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?

Anjali Ranadive

I founded Women for Wolves in 2013 while studying at UC Berkeley, driven by my lifelong passion for animals and a desire to create a space where young women could come together to protect wildlife. My mission became deeply personal when I rescued a wolf-dog named Diamond from a local shelter. In that moment, I learned a heartbreaking reality: 90% of wolf-dogs that enter shelters are euthanized. Diamond not only opened my eyes to the urgent need for rescue and advocacy, but she also saved my life during a time when I was struggling with my mental health. Her impact inspired me to expand Women for Wolves into a nonprofit dedicated to wild wolves, wolf-dogs, and women. Read more>>

Katerina Abourched

My journey in the nail industry began over 15 years ago, fueled by a passion for precision, artistry, and education. After working with top brands, celebrities, and high-end events, I realized something crucial—most aspiring nail technicians struggle to find quality education that prepares them for real-world success. That’s why I created The Nail Business Academy, an online platform designed to bridge the gap between traditional beauty schools and the actual skills needed to thrive in the industry. Read more>>

Weijia & Serena

Our mission is to design spaces that genuinely reflect and enhance the way people live. This belief is deeply personal to Weijia, who was born into a family of architects and has always felt a strong pull toward architecture as a way to continue her parents’ passion for creating meaningful spaces. Her background in music has also shaped her approach—just as music relies on rhythm, harmony, and composition, she believes architecture should evoke a similar sense of balance and emotion. Read more>>

Dr. John Wynn

The Wynn Network stands as a testament to an ambitious mission: to both entertain and inspire the world. This vision is deeply rooted in a powerful legacy left by my father, (The Late Willie J. Wynn) who was the first African-American man to appear on television in Reno, Nevada. His pioneering work on TV, particularly for his church, laid the foundation for what would become a lifelong journey of impact and change through media. Read more>>

Chivonne Gabriel

The Mosaic Refinery is borne of both expertise and personal experience – rooted in the understanding that life can break us in ways we never expected and those experiences can also be the catalyst to the birth of the next best version of ourselves. In 2011, I suffered a second miscarriage, lost my marriage, and my first home. Ultimately, I became a shell of myself. I know personally, what it means to start over after devastating loss, to navigate the weight of hardship, and to rebuild when everything feels shattered. That’s why this practice is not just about psychotherapy, coaching and retreats — it’s about transformation – taking the broken pieces of life and refining them into something even more beautiful and whole. Read more>>

Kimberly Miller

The mission statement for my business plan is “I am a real estate professional who wants real estate to be more than just buying and selling. It’s forging genuine connections and cultivating community. I will be your trusted Colorado Springs guide on a mission to make your homeownership journey as simple and rewarding as possible. With a passion for Colorado Springs and its real estate market, I will provide you with personalized insights, local expertise, and a commitment to assisting you with all of your real estate goals. As a catalyst for community growth, I will connect families with homes and assist in fostering community amongst neighborhoods.” To me this mission statement embodies my biggest goal, building community. When we moved back to Colorado Springs in early 2020, I especially felt the loss of community. Read more>>

Paulina Flores

Bringing people together through pictures to share memories that will stay forever in that moment of time. I’ve lost loved ones and even in this day and age of snapping photos on a phone, going through old photographs gives such an authentic feeling of the moment it was taken. Experiencing the emotions, the environment, the era in time it was taken makes me feel connected to that person even if they have passed. Read more>>

Aria Gupta

At Revare, our mission is rooted in renewal—both in name and purpose. Derived from the Latin word “renovare,” which means to renew, our brand is dedicated to transforming the way South Asian clothing is valued, worn, and passed down.

The inspiration behind Revare stems from a deeply personal experience. As a South Asian, I grew up surrounded by generations of exquisite Indian clothing—pieces woven with tradition, craftsmanship, and even gold-embedded sarees. When my mother was preparing to move across the country, she faced a difficult reality: many of these beautiful outfits, rich with history and sentimental value, had nowhere to go. Read more>>

Amron Forsythe

ASAP AMS Media started as a way of freeing myself from the expectations of the world around me and expressing myself through connection, creation, and compassion. I decided early on in my career with my camera that we were not just here to capture special moments, but to offer others an opportunity at bringing their own visions to life; I knew that I was just a catalyst in others’ creative experiences, and those connections began to inspire me more than I ever could have imagined. Read more>>

