Everyday we meet business owners, professionals, artists and creatives. Photographers, florists, realtors and more. They might come from different backgrounds, work in different industries, have varying personalities, and have vastly different income and educational profiles, but the one thing we’ve seen over and over again is that most people have a unique and special reason for why they do what they do. From a realtor helping families afford the first home he always wished for as a kid to a photographer using her skills to give a voice and face to victims who feel voiceless, we have been blown away by what happens when you just ask people a simple question – why do you do what you do?

Q Ogletree

My mission is to help my family. That’s been my motivation ever since I started. I won’t go into depth bc it’s family stuff but me and my family have been through a LOT. We’ve stuck it through together even when it was hard as hell and never turned against each other. Never switched. If you knew my family story and all the trials and tribulations you would have no other reason but to do it for family. That’s the only motivation I need. Read more>>

Holly Holland

Being financially empowered is so important because when you make your own money and are knowledgeable about money then you control your own financial destiny. I am on a mission to help others become financially empowered so that they can control their own destinies. When you are financially free you can invest into other businesses, other people, and your community. Financial freedom allows you to do so much more than just pay bills and that’s why I want to help others achieve financial freedom. Read more>>

Maribel Maignan

Lifted in Faith was born out of a desire to bring people closer to God through physical and spiritual well-being. Fitness and wellness have always been a core part of my life, but I often felt something was missing in the traditional fitness spaces I encountered—a deeper sense of purpose and connection to faith. As someone who loves fitness and is grounded in my Catholic faith, I’ve experienced firsthand how the two can complement each other beautifully. I realized that nurturing the body can also be a way of glorifying God, aligning with the idea that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. This connection inspired me to create a space where like-minded individuals could come together to lift not just weights, but each other, in faith. Read more>>

Lama Abu-amara

The mission of My Busy Kitab is deeply rooted in my personal journey as a parent and my passion for preserving and celebrating Islamic values and cultural heritage. As a parent, I found myself searching for engaging, hands-on resources that could both educate my children and instill a sense of pride in their identity. I realized there was a gap in the market for interactive, meaningful tools that not only entertain but also teach our rich traditions, stories, and values in a way that resonates with young, curious minds. Read more>>

Sarah Gibson

Growing up, I was inspired by my mom, who has been in the real estate industry since 1996. Watching her truly care for her clients and go above and beyond to meet their needs taught me the values I carry into my own work today. At an early age, I helped her, learning firsthand the importance of delivering quality service, building trust, and connecting with people on a truly meaningful level. For me, real estate is more than transactions—it’s about being part of one of the most important decisions in someone’s life. This role comes with great responsibility. Read more>>

Eric Rush

For years, I lived without a mission. After returning home from combat, I carried invisible wounds—PTSD, guilt, and addiction—that left me feeling lost. The breaking point came when addiction led me to prison, and 30 days in solitary confinement forced me to confront myself. In that silence, I began to see my life differently. Every mistake and every moment of pain had given me a story, and for the first time, I wondered if sharing that story might help someone else Starting a podcast was terrifying at first—my hands shook, my voice cracked—but I spoke honestly about my struggles and the lessons I’d learned. I didn’t think anyone would listen, but then I received a message: “Hearing your story gave me the courage to talk about my own pain.” That moment changed everything. I realized that storytelling wasn’t just about healing myself—it could connect people and create hope.. Read more>>

Mariya Javed-payne And Greg Payne

Our mission at Awakened Roots is to cultivate wellness of body, mind, emotions, and spirit. We believe that as we help improve the lives of our clients, one at a time, we create ripples of healing that spread further and further into the larger community. We offer powerful modalities inviting our clients to heal at deep levels by reconnecting with their innate healing wisdom and releasing old emotions, energies, and traumas. Our clients progressively become lighter and freer to act in greater alignment with their core values. Read more>>

