter what path they pursue professionally. Read more>>
Adaora Nwangwu
My name is Adaora Nwangwu and I am a multi-hyphenate creative based in Atlanta. Right now, I’m focused on transitioning into the Product Design field while making User Generated Content (UGC). Read more>>
BreAshia Bonner
I didn’t always have dreams of being a business owner. In fact growing up my dream job was to become a OBGYN. My mind quickly shifted once I started working in customer service. I learned a lot while working a 9-5. I had some good days and I had some bad days. 2019 is when it finally clicked that I needed to do whatever it was to start my business. I didn’t have any help. No resources, helpful tips, entrepreneurship stories. It was just me taking a leap of faith and getting out there. Read more>>
Amethyst Farrar
Amethyst The Gem is a community for people interested in learning more about Tech and how they can get started in the industry. We share tips, resources, and advice to help new techies navigate their careers. We host network events and attend technical conferences throughout the year to bring the community together for a fun and meaningful time. Our mission is to increase representation and ensure technical careers are easily accessible. Though we have been heavily focused on providing resources for Software Developers, we most recently began consulting in other software areas, such as Technical Program Management, Project Management, and Product Management. Read more>>
Francisco Zangerolame
Life is extremely short one day you are on the top of the world the other you are in a hospital bed with the right side of your brain and body out on vacation, learning to walk, and to respect your body limits again, to enjoy a second chance in life, is a must, stress can kill, keep it under control, yes keep building businesses as you go, but keep the balance as you go, sleep 8 hours, find the time to enjoy a hobby, volunteer your time to help someone that needs helps, sometimes alone sometimes as part of a group, turn off your phone, limit your TV time to less than 3 hour / week, its a good 2 hour movie, and 4 chunk of 15 minutes of anything news, Netflix etc. Read more>>
Lori Griffith
Chasin A Dream Foundation was created to provide financial and other services to families with children battling cancer, cystic fibrosis, heart disease and other life threatening illnesses and disabilities. While working in the healthcare field, I had a chance meeting with a young woman in the hospital parking lot as I was leaving work one day. She was distraught and upon seeing my badge asked if I could help her. I had no idea what she needed and I explained that I worked as office manager and was not a clinical person. She started pouring her heart out about her little 2 year old daughter who was battling leukemia and she didn’t feel she was getting the help she needed and didn’t know where to turn to. Read more>>
Tiaera Pritchett
After creating a for profit with my best friend to offer life coaching and personal training, we realized there were so many people who we had yet to reach who just simply couldn’t afford to live healthier. It sounds easy right?! Anywhere you get your news and information is constantly telling you how to lose weight or how to become a “healed” you; but, how do you do it if you don’t know specific steps to take? That’s where FIIT Families comes in. Fully Integrated to Inspire Transformation. We want to help the whole family achieve whole centered wellness. FIIT Families is a non-profit we created to allow the family to change from within in how they eat and think at no cost to them. Whole-centered wellness shouldn’t be a luxury that only a portion of the population can afford. Read more>>
Amber Rhodes
Single motherhood is a common story. Whether an unexpected divorce or broken relationship, or even a death of a spouse – this new way of living rocks your world. However, my generation was brought up by single moms who basically survived. But I wanted to re-write the narrative of how we, especially in the African American community, single mom and how we can break generational curses and create generational blessings. I believe we are in a tough spot – unlearning how we were raised, learning a new normal and teaching that new normal to our kids. I want to reach the single moms, of one or even five, who needs that hope instead of the struggle. With God and and a little bit of selflessness, I believe we all can create generational blessings as solo moms. Read more>>
Camila Ladicani
Ladicani Design is a unique brand with a defined mission- making simple, functional, and handcrafted stylish goods that are essential to our everyday life. As I always say, objects we carry with us are more just than accessories; they are full of stories and emotions. Our purpose is to make each product as useful as they are beautiful. Minimalist, stylish, and functional will always be our motto. Read more>>
Vicki Sanders
It was always in my heart that someday one of my creations would make a difference. Since 1990, my career as a graphic designer took me down other paths until 2014. This is when my previous dreams of having my own creative and purposeful business started. Over the years, I was known as ‘the hugger’, had great joy in gifting, giving back, creating, learning and practicing healthy, eco-friendly ways of living. So it was inevitable that all of these attributes would someday contribute to the conceptualization of the Hug Box. Read more>>
