Our stories are often hard to understand until folks understand our true motivations, our true drivers and the stories behind why our mission or purpose truly matters to us. We’ve asked some inspiring folks from the community to talk to us about why they do what they do and have shared some of our favorite responses below.

John Daugherty

Good or bad I create it all. Much of it is out of fear because much of what I was taught by school, society, friends, even my parents, even out of love, was based on fear mostly. I formed those unconscious habits to protect me because that is what our unconscious mind is there to do, survive. Much of my life I spent trying to play catch up to the fears I created in my own head in how life is, and how it is supposed to be, and how I fit into all of this out of reaction to what was going on, not creating the life I wanted and loved. Read more>>

Elisabeth Kramer

My mission is to help change the wedding industry because I believe we deserve better. When I started working as a wedding coordinator seven years ago, I had a lot of trouble finding resources and businesses that I felt aligned with my values. Were they inclusive? Sustainable? BIPOC-owned? LGBTQ-owned? Accessible? Read more>>

Demetria Domenco

At NAIL Clinique, our mission is centered around promoting healthy nails and raising awareness about the importance of nail care. We strive to showcase our unique techniques that prioritize both aesthetics and nail health. Safety is paramount to us, and we uphold high standards to ensure the well-being of our clients and team members alike Read more>>

Miguel Uribe

The mission behind X-Tra Mile Futbol is to train individuals who are serious about taking their skills to the next level. When I first moved to this area, I saw a huge need for personalized training for young soccer players. Soccer was still not a huge culture in our area, so I saw how players were falling into a gap. I could not believe it! Growing up in Bogota, Colombia, I saw soccer everywhere! I wanted to fill that gap for the most passionate players. Read more>>

Titus Walker

When I was a kid, my father introduced me to the world of gaming at a very young age. It was an incredible bonding experience for us, and we would spend hours playing together. However, our world turned upside down when my father was wrongfully imprisoned. Suddenly, the joy of gaming became a bittersweet memory, a way for me to feel connected to him even though he couldn’t physically be there. Read more>>

Ashley Stone

In 2018, my life took an unexpected turn. I discovered I was expecting twins during a surprise third pregnancy, while simultaneously receiving news of my mother’s cancer diagnosis. On top of that, my son was facing challenges fitting in at kindergarten. It was a whirlwind of emotions and responsibilities. Read more>>

Kaelin Bass

While growing up, I noticed a lot of women are left out when it comes to wearing certain outfits and clothing. For years, it was something I just noticed, until I became a grown woman myself and puberty hit. I then realized I too was left out. The trend of clothing is constantly changing and women’s breast are constantly growing and changing. There needs to be an easy way and affordable way t women can give themselves a breast lift without under going surgery. I want all women to feel included and able to wear what they want. Read more>>

Renee Washington

Renee Washington has always had ambitions to use her platform to help create a voice for the voiceless. She wanted to use the insight that she had as a reporter to help provide resources and opportunities for others. In many interviews and conversations, Renee kept finding that people would come to her with seeking guidance, support, and resources but not sure where to go to get them. Read more>>

Mike Lucas

Appreciate you joining us today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken. Moving to Cleveland, a city I’ve never been to in a state I’ve never lived in before, to launch a brand-new type of show definitely counts as a risk in my book. The show only had funding for 9 months at first so there was a chance I was going to pack up my life, move to a new city, and then have to do the exact same thing less than a year later. Read more>>

Brian Austin

To serve happiness by creating fun memories with loved ones. We believe the most important part of life is spending time with your family and friends. Those moments when you’re experiencing something new with loved ones are the moments you keep forever. That is our favorite part of life that we want to create with you. Read more>>

Tori Wells

At Feline Apparel, our mission is at the core of everything we do. We are on a mission to empower women through comfortable luxury athleisure wear that embodies both fashion and leisure. Our goal is to make women feel confident, stylish, and comfortable in their athleisure wear, whether they are at the gym, running errands, or enjoying some downtime. Read more>>

Reeka-Lynn Selman

Essentially, we’re on a mission to help food and beverage companies thrive by prioritizing branding, design, and the customer experience. Branding is often overlooked or taken for granted, but it plays a crucial role in connecting with your audience and keeping your doors open. Read more>>

Jasmine Gilliam

Blk + Healthy’s mission is to encourage healthier lifestyle habits by providing the resources of majority Black owned businesses, organizations and individuals that work within Health & Wellness. It’s top priority to help the Black community to improve our Health and Wellness habits. Throughout our history, we’ve endured many challenges that have impacted our health in ways we may not realize. Read more>>

Winnie Tin

Teaday Tuesday was initially created to reconnect myself with tea and my culture with the mind of spreading the beauty of tea that is being overlooked. It is not an uncommon thing to hear tea is an “old people thing” or it’s just boring and blend. I once thought that way too until I went on exploring the options and understood that I was wrong about it! Read more>>