Courtney Kimball

The Accidental Beginning of One Common Thread One Common Thread began almost by accident. While living in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, a 13-year-old girl named Skarleth approached me, asking if there was a way she could earn $5 to cover her bus fare to the capital, Tegucigalpa. At the time, I was working on an English Paper Pieced (EPP) hexagon quilt for my oldest daughter. These quilts are entirely handmade and labor-intensive—each one requiring around 1,500 fabric pieces basted around small 1-inch hexagons before being sewn together. Read more>>

Steven Nisbet

Shields & Stripes was founded out of tragedy. I served as a USAF Pararescueman for 16 years and over those years, I deployed 10 times to various different combat zones. After my 7th or 8th deployment I began to forget people I knew for years. I began to have the same recurring dream over and over again. I would become extremely paranoid about losing my family members to some tragic accident having been surrounded by death or escaping death in my job. Lastly, my patience was incredibly low, especially for my children. One evening as the boys were bickering and fighting with eachother, one of them got hurt which sent me into a “rage”. After yelling at being physical with the boys, I came downstairs and was overwhelmed with shame and guilt.  Read more>>

The Real Chelzzz

My new book has been my most recent mission. Heroine Heroin is a book about overcoming adversity, addiction and codependency. Being an addict myself, I wanted to shed some light on why addicts behave the way they behave and offer tools and resources to help break these trauma bonds. My new book will help addicts and codependents of any kind and offer tools and resources on how to break the negative cycle. The real life stories will show the reader they are not alone in their suffering or on their journey to recovery and offer a back platform for all readers to connect and interact together in a safe space. Read more>>

Veronica Deraleau

When I graduated with my MBA in 2017, while I was excited about the future, I was also scared and guilt-ridden that I had accumulated over $100,000 of debt. In my book, Making Money Is Simple, I detail the stress and shame that came with that realization, as well as the steps that I took to dig myself out of that hole. By 2020, I had finished paying off my student loans in just three years on a single median income, so when COVID hit and many found their livelihoods put abruptly on hold, I felt called to share my personal finance knowledge.  Read more>>

Mark Ashcraft

Being a father of a female racer I’ve seen 1st hand the gaps in opportunities in motorsports. Because of this, the mission of Ashcraft Motorsports Racing is deeply meaningful as we help bridge several critical gaps and hopefully help provide opportunities in the motorsports industry. We look to empowering young women, Ashcraft Motorsports Racing creates pathways for them to excel in a space where representation matters. We look at ways to provide mentorship, which is invaluable for building confidence and skills. Young women can learn directly from experienced professionals or even peers gaining insights that might otherwise take years to acquire. Read more>>

Brittney Reed

At Source2Hire, our mission is to connect top-tier talent with organizations in need while championing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in every hiring decision. This mission is deeply personal to me, as it stems from my own journey navigating the corporate world and witnessing the transformative impact of equitable opportunities. After more than a decade in the recruitment industry, I saw firsthand how often exceptional talent was overlooked due to systemic biases or a lack of intentional focus on inclusivity. I founded Source2Hire to bridge that gap—to not only help organizations find the right talent but to ensure that every candidate, regardless of their background, has a fair shot at success. Read more>>

Emily Leonard

I never had any idea that I would be a photographer. From a really young age I wanted to be an author, to share my story and to help others through the pages of my books. But I had no idea that I would do that through the art of photography. At the age of 16 I was in a really bad car accident and had a severe head injury. my TBI causes issues with my memory that have persisted over the last 13 years and even worsened. Because I could no longer trust my memory, I started taking photos of everything in high school. My friends, my family, sunsets, things I liked at the store, quotes I wanted to remember. If it could be photographed, I had it saved on my phone somewhere. However, as often as I pulled out my phone to snap a photo, I definitely didn’t consider myself a photographer or even a decent camera phone user. So imagine my surprise, looking back then, at what I do. When God called me to pick up a camera, I had never used a professional camera before and honestly was really intimidated by them. But, God told me clearly – this will be how you serve and love others – so I leaned in. Read more>>

