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.

Vincent Garrett

The mission behind Mentor Leaders Produce Mentor Leaders is deeply personal to me because it stems from my own life journey. Growing up in West Philadelphia without my father’s presence, I experienced firsthand the emotional weight of that absence. I know what it feels like to navigate life with unanswered questions, the longing for guidance, and the struggle to find my identity. My experiences led me to write Missing Dad and its accompanying workbook, which are now core tools in my mentorship program. Read more>>

Crystal Goins

The mission behind Heartwise Scholars comes from my journey as a teacher and mother. I wanted a school that keeps families whole while giving kids a great education. Before kids, I gave everything to teaching. I worked late, spent my money, and poured my heart into my classroom. But marriage and motherhood changed my perspective. My family needed me, too. I couldn’t let work take all my time and energy. When my oldest started kindergarten during COVID-19, I knew schools would never be the same. I had five young children and needed a better way to balance teaching and family. So, I returned to school for a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership K-12. I wanted to learn how to shape 21st-century learning. Read more>>

Seiya Oshima

TITO – To Inspire Through the Ocean isn’t a business or a brand. It’s a personal mission that reflects who I am.
Growing up in Japan, I’ve always been surrounded by the sea. The coastline, the tide pools, and the ever-changing ocean have been a constant in my life, a place where I feel most at peace and wonder. Japan’s waters are home to an incredibly diverse range of marine life, with many species found nowhere else in the world. Read more>>

Andre Richie

The story behind my mission begins with the “original meaning” of life. Every day, I am reminded of WHY and WHO as I reflect on surpassing “Potential” and becoming exceptional. Many of my adolescent peers lacked CHANCES, so with every chance, I intend to make a change. A chance is an opportunity, or better yet, a probability. However, based on my personal experiences and known research, premature mortality is driven by poverty. I didn’t need researchers to present these findings; I found recurring death and incarceration easy to keep track of because, if it’s not your peer, it’s the peer next door. My original meaning intensifies my passion for life. How can I quit when there’s much to live for? Why would I settle for being average when I have the chance to impact the world and be exceptional? Read more>>

Kristol Yeager

While I have worked in real estate for decades, in February 2024, I decided to expand my career path in my business Get Ready to include working with Seniors. While that time frame seems quite short, my new focus has been very fulfilling. I started with the premise that most Seniors aren’t ready to leave their homes and/or don’t know how or where to start that process. Over this last year, Cindy Bush (owner of Simply Shift) and I have been able to collaborate and relocate several Seniors into new residencies making both the Seniors and their families’ lives easier. We handle the entire moving process from downsizing, decluttering, packing, unpacking and completing the set up of their new residences so that all the Seniors and their families have to do is enjoy the end result. Read more>>

Fabio Sanchez

I grew up in the Bronx as a first-generation American, carrying the weight of my immigrant parents’ hopes and dreams on my shoulders. Like so many others, they came to this country with little more than determination—a dollar and a dream—believing that with hard work, they could build a better future. But what they didn’t have was financial knowledge. They worked tirelessly, yet no one taught them how to navigate the tax system, build wealth, or plan for the future. And as their child, I felt the responsibility to figure it out for them. Read more>>

Melody Johnson

My mission as the CEO of SKILLZ is to revolutionize the way we teach and mentor children by merging martial arts, education, and developmental science. I believe that helping children reach their full potential requires more than just teaching physical skills—it demands a deep understanding of how they think, learn, and grow. My goal is to bridge the gap between traditional coaching methods and modern developmental research to create programs that empower not only kids but also the instructors and parents guiding them. Read more>>

Daphane Handy

For me, business has never just been about making money—it’s about impact. My mission is to help people build their brand name online and create opportunities that elevate them beyond where they thought they could go. This mission is deeply personal because I know what it’s like to have a vision but not the resources, support, or knowledge to bring it to life. Read more>>

Lawrence Carter

I began EbonVision Media because I saw a hole in the content creation industry. Most people that want to create their own content, do not have the proper guidance or funding. Read more>>