Olivia Shaner

My Photography business is definitely mission focused. I have a desire in going above and beyond in serving my clients, from the moment they come in contact with me, to delivering their timeless images. The passion from where this comes from, is really a foundation of not just my business, but my life. As a believer and follower of Jesus Christ, I follow Jesus’ example of a servanthood leadership. Read more>>

Tarek Gabrie

We are driven by the fact that we are looking for a better future for our family, and with that we decided to come to the USA. I know I know it may sound cliché (the American Dream) for some now a days, but we came from Latin American with a lot of hopes and dreams. Its a monumental task but we are fighting daily battles to overcome the difficulties that come from a new experience and also starting over. Read more>>

Mariah Bakke

The mission of Viva Landscapes is to bring green spaces to people. So often in our world we forget to relax and enjoy nature. Whether it is enjoying it in your own backyard, soaking in a sunset on the beach or going for a hike and breathing in the fresh air. Being a Landscape Architect is more than drawing a plan for projects, it is connecting people to the great outdoors and educating them on the importance along the way. Read more>>

Alex Nemo Hanse

Losing my mother to breast cancer was a devastating experience that profoundly impacted my life. Amidst the sorrow and grief, I vividly recall stumbling upon something extraordinary: a collection of meticulously crafted blueprints for her dream hair salon. These detailed plans symbolized her unfulfilled aspirations, leaving an indelible mark on my heart. Read more>>

Michele OConnell

I started baking Gluten Free and Dairy Free desserts out of necessity for my own health issues. I love baking and finally was able to make delicious desserts that people with food allergies can enjoy that taste good. My heart warms especially when I see a child excited that they have choices of treats to taste! Gluten is something that also can cause depression in some people. I have dealt with anxiety and depression in the past and going on a gluten free diet has helped immensely. Read more>>

Raven Heyward

From an early age, I was driven by a passion for DEI-related topics, serving as a student ambassador for my high school’s equity team and student council. It was during my Junior year of high school that my commitment to this cause deepened as I delved into a research paper focused on women of color in Corporate America. This research shed light on the personal experiences of WOC in North Carolina’s corporate landscape, revealing a pressing need for increased representation and equity. Read more>>

Sami Smith

My mission as a hairstylist is for my clients to always leave feeling confident and great about themselves. I remember the first client I had after graduating, when we were done with her service she thanked me over and over and was smiling from ear to ear and so excited for her new hairstyle. Of course, it was an exciting moment because I was terrified I may not do everything right being fresh out of school, but in that moment I also realized that I wanted everyone to feel that way and I fell in love with this industry. Read more>>

Luke Stone

My mission is to help those passionate about skiing and snowboarding pursue their dream powder day. This has been my passion since I was a child, and have now turned it into a career. Forecasting and chasing storms, while documenting the experiences, has been my passion for so many years, so being able to bring similar experiences to others is very fulfilling. Just as I crave to be riding in the deepest snow and capturing that footage, I love to be able to help others achieve that same dream. Read more>>

Macey Alexander

For me, launching photography full time is two-fold. Personally, it allows me to spend more time with my son and have the flexibility to work my schedule around this new season of motherhood. My mission is “purpose beyond pictures.” Photography is so much more than taking pictures. It opens doors for me to connect with people I wouldn’t have otherwise and in a way that can be so intimate. Read more>>

Andres Marin

As a photographer, I aim to capture memorable experiences, our lives can be narrowed down to a series of events that total our entire existence. I strive that through my work I can document those precious moments that make people who they are and to accentuate why certain locations around the world are unique. Read more>>

Shawn Camp

As a farmed animal rescue is the epicenter of modern animal agriculture, Iowa Farm Sanctuary is working towards a more compassionate and just food system. As a vegan myself, I wanted to show the world, especially Iowans, just how magnificent and sentient the animals many consider “food” truly are. Allowing humans to meet and interact with farmed animals rescued from slaughter, fosters change in the way we think about these beings that we otherwise never get the chance to know. Read more>>

Cindy Onyekwelu

We were founded in 2022 from San Antonio, Texas and our mission is to help out many local vendors within America by posting their community events by providing a well-rounded online marketing service for local community vendors within your local areas nationwide! Read more>>

PC CROSBY

This question actually takes me back to the roots of So’Black. As a black woman, I grew up noticing a glaring gap in the fashion industry. Clothes are more than just fabric; they’re an expression of identity. I kind of struggled to find clothing that represented the richness and strength of Black America. Read more>>