Haley Dykes

At Sprays by Hay, our mission is more than just giving people a great tan—it’s about confidence, inclusivity, and empowerment. I started this business because I know firsthand how feeling good in your skin can change everything. Whether it’s a bride preparing for her big day, a college student gearing up for recruitment, or someone who just wants a confidence boost, I believe everyone deserves to feel beautiful and comfortable in their own skin. Read more>>

Natporn Losakul

At Doughwanders, my mission goes beyond just capturing weddings—I want to redefine how love stories are told. My approach is rooted in cinematic fine art and fashion-forward storytelling, blending artistic composition with raw, unscripted moments. I aim to break away from traditional wedding photography and create something that feels bold, timeless, and deeply personal. Read more>>

Imroz Syed

At HiShutter Photography, our mission is to capture love stories in their truest form—authentic, vibrant, and deeply personal. But beyond just taking beautiful photos, what truly drives us is creating a space where every couple feels seen, understood, and celebrated. Read more>>

Gigi Jirapolchet

At Mercer Head Spa, we’re proud to be the first luxury Japanese head spa in Washington. After years of traveling to NYC, London, and Thailand to experience the incredible benefits of head spas, we realized it was time to bring that same rejuvenating experience to our community here in Washington. Read more>>

Amy Hanks

I am a seasoned representative of Communications and Public Relations. Since my teenage years, I have harnessed my vision and entrepreneurial ambition to elevate my company to an international level through skillful yet practical tactics. I oversee all aspects of press kit development, publicity, marketing and advertising campaigns, press conferences, event planning, print and broadcast placement, and internet exposure. With a combination of my experiences and a deeply rooted passion for my career, I have built a reputation for “Making Things Happen.” My mission has always been to use my creativity to help others elevate their brands to the next level on a global scale. Read more>>

Betsy Rhame-minor

I didn’t set out to be an entrepreneur in college, or even for quite a while afterward. I majored in English literature in both undergraduate and graduate school, because it was my favorite subject. Two internships in college helped me know that I wanted to be in writing and communication. My first two jobs were in newspaper journalism, and it helped me develop very valuable, specific skills: researching, interviewing, and combining information from the two into informative and interesting content. As the newspaper industry began to change, I moved into marketing and communications and enjoyed that too. Read more>>

Icisis Kincy

As an 10 year old student I always knew what I wanted to do in life; helping people is my calling and I use my story as a motivation to keep going . It started off when I was going to school and admiring people that looked different. I seen the attention that they received so I wanted to change my appearance. Due to me getting bullied, I felt unworthy and ugly about myself but as I grew confidence I decided that beauty is what I wanted to do . I use to draw cosmetics lipstick tubes with my initials on it and named it “ Ik cosmetics “ . I love the makeup industry from sfx to transitions and simple beats but the industry doesn’t have a lot of African American companies. Also due to my personal experience with Eczema it’s hard finding a great product for sensitive skin. Read more>>

Katrin Vankova

For me, the most meaningful mission that I feel belongs to me is to try, as much as possible, to experience all the layers that life offers us as a gift. We are living in very difficult and disconnected times, in my opinion. I had a non-technological childhood and a technological youth, and it deeply saddens me to see how this evolution is unstoppable and how, unconsciously, it is disconnecting us more and more from the real moments of life. Read more>>

Brooke Walsh

I remember having a fascination with photo albums as a little girl—I would spend hours looking through photographs and the memories that they depict. Starting my photography business, I made it my mission to capture timeless moments that have real emotion tied to them. Photographs are forever—they’re more than just social media posts, they last a lifetime and show off our milestones as people. I also love to work with other women-owned businesses, it’s important to me to highlight them and the amazing work that they do. Read more>>

Desirée Adams

Early in the company’s history, I read the book “Start with Why” by Simon Sinek. It was a book about aligning your company’s mission with your values. Through one of the exercises in the book, I realized that one of the things that gave me the most joy growing up and that is still so important to me today is spending time with my family and friends. Whether it was staying up late on Christmas Eve with my cousins in the Philippines, going to the ballet with my aunt and uncle in New York City, or playing long games of Monopoly with childhood friends, time spent connecting with the most important people in my life was one of my most cherished experiences. Read more>>

Kathy Elkind

My mission is to encourage slow travel, especially through walking adventures. Instead of seeing five cities in a week, pick a region and walk for a week or more.