Janessa, Isabella, Ashley Vicenty, Ramirez, Casillas

Girls on the Go is built on the mission of empowering women to step out of their routines, embrace new experiences, and foster meaningful connections. This mission is deeply personal to us because we know how challenging it can be to find time for self-care and community in today’s busy world. We’ve experienced firsthand the transformative power of supportive relationships and shared experiences, and we wanted to create a space where women could prioritize themselves while building those connections. Girls on the Go isn’t just about events—it’s about creating a vibrant, welcoming community where women feel seen, supported, and inspired. Whether it’s through a wellness activity, a creative workshop, or a social gathering, every experience is designed to bring joy and connection into our members’ lives. Read more>>

Malissa Sanfilippo

The mission behind my work drives every aspect of what I do. My mission is to create edible art that is beautiful and delicious. I was fortunate to have graduated from the University of Southern California’s Roski School of Fine Art. During my time at USC I took advantage of one of the programs offered to all art majors (I actually double majored in art and Italian), the opportunity to spend a year abroad in Italy. Since I was a fine art and Italian major, it seemed like the right thing to do. So off I went and it was literally the experience of a lifetime. My interest and love of art grew as did my love of all things Italian. Upon arriving back in San Diego I met and married the love of my life who as luck would have it is Italian! We traveled the US as he was a professional soccer player. Every city was an adventure. It was at this time that I developed a love of baking as I trained and worked in several high end bakeries. Following my husband’s retirement, we came back home to San Diego. At this point, I knew exactly what I wanted to do. I made the decision to go into business for myself, marrying my passion for art with my love of baking, and this is when Violet Cake Co. was born. An artist at heart, I love what I do and my goal is to express myself through my art and create something that my customers will always remember. Read more>>

Tomeka Harris

My journey to finding my purpose began after surviving a traumatic event—the attempted kidnapping that nearly took my life. The aftermath of that crime left me physically, mentally, and emotionally wounded. I found myself questioning so many things, feeling frustrated while trying to manage the pain and challenges that followed. But as I began to heal, I realized that my survival was not just a victory—it was a calling. It became clear to me that the resilience I had shown after two divorces, becoming a single mother, and raising a child with autism, all led me to this moment. I saw how my faith in Jesus Christ had carried me through those past struggles, and I knew that it would guide me through this new chapter. My mission is to turn the pain from my past into a purpose—one that helps women who have survived similar tragedies. Read more>>

Ryan Wang

As a storyteller and post-production professional, my mission is to craft narratives that deeply resonate with audiences through emotional and visual artistry. This mission is rooted in my passion for storytelling and my experiences in editing, where I’ve had the opportunity to work on a diverse range of projects—from global brand commercials to student films and mini-TV series. Each project has reaffirmed my belief in the transformative power of storytelling to inspire, educate, and forge meaningful connections with audiences. Coming from a background in both advertising and filmmaking, I’ve seen firsthand how visuals and stories can drive cultural conversations and amplify underrepresented voices. This is why I transitioned to pursuing a Master’s in Film Production at Chapman University. I wanted to hone my skills and contribute to projects that make an impact, both creatively and socially. Read more>>

Gabbrielle Phelps

My original mission was just to make sure that anyone that I service felt more beautiful and confident getting out of my chair than they did when they first sat down on it. The story behind that is growing up and 1. Being insecure and self conscious about my own looks and 2. Barely seeing anyone that looked like me being represented in the beauty industry. Over the years in the beauty industry the mission has definitely developed more into representation for black makeup artists/lovers like myself ; as well as making sure to show up and provide the best service and safe space as possible for others. Read more>>

