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.

Timothy Tillman Jr.

I spent 80% of my life focused on one singular goal, that ultimately failed. I thought I wanted to be a professional football player. From the age of 4 until 21, all I ever thought that made me significant was how well I could throw a ball. Read more>>

Kristiane Weeks-Rogers

Supporting the mission of Small Harbor Publishing is deeply meaningful to me. It resonates with my own principles of advocating for social justice and amplifying marginalized voices. Read more>>

Emily Braun

My mission for my wedding photography business is to create an environment where couples can feel confident that who they are will shine through in their wedding photos. Read more>>

Dr. Kathy Fine

The mission of Fine Educational Solutions is deeply personal and stems from my own experiences as a parent navigating the educational challenges faced by my children. Read more>>

Victoria Haydn

Victoria Haydn spent over 10 years at the top of the Premier League photographing the stars of Manchester City Football Club. Read more>>

Ashley Rogers

I’ve been an artist my whole life. For the last twenty years, my husband and I have also been in full time ministry in various forms. Read more>>

Jackie Karlberg

Karlberg Racing started with a vision of creating shorter, more accessible triathlon races that the average Joe could finish and feel good about. Read more>>

Julia Enthoven

This week, we’re introducing Tess, an AI generator that pays artists when work is generated in their style. Tess is the first AI image generator to enable artists to own their style. Read more>>

Stephanie Brace-Sanders

“As sisters, we must commune to communicate to build a community for us all to share, grow, and evolve.” Daily aspirations keep us as women motivated, encourage, and empowered. Read more>>

Audrey Blake Calvani

As a photographer and a mother, I have come to deeply appreciate the fleeting nature of time. People often say that time flies and children grow up too fast, but it’s only when you’re immersed in the whirlwind of raising small children, toddlers, babies, and even tweens that you truly grasp the profound, bittersweet beauty of their growth. Read more>>

Taya Feskov

My journey as a food and product photographer began in my childhood on a farm, where I was cultivated with love. All our food came from our garden and farm. Read more>>

Roshaun Page

I embarked on my journey in the entertainment industry as an actor. However, I soon grew disenchanted with the limited and stereotypical roles that were being offered to black actors. Read more>>

Chelsea Pegues

To be a professional writer has been my dream as long as I can remember. I was never really in love with school, although I do have a passion for learning (to me, they are indeed two different things). Read more>>

Kelly Kolodzinski

Renew Holistic Wellness is an integrative wellness center and our mission is to transform the mind, body and spirit of our clients. We believe the body has the capacity to heal itself if given the chance. Read more>>

Audrey Gale

I had several profound personal experiences that got me wondering about our traditional or western medical practices. The most profound was seeing my father cured of leukemia by a simple sound-vibrational method with no invasive procedures. Read more>>

Jill Case

I want to help people get what they truly want in life allowing them to live their best life-NOW. Myself and so many I have worked with live from a place of “tolerating” a majority of their life because they feel that they have to “work” to receive what they want after they make the money, or get the next promotion, or retire or go on vacation. Read more>>

Nora Osman

In the world we live in, businesses exhist to deliver products and services to customers. Every interaction is a moment of truth, and an opportunity for businesses to deliver value. Read more>>

David Kopp

NorthStar was born out of a deeply personal journey that fundamentally transformed my life and gave me a renewed sense of purpose. Read more>>

Melinda Powers

At Intentional Professionals, our mission is to help women-owned businesses scale, sell or franchise their business as assets through strategy, planning and implementation. Read more>>

Liz Altmann

ARA KARA is a super sustainable small business focusing on unique one of a kind reworked and vintage clothing. Our mission is to focus on designing and producing items that are ethically made in the U.S. while targeting industry waste by upcycling and reworking antique, vintage, and thrifted materials before they reach the textile waste stream. Read more>>

Sarah K. Smith

The mission behind The Atlanta Digital World Summit is a simple one – it is to market Atlanta as a profoundly effective and advanced digital hub, with VC, innovators, a diverse population and some of the greatest achievements in modern history. Read more>>

Adrienne Thompson

When people ask me why I’m so passionate about helping horses I tell them, “first horses saved my life and then they changed it”. I’ve always loved horses since I was a little girl but never grew up with them or had a horse of my own. Read more>>

Amanda Kaake

Creativity is essential. It is what separates us as humans and has been critical to our survival since we were living in caves. Creativity is not only crucial for individual success but for societal and economic growth as well. Read more>>

