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?

Olaolu Oladejo

At Skinful, our mission is to help everyone achieve their skincare goals. We believe that everyone deserves to have healthy, glowing skin, and we are committed to providing our customers with the best possible skincare products and education. Read more>>

Alicia Thompson

After 30+ years navigating the corporate world, I saw firsthand how talented, more-than capable leaders—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds—often second-guess themselves, shrink in rooms where they should be shining, and carry the weight of performance without the tools and support to lead effectively. Read more>>

AnnElyse Nichols

Before opening Skin Deep Esthetics, I worked in several studios and spas—each one run differently. At the time, I didn’t realize how much those experiences would shape me, but looking back, they played a huge role in forming the mission I carry today.  Read more>>

Lisa Bradshaw

At 24, I survived cancer. At 32, I became a widowed, single mom to our 5-year-old son. I went from being a stay-at-home mom who could fail at any venture because my husband paid the mortgage, to being fully responsible for everything—our life, our home, our future. Read more>>

Ricky Pike

I truly want to be able to give affordable classes and be able to teach the everyone who wants to learn, when gym dues get up to around a car payment , I know some can’t afford that so we try to make it as affordable as possible. Another thing is being able to give back what 30+ years of martial arts have given me and bring up the next generation of kids who will be leaders and be able to keep this tradition on, Read more>>

SARA SHEPHERD

This farm has been in the Shepherd family since 1942. We are the 3rd generation working and operating the farm. It was the intention of the Shepherd family to run a traditional farm with 250 head of beef cattle and 10 acres of tobacco. Then my husband and I took over in 2000 and he was more interested in conservation and land, water, timber and wildlife management. For 20 years he put his conservation skills to practice on the farm to get it where it is today. We are a certified tree farm, a stewardship farm and a conservation farm. Read more>>

Decio GrindKing

The mission is to inspire and empower as many individuals as possible through creative design, while building a top-tier digital media agency. At the core of this mission is a deep commitment to helping others recognize the value of their natural talents and showing them how to turn creativity into opportunity. Read more>>

Zach Vogel

Identity Sports is exactly the organization that I wish I had when I was a kid battling through pain, performance, and purpose. My dream was to be a Major League Baseball player. But when a heart condition at age eight nearly ended my dream and my life, I was left not only physically broken but spiritually lost. My entire identity had been wrapped in the sport. I battled depression, anxiety, and deep anger. But through healing—both physically through a state of the art surgery and dedicating my life to Christ, I came to understand that my worth wasn’t in baseball, but in belonging to Christ. That truth changed everything. Read more>>

Darren Hawkins

At AdarenProduction, our mission is simple: to bring creativity and vision to life — no matter the shape, size, or category it falls into. I’ve always believed that if you can dream it, I can help make it real. This mission means a lot to me because it’s rooted in my love for the art — not just the technical side, but the feeling, the soul behind it. I didn’t start this just to run a business. I started AdarenProduction because I genuinely love creating. Whether it’s capturing a moment, building a visual from scratch, or helping someone bring their story to life — I’m all in. Every project is personal. Read more>>

Ciara Siegel

I spent over a decade working in big creative advertising agencies, building strategies for global brands like Pampers, TikTok, and Godiva. It was high-level, fast-paced work—and I learned so much. I gained a deep, strategic foundation and had the opportunity to work alongside some of the sharpest minds in the industry. But after 12+ years, I felt ready for something new. I had become a mom, and I was craving more flexibility, more impact, and more alignment with the life I wanted to build. Read more>>

Dominique “Dom” Lipscomb

As a Chef, I have always cooked with the best, quality ingredients because I know how it benefits the body. After a medical diagnosis of PCOS in 2016 and wanting to rid myself of taking pharmaceutical medicines for symptoms, I started looking at things from a holistic approach. I researched herbs and how they heal, how they function in comparison to traditional medicines and skincare products. By changing my lifestyle (the foods I consume, making my own skincare products, and using herbs as medicine) I have been able to maintain my symptoms without medication for the past 3 years. I believe that it is my calling to teach others on how they to can reverse ailments and illnesses by using food as medicine. Read more>>