Alejandra Rosales

I think that my first answer would be what everyone says, “I love movies since I was a child, and good movies stick with you your whole life”. But after I came to LA to live my dream I really understood the big impact that movies have on people. Movies and TV Show have a big power, that people can sometimes take lightly. I feel like nobody believes in anything nowadays, not even rules, everyone makes their own rules or prefers to live without them. I think that faith has been lost and faith has many meanings, but in this case I am referring to the Catholic faith. I think that many people are drawn to Christianity and the Catholic faith because we follow God’s commandments. Read more>>

Shalonda Rawls

The mission I have is to bring joy and escape to all who read my work. Let’s face it; vacations aren’t taken as often as they should and often times people tend to get so caught up in life that they rarely take time for themselves. I want to provide an affordable escape from day to day living for all. My inspiration came from not being able to get away from and escape to. Read more>>

Jill Newcomer

My Dad is the reason I started this company. He was my hero. He was loving, selfless, smart, kind to all, respected and accomplished. He was and will always be my North Star. It has been over a year now since he passed away on 11.16.23. Everyday is still difficult. I watched his decline over several years and searched for anything that would help him move through the world with the ease he always knew. It is because of the journey I took with him that led me to start this company KindnessFullStop. I designed templates and trackers that will help others keep track of all the health information you need and want to have access to as you navigate a series of doctors appointments that will often happen as one ages. I have compiled a list of products that will be needed if your loved one begins to lose mobility and other functions. Read more>>

Mélanie Béranger

At the heart of my work as an art director and graphic designer, there’s a constant drive to create visual experiences that resonate on a deeper, more emotional level. My mission is to blend intuition, research, and a multidisciplinary approach to craft designs that are not only aesthetically compelling but also meaningful. Read more>>

Jordan Zendejas

The mission behind starting Preps By JZ was always to make healthy eating accessible and convenient for people in my area. When I was a senior in high school I weighed 307lbs at one point, not only was I overweight but I had no idea what to eat or what I would need to do to drop the weight I wanted to lose. Through trial and error over the years I learned how to properly fuel my goals and give my body what it needs to meet them. To me, the mission is simple. Make sure that others in situations similar to mine don’t have to struggle the way I did by taking out all the guesswork of meal-planning, the inconvenience of grocery-shopping, and saving people valuable time in the kitchen! Read more>>

René Bagwandeen

My mission is to help beauty business owners create a brand identity that feels professional, cohesive, and true to them. I’ve seen so many talented entrepreneurs struggle with branding simply because they don’t have the right visuals to represent their business. I want to change that. Read more>>

Ross Alcorn

I’ve always believed the best parts of life happen when we step away from our routines and embrace new experiences. That belief truly hit home around 2015, when I started organizing annual snowboarding trips with friends, which led to extended group adventures in Europe and surprise getaways with my fiancée. Every time, our well-planned trips, big or small, created memories that outlasted any work deadline or daily grind. Read more>>

Ana Barragan

Boudoir photography is more than just sexy it’s about empowerment, self love, and self acceptance we live in a world were society and especially social media makes us belive we are not enough whether it’s our weight or or our aging skin.
My goal is to make anyone that comes to me feel beautiful is their current stage of life, after all it’s nice to be reminded that we are enough and beautiful in our own ways. Making my clients happy is always the goal and it means the world to me to make them smile. Read more>>

Leah Wilkerson

Later in life, I discovered my love for painting. I spent hours in my basement studio, experimenting with new techniques and developing my style. At first, the solitude felt peaceful—refreshing even—after years of being a stay-at-home mom, constantly juggling carpools, schedules, church volunteering, and school activities. Then, my kids flew the nest, heading off to school. Suddenly, my days shifted from nonstop activity to quiet moments spent painting and listening to podcasts. It was enjoyable for a while, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was missing. I just wasn’t sure what. Read more>>

Katelynne Bazile

At Lumiere Rene, our mission is to create handcrafted candles that do more than just fill a space with fragrance—they set the mood, spark nostalgia, and cultivate moments of connection. Our brand is deeply rooted in honoring personal light, both literally and figuratively. Read more>>