Shaun Gold
It is hard to narrow down a single story behind my mission, especially as my story is one that can be called “out of the box.” As a lifelong entrepreneur, I have always gravitated to a variety of interests and pursued them, even though my peers may have said I have no business to. I entered the world of nightlife and hospitality while still in high school and built a brand and business that continues to be strong almost two decades later. I have worked with a variety of startups, lectured at multiple universities, appeared on Jeopardy, wrote film and television scripts, started a substack newsletter for mental health, and write content for various websites. I think if my story has a lesson it is that you should always be flexible and choose personal growth over safety, defining your life rather than having society define you. Read more>>
Bernie and Petra Travelbuddieslifestyle
Bernie, the principle of a private higher learning institution in Johannesburg and Petra , who works developing electric cars in Germany, launched their Travel Buddies Lifestyle Instagram account in October 2020. It started as a hobby, but quickly grew into a loyal online community. Posting about our destinations with truthful descriptions, honest comments and relatable, unedited pictures, left our growing audience with the hunger for more. So we launched our website which we call a Digital Magazine rather than a blog earlier this year. Now we can write more about the places we visited and give our followers an even better idea of what to expect. We have a passion for travel and we want to take the community with us. Read more>>
Timneisha Greene Kim
Being able to write stories from my personal experiences to liberate those confined, to speak for those muted, to receive those excluded, and to awaken the souls of the untutored are the objectives I wish to create and the story behind my mission of being a storyteller. Read more>>
Araceli Russi
My career was based in Finance for over 17 years, I wanted a change and the ability to be around my family more. My cousin and I developed a passion for plants and decide to use this as a stepping stone. A year later, after much planning and sacrificing The Flourishing Cousins store is open along with still participating with the community in local markets and fundraisers. Read more>>
Jennifer Harrup
I love creating an environment online where people feel inspired to tackle home DIYs and renovations in their own spaces while giving them the tools and information to do so! Read more>>
Lucero Adame Luna
The story behind my mission is to inspire women that we can be our own boss ,entrepreneurs while being a stay at home mom, a mom with a side hustle, a mom with a special needs child. A single mom, a single woman with the ambition of succeeding in life for a better future for our kids/ourselves. Read more>>
Renata Hromadkova
We build beautiful one-of a kind furniture and decor with upcycled wood for environmentally conscious customers who are environmentally conscious. “Why import wood, which supports the destruction of rainforests and clearing old growth trees, when you can have quality, locally sourced urban wood? Every decision about materials matters. There is a human and environmental cost in the widespread destruction and transportation of trees from deforested communities.” Read more>>
Malacchi Esdale
My co-founder and I come from pretty diverse backgrounds and two things that are most important to us is family and food, so that was definitely something we had in mind when we first started That Good Good Market. We wanted to make something that brought all different types of people together. Whether you’re vegan, non-vegan, short, tall, blue or purple, we just want all these people to come together to eat great food and have a good time. Our mission gave us the fuel we needed for the inspiration behind the market branding as well. We figured, “hey, if it looks cool and inviting it doesn’t matter who they are, they’ll come. Read more>>
London Miller
I started from being inspired by others to start my own business. I fought to prove I can do anything. And with me having adhd it was hard but not impossible Read more>>
Jonaa Darrie
TOSCA HONEY was created with the exploration of niche fragrances and bringing them to life. I wanted to share with the world, beautifully crafted candles, with exceptional scents that compare to no other. Scents that are inspired from stories, ballets, and operas, that will transport you there. An approachable luxury, while keeping my brand ethically sourced and animal cruelty free. This was my dream that came to be. Read more>>
Jo Colagiacomi
My love of baking started with me standing on a stepstool at my grandparents’ house, intently looking into my Nana’s mint-green mixing bowl as I cracked the eggs for her butter cookie recipe. Over the years, I traded the eggs in for flax seeds and applesauce, but my care and intention have only amplified. Read more>>
Alex Royer