In 2018 my husband and I took an adult gap year and walked the length of Europe on the GR5, Grande Randonnee Cinq. Starting in The Netherlands we walked south through Belgium, Luxembourg and the whole length of France for 98 days. Walking village to village you see, hear, and taste Life with a capital “L” in the country you are walking through. When you wear a backpack on your back you are welcomed into the village and taken care of. Even though we did not speak French we communicated with body language, Google translate, and kindness. Read more>>

Beth Caden

Caden Socials is a modern wedding and event content creation brand shot on iPhone and designed for couples who want to relive their special day instantly. We specialize in capturing real-time, behind-the-scenes moments and turning them into beautifully curated, shareable content. Unlike traditional photography and videography, our approach focuses on delivering next-day, high-quality mobile footage—so you can wake up the next morning and experience the magic all over again. Read more>>

Christy Hall

At Phase One Screening, our journey began with a simple yet powerful observation: healthcare can often be a stressful, inconvenient experience, especially when it comes to something as routine as blood tests. Whether it’s a busy parent struggling to find time for a lab appointment, an elderly person who finds it difficult to travel, or someone who feels anxious about going to a medical facility, we recognized that many people were facing barriers to accessing essential care. Read more>>

Salima Subramanian

My mission is to empower and inspire others, creating a supportive environment for them to pursue their deepest desires. I aim to foster a sense of community and unity, encouraging individuals to express themselves and truly believe they deserve the life they envision.

The journey to defining my mission began with an observation: many people feel disconnected and unheard in their daily lives. This lack of connection often leads to individuals feeling isolated, unsure, and unable to pursue what truly matters to them. I realised that creating a space where people could feel accepted and supported was crucial. Read more>>

Salima Subramanian

I spent years battling severely damaged hair that just wouldn’t grow, no matter what I tried. I knew I needed a solution that addressed the root cause, so I dove into research. That’s when I discovered a product line created by someone who had faced similar health challenges in her family—a story that truly resonated with me. I decided to test the system on myself, and the results were dramatic: my hair began growing stronger and healthier than ever. Witnessing this transformation first-hand inspired me to introduce this treatment at Serenity Studio. Now, I’m dedicated to helping clients overcome hair loss and scalp issues, giving them the chance to experience the same life-changing results in a nurturing, holistic environment. Read more>>

Sarah Baum

I’m a former special education teacher, turned non-attorney special education advocate. You may be wondering what that means. This is a relatively new field, so many people don’t understand what a non-attorney special education advocate is, or what we do. Read more>>

Todd Manley

Mutiny Island Vodka was born from a deep passion for sustainability, agriculture and the spirit of the Caribbean. As a chef in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, I saw firsthand the challenges islands face with food security and the over-reliance on imports. In 2017, after the devastation of hurricanes Irma and Maria, my business partners and I explored ways to create something that could support local agriculture, create jobs and honor the resilience of island communities. Read more>>

Amber Mitch

I started Honey Girl SkinCare in July 2019 as a hobby to keep myself busy after undergoing multiple hip surgeries following a major car accident. With two brothers who have eczema and my own struggles with severe breakouts caused by post-surgery medications, I became passionate about finding natural skincare solutions. What began as a personal project soon turned into something more when a friend with eczema asked to try my handmade soaps. From there, word-of-mouth spread, and my hobby quickly grew into a thriving business. Read more>>

Melissa Baker

The CHIC CHEMISTRY brand emerged in April 2024 during a pivotal moment in my life and career. After being laid off in 2021, I found myself struggling to reconnect with the work I had loved and excelled at in the beauty industry for decades. Over the course of my career, I had experienced multiple layoffs—each one challenging, but this time felt profoundly different. For two and a half years, I juggled job interviews, relentless job searches, deleting tons of rejection emails and the constant stress of financial strain. Every day was a battle to smile, stay positive and make ends meet. Read more>>

Nanea Taylor

How Would You Write It?” started from a simple but powerful idea—giving creatives a platform to not only discuss their craft but also to dream out loud. As a screenwriter myself, I know how often writers, directors, and producers get asked to talk about their past work, but rarely do they get the opportunity to explore ‘what if’ scenarios or dive into their personal creative processes. Read more>>

Alana Coney

At Wags of Love, we are dedicated to ensuring that every couple can celebrate their wedding day without having to leave their cherished dog behind. We understand that for many, their beloved animal is not just a pet, but a true member of the family. Our mission is to provide a stress-free and seamless experience on the day of, allowing the couple and their loved ones to fully immerse themselves in their special day, while remaining confident that their dog is safe, happy and included in the festivities with us as their trusted best friend. Read more>>