Earl Lott

Lott Governmental Affairs, LLC was founded in 2022 by **Earl Lott**, bringing over 30 years of leadership experience from one of the nation’s largest environmental agencies. Our mission is to provide **common-sense industry solutions** that streamline governmental processes while promoting **efficiency, accountability, and transparency** in policy and regulatory affairs. Read more>>

John Carruthers

I started Crust Fund pizza back in August 2020 to give back to the nonprofits making Chicago better through direct social action. It’s a way to give back and form meaningful relationships with charities addressing a host of issues in the Chicago area. The way it works is my customers give a direct donation to the month’s designated nonprofit partner in exchange for their pizzas. We choose a different organization every month, and try to highlight their story alongside the pizza. Read more>>

Lorri Herman

As a baby boomer, I chose the road less traveled. While many in my generation were settling down, getting married, and starting families, I set out to build something of my own. Becoming an entrepreneur wasn’t the easy path, but I wanted control over my future. It meant hard work, sacrifices, and relentless determination to create financial independence. I climbed the ladder of success, building a multimillion-dollar business—but I learned that money and success alone don’t buy happiness. Read more>>

Fiona Laclair

Freak Out Parties & Events was created with one goal in mind: to provide accessible, affordable, and vendor-friendly opportunities through one-of-a-kind markets, parties, and events. I’ve always loved planning parties, but I didn’t start on this side of event planning. For the past couple of summers, I’ve spent my weekends reselling vintage goods at flea markets. And honestly? It sucked. I was paying outrageous vendor fees, barely turning a profit, and worst of all – I wasn’t even having fun. Market after market, I dealt with unorganized events, lack of planning, poor communication, rude vending neighbors, and organizers who were disrespectful, unkind, or absent entirely. Read more>>

Tim B

My mission to remain independent, & grow to leave behind a legacy for my children. Read more>>

Munique Miranda

I’ve always been a woman who loves fashion, creativity, and entrepreneurship in the fashion world. I’m also passionate about interior design and style. I’m a wife and a mother of three, one of whom is autistic and deaf.

Moving to the United States was a decision I made to give my family an even better life. I have deep appreciation for this country and its culture. But as a mother of an autistic child and three kids in total, the woman I once was—the one who loved fashion, who saw it as a personal and creative expression—became deeply immersed in motherhood and the atypical world. I even wanted to become the best therapist for my son. Read more>>

Jess Roe

When I started my blog back in 2018, my mission wasn’t just about creating an outlet for myself as a new mom—it was about building a genuine community. I wanted to connect with and uplift other parents, not just grow a following. Parenting is often portrayed as a beautiful journey filled with support, but in reality, it can feel incredibly isolating. It’s in that gap between expectation and experience where the real challenges lie—the exhaustion, the emotional weight, the unspoken truths of parenthood. Read more>>

Jeron Howie

My mission is to provide platforms and give exposure and visibility to marginalized communities. Read more>>

Grace Leverich

The mission behind my brand is to increase faith’s accessibility and promote positivity through peaceful mindfulness practices. “High vibe” stands for “high vibrational”, meaning an elevated state of being, High Vibe Jewelry offers crystal jewelry that radiates good vibrations, meaning each piece is intended to symbolize goodness and position the wearer’s mind in a better perspective. The goal is to help people intentionally increase their quality of life! Read more>>

Susan Dolan

In the vast expanse of the internet, where cat videos reign supreme and social media algorithms dictate our feeds, a different kind of online space is emerging. It’s a space where connection is more than just a click, where community thrives beyond likes and shares, and where the power of collective action is harnessed for positive change. This is the story of The People’s Hub, an online platform that’s redefining what it means to be a community in the digital age. Read more>>

Wendie Veloz

The mission of Wendie Veloz Enterprises, LLC (WVE) is to help solve society’s most complex problems by co-creating sustainable solutions with social enterprises that promote healthy and thriving communities through executive development, training, and thought leadership.