Grumpy Chef was born in 2020 during the pandemic. While cooking at home during quarantine my partner Abdul and I began exploring different kitchen tools. In doing so, we found so much about them that we didn’t like. From product design, ergonomics and quality – we thought why not create a brand doing things completely differently in kitchenware. Combining quality, improved ergonomics and unique presentation – we knew we could bring something new to kitchenware. Read more>>
Michael Oraschewsky
I had a catering that canceled and left me holding a bunch of cooked off bacon. We turned it into bacon jam and thus was born TBJ Gourmet a company focused on upcycling ingredients into delicious food products that people want to eat. No food should go to waste especially meat, and combating food waste is the number one way to fight climate change. Read more>>
Chrain Walls
The story behind my mission. When I was growing up, I had the privilege of attending charm school. When I moved away to attend college, I saw so much with young women that burdened my heart. So I did something about it. That grew into being able to help young men and women, then added other services. My passion became my business and I love it! Read more>>
Megan Winkler
Burnout is a b**** and I know that firsthand! In 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, my business experienced explosive growth. I had also just started my MBA at Texas Woman’s University with a concentration in Women in Leadership. Although it was awesome to have all of this going on in my life – especially when others were struggling so much with the pandemic – it was also really hard. Like so many others, I became a homeschooling mom too, while also going to school AND running a business. It wasn’t long before I experienced crippling burnout. I lost sleep, I gained stress weight, I went to a therapist for the first time since my childhood, I got on anti-depressants, I felt like I was meeting myself coming and going. And I kind of shut down for a while. Read more>>
India Pierce
I believe in the power of radical pauses, moments of deep rest and rejuvenation. All around us are messages pushing us towards being more productive, so much so that making time for nonproductive joy is its own liberation practice. There are a million things to do and not enough time to do even half of them. As such, we’re constantly going and rarely give ourselves time to relax. Armed with the motto of, more joy and less stress, Omi Picnics is on a mission is to transform our slice of the world, one picnic at a time, by creating unique experiences that allow our clients to slow down, spend time with those they love, and boldly chase joy. Read more>>
Katrina Green
It was a dream come true for me to become a Professional Organizer. I started my journey as an Interior Designer but when I found Home Organizing back in 2014, I instantly knew this was what I was meant to be doing. It wasn’t until 2018 when my husband was diagnosed with Adult ADHD that I honed in on wanting to become a resource to those who have neurodiverse brains in regards to organizing and simplifying their lives. I started looking for opportunities to learn more about how the brain and organizational skills are related. Read more>>
N’Ckyola Nikki” Green”
I started Xtraordinary by Design in 2006 to help people decorate their homes & offices without the limits of trends & budgets. In 2012, I met a client with some unique requests. She explained that she had a career she loved but that could be very stressful. She really wanted to come home to her own personal sanctuary everyday. Even with a limited budget, furniture she was not quite ready to replace, and loads of style, I was fully ready to take on the challenge. Read more>>
Shannon Vogel
The story behind my mission comes from a place of helping people be seen and heard. For their voices to be heard and their stories to be told. Most people think of social media as something that doesn’t matter or is not important to businesses. Social Media gives businesses a platform to talk about where you came from, what sets you apart and what you can provide as a solution in your community. It’s a place to celebrate your company culture, your team, your projects and your successes. It’s a place to use your voice and share your story. Read more>>
Kim Beechner
Embark Marketing was born out of a passion for the food & beverage industry, but also a necessity for survival. At age 17, my mother passed away unexpectedly and I was on my own. I was still in high school but needed to figure out a way to survive, pay a mortgage & bills, and support myself. So during this time, I transitioned to night school so that I could work multiple jobs during the day, many of which were in the restaurant industry. It was here I began to fall in love with food, cocktails & culture. Read more>>
Adam Schluter
About 6 years ago, I had just moved to a new town with a girl I thought I was going to marry. We had been together for 3 years and everything seemed like it was falling into place. But then, the relationship crumbled and she broke up with me – Leaving me alone in a new town where I didn’t know a single person. Then… We went into the winter time. Read more>>
Jessica Williams