Lydia Alty

I am an Anti Bullying Ambassador from the UK. My mission is to reduce bullying in all schools. I experienced Bullying from the age of 12 all because of the way I looked and what I did as hobbies. When I joined Secondary school the bullying turned from verbal to cyber bullying, people made meme pages of me and commented on everything I did and made fun of me. I felt so alone and nearly stopped doing my hobbies. Read more>>

Cniyah Whitfield

What drives me is knowing that growing up I was different. I was born with a cleft lip and was ashamed. I wanted to change the way I saw myself and the words I chose to speak over myself. The words we speak are powerful and we should choose them wisely. I wanted to let other girls with similar feels know that they are beautiful and it starts with their very own words. Read more>>

Sarah Martinez-Murray

We created Cookie Dough Marketing to be the blood line and in house marketing team for our other brands that we have. Let me rewind… I joined the crew at Kings of Neon back in 2021 with Steve Pastor leading the scaling ecommerce business. I sat in branding and creative director to bring together the business from the core team and to get really clear on who we were as a brand, what we represent as a business and who we are talking to out in market. Read more>>

Ida Benson-Jaja

The mission is in the name. “Home Kitchen”, strives to be a home to those without a home. Food brings family, connection, safety and belonging. Whether you are rich or poor, breaking bread together connects people from all walks of life. A lot of our mission aims to help those in the community without homes by having days of service of cooking for those who are hungry in food deprived areas. Read more>>

Jenna Arsenault

I started my postpartum doula business to become the support I wish I had received after having my babies. My mission is to spread awareness and offer support around maternal mental illness which effects one in five new mothers. I developed postpartum depression and anxiety after the birth of my first son and I was lost. I wish I had had a postpartum doula who would’ve recognized the signs and symptoms in me and helped me find professional help sooner. I want to be that person for these moms who feel scared and overwhelmed and helpless. Read more>>

Tae Gold

My mission is to become one of, if not the biggest artist internationally. I take pride in the way that craft has progressed over the years, and I want to continue discovering new ways to improve and reinvent myself. This mission is meaningful to me because I am truly a fan of the art and processes that artists and musicians go through to develop a relationship with millions around the world. Music is subjective to the listener and building those connections through my sound and lyrics is very important. Read more>>

DJ

Like many hobbies and creative outlets, Pick Jimi was spawned out of the pandemic. I was a part of the first massive wave of people to suddenly be unemployed. I fell back on an old hobby, that helped with my overall mental health, smoking cigars and combined that with my love of telling stories with a camera. . But like many other people, I had no income so paying for cigars meant buying more affordable cigars. Read more>>

Caroline Cook

At my core, I am a cheerleader…for real. From seventh grade through Michigan State University and then again as a business associate, wife and mother. I cheer for others. The glass is always half full – and I’ll find a silver lining. My mission is to be positive in a not-so-positive world. I created a business based on a love of my city. A love for everything Grand Rapids…its history, culture, entertainment, vibe, tastes and exciting growth. All of this goodness needed to be shared; and that’s what I do. Read more>>

Jaclene Mathis

My mission is to help others help themselves. As a young mother, I received a lot of support from family and friends. Their support made things easier for me. When I become an occupational therapy assistant that was my motto because the help I received from them gave me the ability to help others. I realized that it’s the same motto for everything I do. Read more>>

Richard Eller

In 2013, I took a different view of the community college in North Carolina’s mission to serve its stakeholders, those people who look to the institution to better their lives. Instead of an entrepreneur, I wanted to become an intrapreneur, seeking to offer something sustaining not seen elsewhere, an apparatus to offer a unique outlet that could benefit students, faculty, actually anyone in the college’s service area. Read more>>

Tashi Rawls

After a series of conversations with my teenage daughter, family, and friends I noticed a pattern, my loved ones were not properly healing from their past traumas. “Although I’ve always had a close relationship with my daughter, I realized that the majority of youth aren’t as comfortable opening up with their parents or other adults during the times they need someone to listen the most. I knew in order for young women to succeed as adults, they needed the right attention and support. Read more>>

Alex Morgan

Our mission is create workplace happiness for adults with young children where everyone feels supported, accepted, and inspired. Chasing Cali will be an innovative establishment focusing on the creative exploration of both young children and adults. An experience based work and play space that has a luxury coffee/juice bar for anyone that walks in can enjoy. Read more>>

Daniel Tanasa

My mission is empowering individuals to achieve financial independence by leveraging the potential of real estate investment. As a Romanian immigrant, I arrived in the United States at the end of 2018 as a 22-year-old with no money, but a strong determination to succeed. I had grand aspirations and aimed to turn the American dream into reality. Initially employed in the Oil and Gas industry, I later ventured into trucking business, driving a Semi-Truck. However, I always recognized that true wealth lies in owning properties. So, I pursued that path. Read more>>