Vina Lustado

I was born in the Philippines from very modest background. I grew up with 9 siblings and my entire family immigrated to Los Angeles, living in a one bedroom apartment duplex. Acclimating to a totally different country and culture, I was shy and insecure most of my childhood and even later as an adult. But I was always searching for meaning and wanted to make a positive contribution. While most people around me were in the pursuit of the American Dream (big house with a white picket fence, family with two children, or an illustrious career), all I wanted to do was travel. Read more>>

Zack James

At StarScript, our mission is to build an interconnected creative ecosystem where independent writers, artists, musicians, and filmmakers unite to bring meaningful, sustainable media to life. We believe in empowering storytellers to collaborate across disciplines—not just to produce content, but to forge communities, enhance immersion, and spark cultural evolution. Read more>>

Tiffinnie Alston

Our mission is empowering and supporting families affected by life challenges and enabling them to embrace their full potential and find their true purpose. Through youth-based services, education, advocacy, and compassionate guidance, we strive to create a nurturing environment where individuals can break free from the constraints of adversity, gain confidence, find their inner strength, and embark on a journey of self-discovery. Read more>>

Caralee Lacie

I call myself a Holistic Wellness Coach because I am more than a nutritionist and more than a trauma-informed coach, I’m someone who helps you tie all the pieces together. I’ve never fit neatly into predesignated categories, and my business is no different. I’m a person who has struggled with both my physical and mental health throughout my life. I lived through many childhood traumas, both personal and familial, while also constantly struggling with food insecurity, food sensitivities and allergies and many other undiagnosed health ailments. Read more>>

Mia Balventy

At Kistemo, our mission is to create healthy, meaningful entertainment for children—entertainment that doesn’t just entertain but educates, empowers, and inspires. We’re building a vibrant world where kids learn art, business, and leadership skills in a way that feels like play but builds a strong foundation for life. Read more>>

Mioara Dragan

As a wedding photographer for the past 15 years, my mission has always been to document love with intention and connection. I want the photos to reflect how their day actually felt—so that decades from now, my couples can look back and remember this season of their lives, instead of what was trendy on social media at the time. Read more>>

Davion Riyal

I want to be able to leave a legacy period my name is Davion Royal. Not too many people know that name., let alone the last name. And that is my mission. To put a face with that name to bring more value to the history that it already has. Read more>>

Miguel Nunez

My mission with Paso Robles Podcast Studio is to give everyday people—especially those in smaller communities like mine—a platform to be seen, heard, and valued. I believe everyone has a story worth telling, and too often, the most authentic voices go unheard because they don’t have access to the tools, time, or confidence to step into the spotlight. Read more>>

Paolo Ciccone

At its core, my mission is to help women rediscover and reclaim their beauty, sensuality, and sense of self—especially when the world has made them “disappear” because of age. Read more>>

Oleg Mamaev

Photography is not only one of the most famous forms of creativity. Originating in the middle of the century before last, over the past nearly two hundred years photography has developed from a simple technology of capturing an image on a photosensitive plate to one of the most comprehensive types of people’s creative realization. It is very difficult to list all types of photo creation. They include photography of borderless landscapes, and macro photography of insects, flowers and other, practical unnoticeable objects, and shooting urban structures or wildlife. And of course, shooting people, from classic portraits to creative avant-garde. As computer technology has progressed and artificial intelligence has been able to generate realistic photo images, the boundaries of photographic creativity have virtually disappeared! Read more>>

Erald Minga

At Chicago Execs, our mission is simple but personal: We place leaders who don’t flinch in the face of adversity, because they’ve already proven who they are when it matters most.

This mission wasn’t drafted in a strategy session or born from theory. It was shaped by experience, by bearing witness to the quiet strength and steady presence of those who show up when life turns unpredictable. Read more>>

Hasani Reyes

My mission wasn’t something I came up with—it was something I lived through. I spent years following the blueprint I was told would lead to success: a solid education, a corporate career, checking all the boxes. But like so many first-generation latina who reached a lot of success – unlike the women in my family, I did everything “right” and still found myself burned out, disconnected, and questioning who I really was beneath the performance. Read more>>

Brandon & Adriana Fravel

Run Free started because we were looking for something that didn’t exist in Camarillo at the time; a space to meet other runners and just run without pressure. No expectations, no competition, just a way to move, connect, and feel good. Read more>>

Krystle Toles

When I was 12, I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis, and everything became a fight — not just physically, but emotionally and mentally. I struggled with self-image, confidence, and simply keeping my head above water during what should’ve been the darkest time of my life. Read more>>