The beauty industry has always been an interest of mine. Growing up in the Golden Era of the “Beauty Guru” I developed a love of all things makeup from a very young age. However, as a woman of color I quickly realized that much of the beauty industry doesn’t cater to us. Coming to terms with the short falls of something I loved so much was difficult. But it was more difficult seeing my sisters and friends have trouble finding hair salons that would work with their hair textures, or having difficulty finding a brand of foundation with enough range of shade to accommodate them. I realized how narrow the scope of the industry really was. Read more>>
Dr. Quintin Bostic
My personal and professional mission in life is to help educate, empower, and uplift the most marginalized children within our communities by providing them with the foundation and tools necessary for a bright and successful future. Two of the biggest influences on children’s lives are their teachers and their social, political, and economic rights. Did you know that the United States is the only country in the world that has failed to ratify the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (an international human rights treaty which sets out the civil, political, economic, social, health and cultural rights of children)? Read more>>
Jared Washington
The mission of my business Healing Outreach Purpose Empowerment LLC is “To create a space of healing for individuals and communities who have been hindered mentally and emotionally by traumatic experiences. We will assist individuals and communities in finding purpose and using that to empower and liberate themselves.” Read more>>
JoAnn Little
When I went through my own divorce in 2006 I found out how broken and stressful it was to navigate through the process of divorce. The attorney costs, the conflict, the alienation of the children and the lack of understanding and communication within the process. I learned about a model called “collaborative divorce” and became certified as a Collaborative Divorce Financial Professional. I wanted to create a better way to divorce that helped to educate and empower the couples instead of breaking down the relationship even further. I eventually left Corporate America where I was overseeing large financial services programs for companies like Allstate Financial, Citibank, Wells Fargo Bank and North Island Federal credit union as a VP and sales manager . Read more>>
Miami Knight
Miami’s beloved son Ty-Key, was shot in an incident that also claimed the life of his friend. Though Ty-Key survived, he lived with PTSD, depression, anxiety, and survivor’s guilt. Five years after his attempted murder, in 2017 Ty-Key died by gun suicide. A year after Ty-Key’s death, Miami became a Certified Master Grief Coach, during her healing process she was initiated into Shamanism becoming a Wisdom Practitioner, Reiki Master and Master Meditation Guide. In 2020 Miami received her MA in Grief Counselor and as a Specialist with theoretical knowledge and skill in professional grief training and bereavement recovery. Read more>>
Dr. Randi D. Ward
The story behind my mission to help people write their stories to inspire others actually commenced over a period of fifty years with two prior careers. In 1972 my first career was launched as an English/Language Arts Educator in American secondary public schools. During the next 37 years, I enthusiastically taught my students how to write and how to express themselves effectively. I loved reading biographies as a child and loved encouraging my students to read them as well. Reading about the lives of others always inspired me to create my own life stories. Read more>>
Chris Lynch
Our mission at Everyday California is simple: make fun happen, create cool products and protect the environment. As a California native, my love for this state began at an early age. My mom was one of the first-ever female Navy Salvage divers, so naturally, she had me in the water before I could even walk. I still remember learning to scuba dive at the bottom of a pool in Modesto and driving over to Santa Cruz to learn how to surf. This lifestyle instilled my appreciation for the ocean, which still guides everything I do and inspired the mission for Everyday California. Read more>>
Pearl Roziers
We hear at an early age that “life is not fair”, so we must learn to accept what it gives. While yes, this statement is true, which one of us would like to volunteer to be the person that is on the receiving line of life’s unfairness? Certainly, no one will volunteer. But when (not if) it hits, how can we shift to give life a new purpose, a new mission? Read more>>
Antoniella Paradiso
Family has always defined Antonella Paradiso’s love affair with Italian restaurants. “My parents ended up opening a few restaurants, so my brother and I were very hands-on,” explained Antonella, owner of Antonella’s Pizzeria in Winter Park (two locations). “We learned from them how hard it was to get the business going. And how you need a passion to fuel you through the hard times.” Antonella’s first job in the restaurant business was “dessert girl,” she recalls with a smile. “The position was created so I could see my papa Stefano more. Read more>>