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?
Giselle Meza

I am a survivor of human trafficking, an active humanitarian and former top model. I witnessed the exploitation and injustice happening to women and children while on my modeling assignments to over 58 countries. I was moved with love and compassion for the victims of injustice that I met. Read more>>
Stephanie Styll

When I quit drinking in 2020, I had no idea that alcohol alternatives existed. It was the height of the pandemic, and I sat at home drinking water and everything was pretty “meh,” but I was okay with that. But when the world opened back up and I started socializing again, I quickly realized that just drinking juice or soda at restaurants and social events had me feeling childish and “left out.” Read more>>
Sierra Sophia Mercier

One look at the news and it’s pretty obvious that the planet is suffering. People are suffering, animals are suffering, plants and our environment are all suffering. I had a vision one day while chanting and meditating on a moment of my own suffering and I saw these two polarizing forces surrounding Earth at war with each other. They were Love and Fear, synonymous with Light and Dark. Unfortunately Fear and Darkness is winning right now. It’s rampant, self-fulfilling and is spoon fed to us in media. I realized that I want to be part of the Love & Light movement. Read more>>
Lesley Brog

The mission of Wags and Walks is to work with our dog loving community to reduce euthanasia in local shelters and increase awareness of rescue dogs being wonderful pets. I was inspired by falling madly in love with my first rescue dog who was a pit bull named Dunkin. As the daughter of a veterinarian, I grew up with pure breeds. Dunkin was the first dog that seemed to know empathy. When I was sad, he would sit by me and sigh. He always knew how to be a buddy and when it was time to run alongside me or sleep in on a lazy Sunday. Most importantly, Dunkin was the most friendly dog I had ever met to everyone, especially children and dogs of all sizes. Despite his affable and loving personality, people would cross the street to get away from him or leave the dog park when we arrived. Read more>>
Kacie Lett Gordon

IT ALL Media was born from what we now lovingly call a, “F*ck IT ALL’ moment – one where we must choose ourselves over expectations from society, community, and – hardest of all – former self. 6 months postpartum, despite having ‘it all’ on paper, I found myself wanting to drive my car off the road. This was mental health meets identity crisis, as so much of my adult and career life had been working towards the very things I now had – a child, a marriage, a beautiful home, a high-paying “big” job… and yet. Read more>>
Keisha Lyons

I was always into everything beauty. Makeup, lashes and skincare. A few years ago I was walking through a large chain drugstore because I needed a product for a hyperpigmentation issue I was having. Most of the products in the store catered to those of a lighter Fitzpatrick. I went home and looked online for any product that would help me. There were plenty of products that I was able to choose from but the prices were way too high. I began to research home remedies for hyperpigmentation and found a ton of ideas. I started putting things together, having family and friends try them out and they loved them but I never pushed myself to go any further. Read more>>
Jasmyne Mangum

The Born Again Essence’s Meaningful Mission is to help individuals heal mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. We strive to create a safe space for our scars to show and heal properly. One thing I always tried to do in my past was to hide my scars insecurities, and flaws. I came to the conclusion that I wasn’t alone. That there were so many people across the world who shared the same exact insecurities and flaws as me. Our goal is to build a community of men, women, and children to live a comfortable and free life. Read more>>
Ashleigh Miranda

Absolutely. I love to help people tap into the power of their environments–but I especially love to help first-generation high earners recognize the importance that their environment has on them, and really harness the power of their built environment to help them become the best version of themselves. Those that grow up wealthy know the importance in getting your money and your environment to work for you. However, there is a complete discrepancy in the education of the impact that your environment has on your overall growth and well-being. Human beings have adapted to their external environments since the beginning of time–it is how we have survived so many years as a species, and how we have evolved over time. Read more>>
Eyas Younis

After my MBA, I pursued a corporate career for years, finding financial stability, but my true passion lay in acting. About a decade ago, during my tenure as a senior manager at a renowned multinational pharmaceutical company in Jordan, I yearned to break free from the corporate routine. One day, I stumbled upon a Facebook post advertising what appeared to be an acting workshop. Driven by my passion for acting and movies, I attended, only to discover it was an open AUDITION. Read more>>
Ruben Montes

I started this dog training business because there was something missing in order to help dogs and their owners who were struggling. After seeking help for my tough dog we kept getting met with people who could not help. Trainer after trainer we kept struggling. I started to notice holes. Being the driven person I am I continued to search for answers on how to help my dog. Through this journey friends and family started to take notice and then dog training was something that started to show up more and more. Read more>>
Arielle Cohen

In 1933 Adolf Hitler came to power. During his rein of Germany of 12.25 years he managed to intentionally murder over 11 million innocent people and create the deaths of many millions more. He was one person with a plan. He took action and got massive and massive results. But, it was all for the negative, the dark side. Read more>>
Deborah Kelly