Samantha Rose Garrison

My mission is to share my own stories of loss, reformation, and empowerment through my art to document and alchemize my experiences to be beautiful. Despite the wretched or euphoric states of origin, I hope my stories can help others to also feel their way through their own lives. Writing songs since I was a young kid, I’ve always ran with the experiences I’ve had in order to end up with a tangible version of that memory. Surviving the battlefields of abuse, dating, the corporate world, and now being on the verge of having my rights taken away by my government, I’ve been writing a lot these past 10 years. Fight or flight mode is hard to escape when you’ve been conditioned to thrive in it while the pressures of current events seem to feel like a never-ending whirlpool into a deep unfulfilling hell. Read more>>

 

Christin Johnson

The mission of Thee Style Editor is to empower women through wardrobe and fashion styling, enhancing their confidence by elevating their personal style and helping them embrace their uniqueness. The story behind my mission is MY own personal journey being a curvy girl. Since a little I always (here comes the corny) had a passion for fashion lol. Growing up It was difficult trying to identify my personal style. Society was putting plus size women in a box to conform to what they deemed was acceptable fashion. Read more>>

Malcolm Savage

The name for Savage Series 8 is defined as “To be a Savage you got to be FIERCE and to be FIERCE you got to have Courage.” The number 8 represents the eight of us in my family: (3 brothers, 3 sisters, and my mother and father). Also, the “8” representing the infinity sign because we embrace the existence of everyone to continue to keep their courage throughout their lives. We represent confidence, quality and community. Read more>>

Dalila & Aaron Copeland

Create New Patterns was inspired by our personal journey to find true happiness, overcome the not-so-positive things in life, and make true well-being something everyone can achieve. Over our 20+ years together, we realized just how transformative mindfulness practices can be—not just for surviving, but for actually thriving. Looking back, we often think, “If only we’d known back then what we know now about taking care of ourselves holistically—mind, body, and spirit—life would have been so much easier.” Simple practices like meditation, deconditioning, naturopathic health, and Ayurveda can have such a profound effect on your life, yet they’re not always easy to find or fit into a busy schedule. Read more>>

Amy Jordan

Amy Jordan Speaks and The Victory Dance Project are both humanistic movements to inspire and empower anyone to transform trauma into triumph and ‘Create Victory in Every Moment.’ As an award-winning speaker, author, choreographer and coach, Amy Jordan uses her own experience to fuel hope and possibility during this time of global trauma. A professional dancer by trade, Jordan has been living with type 1 diabetes for over 51 years. Complications of the chronic condition cost Amy much of her sight, rendering her legally blind at age 21. Read more>>

Claire Nobles

My mission behind The Cary Vintage Market is simple: bring vintage to everybody. I realized a little over a year ago, that there seem to be a huge gap in the vintage market world. As I was trying to figure out what markets worked best for my business, I quickly noticed that most markets appealed to the younger, Y2K and “streetwear” crowds. Additionally, most vintage shops appealed to the “true vintage” (50+ year old vintage items). There wasn’t anything that seemed to blend everything together. Additionally, most markets only seem to have clothing and lacked housewares, decor, collectibles etc. My mission was to blend all of these together to create a market that was extremely diverse both in the variety of vintage items as well as the vendors selling them. While the vintage market is small, it boasts an amazing collection of vendors including those who sell true vintage, T-shirts/streetwear, Y2K items, vintage capsule-wardrobe basics, records & cassettes, vintage jewelry & other accessories. Over the last 11 months, it’s been incredible to see this market bring together, not only generations of shoppers, but the most diverse shopping crowd I’ve personally ever seen. Every market, we can expect to find teenagers, young adults, middle-aged, and even elderly folks shopping (and reminiscing). Most excitingly, it has brought together the vintage community in a way that I could’ve never expected or dreamed of. Read more>>

Cleveland Justis

We are a company focused on supporting companies and people who are leading change. You may feel that your company or organization is unprepared for the challenges of the future. Yet we are willing to bet you are less unprepared than they were last time a big crisis hit. Because we do, in fact, learn and relearn. Slowly. Change seeps into the mainstream drip by drip, as those working in the unique niches and corners of industries start to build a movement behind new ideas. Person by person. Business by business. Sector by sector. Read more>>