Nicole Newby

Blaque is a small business founded by Nicole Newby, whose love for family and fashion has blossomed into a passionate career. Nicole designs custom garments for a variety of organizations, blending creativity with purpose. Read more>>

Lisa Williams

At Hello Again, we’re liberating women’s wellness with plant-powered, non-hormonal vaginal suppositories that work where you need them most. Our mission goes beyond products. We’re here to spark honest conversations, break down outdated taboos, and help women feel like themselves again. Read more>>

Sharissa Bradley

Project Seed Money was gifted to me in 2022. Three best friends originally founded the company with the goal of funding female entrepreneurs. While their original goal never took off, my friend wanted to see Project Seed Money go on in a new direction. When I took over I intended to keep it basically the same with one minor shift from female entrepreneurs to female authors. After a year of pushing this new narrative I realized it I was building something that didn’t fit into my values. Read more>>

Charlotte Benson

My mission, at its core, is to offer customized facial treatments and personalized skincare recommendations that genuinely enhance the health and appearance of the skin. But over time, it’s grown into something so much deeper than that. I strive to build empathetic, meaningful connections with my clients. I want them to know that when they step into my treatment room, they have my full, undivided attention. My goal is for every single client to feel supported, seen, and care for- as if we are walking this skin journey together. I even get a little buzz of joy when a client becomes so relaxed during a treatment that they fall asleep-it tells me they feel safe, nurtured, and at peace in my space. Read more>>

James Jimenez

Moon Lvnding was born out of a deep love for dance music—not just the sounds, but the stories, the communities, and the culture that surround it. Music can often say the things that words can’t. It has an ability to create deep feelings and emotions that might otherwise never reach the surface. Read more>>

Cory Critton

In the heart of our cities—between the boarded windows, the cracked pavement, and the unspoken pressure to survive—there’s still a fire that refuses to die. It lives in every young person with a vision but no platform, in every sketchpad stashed under a mattress, every melody hummed in the dark, and every idea that never makes it past the block. Read more>>

Michelle Rodriguez Mohr

In 2010, my life took an unexpected turn—I was diagnosed with a meningioma, a non-cancerous brain tumor pressing against my optic nerve. At the time, I was working as a bank manager, thriving in a career I enjoyed, yet deep down I knew it wasn’t my true calling. Read more>>

Christie Jones

My mission as an artist is to inspire climate consciousness and environmental stewardship. I was living in California several years ago and I began researching non-toxic materials and started making my own paints from earth and mineral pigments. Then the pandemic hit and soon after California experienced one of the worst wildfire seasons in history. Read more>>

Michele McCrea

If you’re a parent, you know your whole life changes from the first time you hold that little bundle in your arms – all you want to do is love and protect them. But, as soon as they learn to move on their own, they start to make that pretty hard to do. Read more>>

Carmen East

I lost my husband 7 years ago on the line of duty. He was a police officer for Texas Tech and was shot in the head after his shooter asked him if he had children. A year after his death I decided to start a foundation called Texas635 . This foundation has 3 missions: 1. Provide financial support to fallen officer families, 2. Create free and meaninful mental wellness programs for Law Enforcement and 3. Provide financial support to critically injured Officers with life changing injuries. we are now 6 years old a non-profit working to safe the lifes of the ones that protect us every day. Read more>>

Bernie Larsen

To create a high quality performance environment to allow artists to express themselves and be heard, regardless of musical genre. It’s meaningful to me because I’m one of the artists (Bernie). After years of playing in bars where the point of performance has a different motivation, one that sometimes doesn’t necessarily respect the attention that someone should get for learning an instrument, write deep and meaningful songs, and share their vulnerability, I built the Ojai Underground to be a listening room for artists to be seen and heard. Read more>>

Jennifer Fontenot

Our mission is two-fold: to create a space that reconnects people on a deep level and to introduce the city hustler to the great outdoors.
Every square inch of Abrams Loft Aframe was curated to do the above mentioned. It’s the lifeblood for why we do what we do. Why? Because 10 years ago we were living in New Orleans and our marriage was at a crossroads. We hit a pretty rough patch and we needed a change breviary the future of our marriage depended on it. So in 2015 we took a family trip to The Great Smoky Mountains and stayed in a cabin. The whole family fell in love with the mountains and the fresh air! It was a trip we promised to make again one day. Read more>>