As a Christian author, my mission is to edify the reader and honor God, through various forms of creative writing. This mission was the outgrowth of my personal journey of faith. I began writing poetry and fiction as a little girl during the 1960’s. As I saw and experienced those turbulent times, writing became both an outlet for my feelings and a way of escape. In 1989, when I received salvation, my writing was given a solid foundation and a new direction. At the age of 36, I had found my purpose in life. I knew the power of words and their impact. I believed God was leading me to demonstrate that good storytelling doesn’t have to defile in order to entertain. It can encourage, enthrall, inspire, and enlighten. Read more>>
Karen Winter

My mission is to help more families become well-rested through one on one support! I don’t want parents trying to figure it out and failing time and time again like I did. Rewind 5 years when I first became a mama… I was sleep deprived trying to figure it all out on my own. I gave up countless times. I tried having my daughter sleep in bed with us, tried letting her cry it out, tried Ferber method, literally slept on the couch with her in a bassinet next to me so that I wouldn’t wake my husband up every two hours while I was feeding her back to sleep. Read more>>
Maximilian Schlossberg

From ages twelve to seventeen I had to wear a full orthopedic bodybrace to help me deal with severe scoliosis. I’m sure you can imagine the social life of a teenager wearing a ‘Frankestine’ suit. Aside from the social aspect, the experience took a heavy mental toll as I was ushered between doctors, X-ray machines, and specialists. It was really tough. I still think the worst part was having to sleep with it on. However, during this whole ordeal, I had two friends who never left my side. My dad’s German Shephard India and my mom’s Golden Retriever Merlin. I get emotional just writing about them so many years later. After being prodded, examined, and covered in plaster to make molds, there was nothing like coming home to their welcome. There was nothing that a struggling young teen needed more than their company and their neverending happiness. Read more>>
Orlando Burks Jr

Well it started at a young age my mother taught me to draw at 7 but I would end up playing sports most of my life and somewhat neglect my passion for art. One day in 10th grade my art teacher challenged me to draw something to pick my grade because I didn’t do anything in the class, so I did it turn it in and she looked at me schooled because she didn’t know I could draw. Ever since that day she would push me to draw in her class. I also took a photography class in 10th grade too. He would push me to do all types of shooting styles and I would do because I liked the challenge. Fast forward to about 3 years later I become more into photography so I started shooting more whether it was my friends or a building you name it I took pictures of it. To me it’s another form of expression some things I capture I see myself in it. It brings joy to me and I hope to be able to be that type of person that helps another person find joy in something as well. Read more>>
Bill Bracken

I literally had no idea the impact my decision to create and start Bracken’s Kitchen would have on so many people. I’ve come to realize that there’s a lot of people walking through life wondering if there isn’t something more. Something more meaningful, something more heart felt or just something more that they should be doing. Or as Dr. Martin Luther King quoted so many years ago, Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What Are You Doing For Others?” After all, deep inside of every one of us is a longing and desire to know that in some way, it has made a difference that we have lived. Read more>>
Minerva Maharajh

My mission is to help others create an expansive and exciting life with the most ease, joy and fun! This may sound over simplistic but I truly feel this is my mission – to show others how to create the life planted within them.
Looking back I always had these big grand visions for myself. When anyone told me it wasn’t possible or true for me I was completely dumbfounded as to why. In my mind and body’s knowing, anything I desired was true and real to me and meant to come to life. Read more>>
Steffen Cook

I was made redundant on my birthday in 2019. The company I served for seven years saw fit to let me go with no warning and I had to turn on my heel quickly in order to keep afloat. I had to think fast and move faster. I had been playing with making soap and decided that the only way I could guarantee instant work was to do it for myself. The way my life was set up – and still is – was one of caring for, rescuing and sometimes fostering dogs. No income, no dog food, no money for vet bills… you get the idea. I couldn’t let them go hungry and the painful process or applying for jobs within my skillset was going to take too long. Read more>>
Marissa Dumas

Two years ago PrttyPkUp was registered with the state of Ohio as a new business!!!! We are excited about the growth and continuous support from the community. This business was started due to the lack of safety for women needing reliable transportation services. The CEO is a former social worker and a huge advocate for women and children who are often vulnerable and subject to mistreatment or worse. In many settings women are the primary caregivers for their children, valued daughters, aunts, grandmothers, teachers, sisters, and friends. Read more>>
Karen Dicks

Most women can relate to feeling inadequate, at least at some point in their lives, thanks to all the constant images of seemingly perfect-looking people bombarding us daily. Whether it’s on TV or social media, it’s difficult to maintain a positive outlook about our bodies and our self-worth, when these outlets typically only show us unrealistic standards of beauty and unrealistic highlight reels of perfect lives. I grew up in a body and sex-positive home, and while I also struggle with these feelings from time-to-time, it breaks my heart to see women who have so much to offer, but whose self-esteem has been beaten down as a result of these unrealistic societal expectations. Read more>>
Tiffany Davis