The story behind this mission starts long before the business. When I founded this business at the end of the COVID lockdown, I was working in public health as a director and was suffering from burnout. Our leadership changed and my position was eliminated. Read more>>

Ronisha Joy

Our mission with the Sprock N Roll party pedal bike is to provide a unique and exciting way to experience the downtown Memphis area, offering an alternative to traditional sightseeing tours and party experiences that cater to all ages, including brunch tours, birthday party tours, church tours, group tours, and team building tours. Our overall mission is to deliver exceptional customer service, combining a fun and educational experience for all ages and showcasing a different side of downtown and its surrounding area. Read more>>

Yisheng Zhou

At TeggX Studio, our mission is to bring unique, immersive sound experiences to the world of media, particularly in video games and film. For me, this mission is deeply meaningful because it stems from my own journey as an artist. Growing up with classical piano and later diving into the world of music technology, I found my passion in sound design and scoring. But beyond just creating music or sound, I realized the power of audio to evoke emotions, tell stories, and enhance the depth of any project. This mission became a way for me to share the potential of sound—not just musically, but as a tool to connect, inspire, and bring people into a world that’s felt rather than just seen. Read more>>

Abigail Thomas

Years ago, I heard a C.S. Lewis quote that said, “My own eyes are not enough for me; I will see through those of others”, and it impacted the entire way I see photography and my business. I don’t always want to see a wedding day from my own perspective-instead, I strive to capture those in-between moments that you are seeing and cherishing. To me, capturing moments for people on the happiest days of their lives truly feels like I get the honor of being a part of their legacy. The one they will tell their children, grandchildren, family and friends for years to come. My mission in my business has always been to love my clients like they were my own family, and celebrate them choosing one another every single day in a world where we’re told to always choose ourselves. Read more>>

Rashad Eagleton

To show people that you can have plant based meals with the same flavor and comfort as meals with meat. Read more>>

Reanna Ritter

My mission is to free adults from self-rejection and abandonment in order to raise a more heart centered next generation.

I found myself running the rat race, telling myself when I had more money I would have more time. More time to enjoy rest, time with my kids, interest in sex and my relationship, to travel etc. On and on the story replayed that it was money, or lack of, that held me prisoner. But I finally found that I was a prisoner of my beliefs about myself, my intense inner critic, unrelenting perfectionist expectations and an overall lack of acceptance. When I became an entrepreneur I realized that if I didn’t address my energy, beliefs and self-talk my business would fail. Read more>>

Dj Olojo

Our goal is to help one million homeowners successfully navigate foreclosure. When you think about your home, it should be a place of peace and good memories. Unfortunately, life happens to many of us, and the financial pressures associated with homeownership are real. We aim to be a multifaceted solutions-based firm that provides strategic options to homeowners facing foreclosure. We want homeowners to keep their homes or profit significantly from the sale of their homes. When you review the net worth of individuals who own homes vs those who don’t, the numbers speak for themselves. Those who own homes attain higher levels of wealth over the long term. We want more people to be able to grow their wealth and hold on to their homes.  Read more>>

Noopur Luthra

At NAZARAA, we’re reimagining traditional South Asian clothing for today’s free-spirited individuals. Our mission is to make culturally-inspired fashion more accessible & relatable, celebrating roots while bridging cultural gaps in a fresh and inclusive way. I was born in India, raised in America, and I’m deeply connected to both. Read more>>

Max Glassman

I believe the reason behind why I started Pierogi Papi is centered around two key thoughts. Bringing Polish cuisine to a wider audience and discovering my own culture through cooking recipes of my grandma’s that I didn’t get to cook with her while she was still around. Read more>>

Bethany Bayless

The mission of my company is to cultivate kindness and bring joy to Moms with colorful, happy designs and products.

For the past decade, I had the privilege of traveling the world as a professional speaker and emcee. I traveled extensively and would sometimes be gone 2-3 weeks out of the month or come home from one trip just to leave again the next day. I knew life was going to look a little different when I got pregnant with my son in 2019, but I didn’t realize exactly how different. Not only did I have my first child, but the pandemic successfully shut down my career as a professional speaker. Read more>>

Darren Williams

Just Loaf’N New Orleans Poboy’s and Snoball’s was established after Hurricane Katrina. After many of my Family and Friends was displaced from the flooding of our beloved city New Orleans.
My Wife and I decided to open a place that looked,sound,and tasted like home. A real representation of The Big Easy, Just Loaf’N. This would give dislocated NOLA Natives a Landing spot for employment and a place of formality. Read more>>