Melissa Hammons

At SkyHigh Aerial Fitness Studio our mission is to provide a dynamic aerial and fitness experience where youth and adults discover the joy of movement, building confidence, strength, coordination, mobility, and balance in a fun and supportive environment. Read more>>

Jermaine Cooper

When I was 17 years old, a senior in high school. I was in jeopardy of not graduating because of a state mandatory test. Yes I was graduating early only if I could conquer that test. Read more>>

Marci Estiverne

Maquillage by Marcel is a movement that allows women to be themselves authentically and unapologetically all while showcasing their inner beauty with striking colors and bold lips. Read more>>

Jenifer Brandner

I have dreamt of owning my own photography business since I was a small child. My dad gave me my first canon film camera when I was 10 years old. Read more>>

Cartier Hill

When my business partner jaydyn Franklin and I took our first approach, we had no idea what we were getting ourselves into, but that all quickly changed. Read more>>

Becca Leigh

I believe that stories have a lot of power. They can promote empathy, let someone feel less alone in the world, be a fun escape, help people see from another’s perspective, and give hope. Read more>>

Jawanza Vickers

Growing up in the small towns of Enterprise, Alabama, and Pontiac, Michigan, Jawanza Vickers’ early life was shaped by some strong women and a passion for football. Read more>>

Meghan Burgess

Ignite Dance Competition was founded in 2019 and would host its first event in February of 2021. While Ignite is a dance competition, its mission is much larger than you may imagine. Read more>>

Elena Marshall

When I was fifteen years old, the course of my life was changed significantly due to the COVID-19 lockdown. It was during this time that I chose to embrace the challenge of isolation, and dedicate my time to learning a new artistic medium. Read more>>

Michelle Apples

I started The Christian Singles Hub back in the fall of 2020 out of what I saw was a need for Christian Singles to connect and to be in community. Read more>>

Kurchi Basu

Hello! I’m Kurchi (she/her/hers), and I’d love to share how my journey with rescue dogs and weddings led to the creation of Pawsitive Moments, LLC. Read more>>

Taylor Trombley

I backpacked across Europe (cliché I know) for the first time at age 19. It was a partner-trip-turned-solo when my friend bailed, so I was on my own. Read more>>

Goi Korrutai Yujaroen

ThaiIsFun Cooking School’s mission is to teach people how to cook authentic Thai food in their home kitchens. Thai food is one of the healthiest cuisines in the world and easy to love. Read more>>

Doris Garrett

When I was eight months pregnant with my second child, I was preparing divorce paper. Thousands of emotions surrounded my broken heart and the situation this was giving to me but not against me. Read more>>

Kate Tran

The driving force of why I started my company and why I continue to pour my heart into creating it, came from a deep desire to help people feel valued & encouraged. Read more>>

Tiffani Sweet

Ever since I was old enough to be in the kitchen, I was there with my Grandma. She was my MeMe. Some people would call her Betty Crocker, as that was her maiden name! Read more>>

Jessie Askinazi

My Cinematic Portraits practice serves as an invitation for my subjects to return to their most authentic states. Social programming and trauma create a dissonance between what we are and what we think we are. Read more>>

Angela Gast

My mission is to empower women, specifically moms, with resources to better manage their home life in today’s fast-paced world. Read more>>

Romy Sorensen

An 8lb blonde baby was born in Golden, CO on 8/20/1980. Life would soon take an unexpected twist, but I feel would be the main reason why I am who I am today. Read more>>

Lisa Zahiya

My journey as a life coach, dedicated to helping entrepreneurs make more money and create a significant impact, has roots deeply embedded in my diverse experiences as a dance studio owner and community educator. Read more>>

Kevin Shird

Content creation is something that is very close to my heart. I believe that we all have a story. I also believe that we all have a story that is worthy and should be respected. Read more>>

Haraka Carswell

The Story Behind My Mission Growing up, I always loved to help people, especially those who did not have a voice. My own struggles and how life played out for me often left me silenced. Read more>>

Quentin Mustafaa

As a content creator, creating a safe space for others and feeling a sense of belonging and motivation to accomplish whatever it is they feel they cannot do is my mission. Read more>>

Kellie Mendoza

Our mission at Fruit by Kellie & Penelope is to celebrate and spread awareness of the incredible variety of exotic fruits from around the world and the numerous health benefits they offer. Read more>>

Sean Freelon

Our mission is “To create nonpareil original entertaining content, with emphasis on strong Urban Characters.” I feel like there is a universal stigma that independent films and especially ethnic indie films, can’t make money. Read more>>