As a registered nurse living with endometriosis, I have been a patient in and also worked within the healthcare system. My experiences while dealing with endometriosis and fertility challenges (which include 2 failed assisted-fertility attempts) led me to find holistic ways to heal myself. This included acupuncture, pelvic therapy and massage, condition-specific diet and workout modifications, and Chinese Herbal Medicine. My 15-month recovery from COVID led me to start using more essential oils and herbal supplements. I wanted to tap into my duality and use my gifts as a nurse and a holistic practitioner to heal other women. From these and many other experiences, my business, Channeling Qi Health & Wellness, was birthed. I have experienced a lot of what my clients face, so it makes me empathetic and relatable. For the fellas who may be reading and/or wondering, my mission has expanded to serving you as well! Read more>>
David Schoenfeld

RING BEAR is the first carbon neutral brand for men’s wedding rings. We pride ourselves on creating awesome wedding rings for men utilizing recycled materials in our rings and packaging. At RING BEAR we believe weddings should be celebrated! And yet as a one time event we lead from example that weddings can be everything a couple dreams of while incorporating sustainable choices and limiting single use items. Read more>>
Michelle Gomez

I help BIPOC/Latina femmes to heal their Mother Wound through ancestral wisdom, holistic life coaching, and spiritual mentorship. My goal in helping BIPOC/Latina femmes to heal their Mother Wound, is so that they can be liberated from their past and design a life of self-love, abundance, and freedom. Read more>>
Carlos Atila

My mission is to elevate women’s confidence and make them feeling good with themselves. Since I’m a kid I always had passion for hair , but watching my favorite aunt being abused and treated like a trash by her husband made me think on how I’d make things change , not only to her by to all the women out there who’s being suffering in so many ways, being a stylist and a salon owner gave me the power to elevate this women confidence in so many ways , the most grateful thing when I finish the hair and some of them are In tears and telling me that I changed their life is what keeps me motivated to do my best each day , seeing the after they did their hair and got a bust to keep going after a break up , after a trauma , fighting a disease, or any other thing that make them down , our mission it’s not only to do hair , by change the history on this women’s life ! Read more>>
Julissa Cruz

” The passionate pursuit of the Arts, Community and Self ” This mission statement is more of a personal mission and since I’m a single member LLC, everything I do in the business is woven out of who I am as a person. Through the 20 years of teaching others, from kids to adults, we all move towards the Arts as a form of Self discovery. The Arts, especially dance, gives a freedom in choice that regular things in life don’t; and as we grow older, that freedom to exist without overthinking is so important. Movement does that for a lot of my students. When we partner dance, we need empathy to communicate non verbally to others on that same journey to make connection on the dance floor. Read more>>
Brittney Newton

My mission is simple, to help women who look and feel like me feel beautiful. As a plus-size woman who deals with depression, I often feel like I’m the other person who suffers from the things I suffer from. Although I am proud of the way I look, there are some days where I don’t like myself or feel self-conscious about my weight. The world always feels the need to comment on women’s weight and my brand is about giving the finger to those people. My brand screams “Yes I’m plus-size and hell yes I’m fine”! The more transparent I am about the struggles I have with my weight and my mental health, the better I feel. It’s not always easy to speak publicly about such sensitive subjects but knowing there are others that deal with the same things I deal with really helps me. My ultimate goal is to build a community of women who want to share these stories to help them on their own healing journeys. My own healing journey has been a rollercoaster, but my work is a way to express my emotions. Read more>>
Dr. Diandra Renée Gordon

I am an African American woman who dreams BIG! Along my journey I have been told that I didn’t deserve my dream or that I didn’t need to achieve my dream to do the work that I wanted to do (which is to advocate for people of color to have better outcomes). I did not understand why anyone would encourage someone not to go for the biggest dream that WLLOW allow them to be the change that they want to see in the world. So, each of these entities are coupled in the intersections of BIG DREAMS, BIG INFLUENCE, and Excellence! I believe our big dreams are God-given and are necessary tools to make this world a better place. Read more>>
Kim Robinson

The mission of my business is the same as my purpose and passion in life—connect with others and help however I can. When I reflect on the last twenty-five years of my life, building relationships with people, connecting around their passion and helping them is central to everything I’ve done. These values helped me thrive as an adolescent who was always “the new kid in town.” Later in life, these values helped me find community, cultivate meaningful friendships and build an amazing career. And ultimately, they led me to my business “3pts” (pronounced “three points”). Read more>>
Savannah Etter

I’ve worked a lot of odd jobs before starting Etter Cleaning Service. And most of them were pretty hectic and underpaid. So my dream for Etter Cleaning Service is to provide jobs that pay a live-able wage and have a decent work-life balance. For the cleaning industry specifically, I also wanted to provide a consistent experience for the clients. I worked at a large cleaning company before I started Etter Cleaning Service, and the quality of the work was all over the place. In Etter Cleaning Service, I have created a lot of policies (with the help of my partner, Carla!) for training, quality control, and management systems for future growth that will keep the quality top priority. In creating a solid work environment for the employees, I plan to foster a system where there is no need to rush the cleaning. Because of this, the clients’ needs for consistency and thorough cleaning will be fulfilled. Read more>>
Channing Moreland

I’m a mother, teacher and activist and children, freedom and love inspire me to create beautiful and impactful things to raise the vibrations and consciousness level on our planet. Read more>>