We’ve always tried to ask the questions that matter but that are too awkward for people to ask their friends, family and coworkers without seeming dramatic. One of those questions is about mission and purpose – when’s the last time you asked a friend what their mission was? Too often we don’t talk about our own missions and don’t ask those close to us about theirs with the result being that our missions remain secret. Are you just a doctor or are you a doctor who wants to be there for patients in the way you wished your father’s doctor had been? People have incredible and meaningful missions, and we hope our conversations asking folks about their mission can inspire more such conversations in your life.

Samuel Poku

Samuel Poku is a Ghanaian-American conservative political media journalist, businessman, and the
dynamic host of The Real Kasa Show. In his early 20s, Samuel is passionately dedicated to reshaping the
narrative surrounding Africa’s future. With a firm belief in truth, justice, and the transformative power of
Christ, he uses his platform to challenge leftist ideologies and address the “demonic agendas” he perceives Read more>>

Lanaya Lewis

I didn’t have a traditional route into journalism or the media industry. Both times, they were from life changing events that have shaped me into the community-driven person I am today – The Community’s Publicist.

At 13-years-old, I was arrested for fighting. I hadn’t thought about what my real future would look like. Instead, I always kept my guard up as if I had to prove something to people. It landed me with three felonies dropped down to misdemeanors, on probation for a year, and needing to move school districts for high school. It was my probation officer who saw something in me that she pointed me to YR Media (formerly known as Youth Radio). Read more>>

Ana Lopez

The mission of Sex in Spanglish is to provide culturally-relevant sex ed that centers the individual and their personal desires and values while shifting the sex negative narratives that pose as a barrier to true, guilt-free pleasure.

Women are socialized to believe that pleasure comes from someone (or something) outside of us. This leads women on a wild goose chase to find someone who is “good in bed” and “knows what they’re doing.” Unfortunately, this means many women are forced to choose between a healthy fulfilling relationship or mind-blowing sex – many choose the latter. Read more>>

Lisa Mensonides

I have the privilege of dressing women in every shape and size. My mission is to make them feel beautiful in what they wear, because they are. We live in a world where we are told we have to be skinny and look like a stick to be pretty. You can put anything on a stick and it will look good. The key is knowing what looks good on different body types and playing up the features my clients love about themselves. I am a fashion designer and a wedding dress alterations specialist. I have the honor of making women feel gorgeous on the most special day of their lives. Read more>>

Toby Usnik

Philanthropic Impact, my consultancy, and The Caring Economy, my podcast, are fundamentally rooted in promoting and fostering purpose-driven leadership in both individuals and brands. These platforms serve as powerful tools to: Showcase exemplary purpose-driven initiatives Catalyze similar approaches in others I firmly believe that mission and purpose are synonymous in determining long-term success. This conviction forms the bedrock of my work, driving me to: Read more>>

Cynthia Pierre

Helping beauty business owners and investors create and maintain structure through accounting, tax planning, and tax compliance… This is my mission statement. There is so much that went into creating this mission statement that truly articulates my passion. So many experiences that led to that one sentence. I’ll talk about one of the most poignant. Read more>>

Annie Kenny

My mission is deeply rooted in my personal journey. In 2017, I discovered that my now ex-husband had been abusing our oldest daughter. Despite his conviction, and designation as a Tier III Registered Sex Offender, I still found myself stuck in family court for years, surrounded by professionals pressuring me to allow more access to our younger two daughters. What started as a private crusade became public when I realized how lenient the law in Maryland was when it came to registered sex offenders having access to children. In desperation, I started a change.org petition, which led to creating and passing stronger legislation. Read more>>

Fon Leigh

For me being an illustrator and finding my passion started after entering college, and finding my niche was even later, my senior year. Creating art has always been important to me but I never saw it as a career. But finding love in myself and what I’m creating made me realize how important this was as a potential life for me. When I went through a devastating break up I really found how important creating and making art was to me and how meaningful my art was to other people. Everything about my process and view on life shifted, and through that I was able to forgive, find peace, and move on. My art doesn’t always mean a lot to me, since it’s a big outlet for me to express emotion and feeling, but I know it means a lot to other people. I know when I talk about big feelings and struggles and difficulty alongside showing my work it means something to people. Read more>>

David Highducheck

In April 2017, our first dog Bo, a black lab, passed away from several different health issues. Yes, we fed her processed kibble and had to change brands often. We didn’t realize there was a better way to feed our dog. Bo had fat deposits or bumps on her skin, a hip issue and other health problems. Read more>>

Nick Ryan

My mission has been to establish a premier contemporary art gallery in Boulder, CO—a world-class town with a rich cultural history, consistently ranked among the top places to live in the U.S. and even a finalist for the next home of the Sundance Film Festival. Yet, despite its vibrancy, Boulder has long been underserved when it comes to its gallery scene. With its close proximity to Denver, the city has lacked a commercial gallery offering a certain caliber of work—something I’m determined to change. Read more>>

David Mogonye

For my wife and me, our mission is deeply personal. We started our pool service and cinema businesses with the belief that success isn’t just about making money—it’s about doing right by people. Early on, we saw how some businesses cut corners or put profits over customers, and we knew we wanted to be different. Read more>>

Amy Edwards

Q: 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.
A; Risk-taking has been a constant theme in my life. One of the biggest risks I took was leaving behind everything I knew—my career, my marriage, and the life I thought I was supposed to have—to step into something completely new. I had spent years in broadcasting and radio, off and on, but I felt a pull to do something more. In my early forties, I pivoted into becoming an independent rock musician, releasing albums and performing, which got me way out of my comfort zone. Read more>>

Adam Ritchie

In 2007, I opened a downtown office, won my first account and built a brand communications business that’s evolved to serve clients on four continents. Adam Ritchie Brand Direction has handled everything from beer to baby seats, treadmill desks to cybersecurity and niche social networks to the world’s largest swimming pools. Read more>>

Emily Vartanian

General Mischief Dance Theatre leans into the playful side of performing and making art, I’m quite proud of that. We do movement work – dance, or theatrical storytelling, usually both. Right now, laughter and art are things we really need. They need a place that is both safe and joyful. If we want to go be brave for each other in the world we need to laugh and celebrate, and our mission is to help people do that. To create performances that take you through a lot of feelings, but land on joy. If we do this, afterward the audience we share the show with are ready to go be kind to someone, or walk into a stressful situation with more energy in their tank. Read more>>

Kathleen Bass

In the midst of life’s most difficult battles, moments of transformation and empowerment have shaped the course of my journey. For many, these moments come through the support, love, and understanding of others who have walked a similar path. This fundamental truth is the foundation of my mission—to create a nonprofit dedicated to serving homeless mothers, particularly those facing adversity without a support system. Read more>>

Donna Spina Pcc Cpc Eli-mp

Growing up, I had my life perfectly mapped out: College, Medical School, Marriage, House, Children. It was the traditional path to success and happiness. When life unexpectedly steers you off your charted course and upsets carefully laid plans, sometimes it leads to an even more significant destination.

Like many high achievers, my course changed in an instant and found myself in unfamiliar waters – facing uncertainty, shame, confusion, and self-doubt without a backup plan. Read more>>

Natacha Andrews, Esq.

At the heart of my work in cannabis advocacy is a deeply rooted mission: to use my legal background and knowledge of cannabis policy to address certain systemic inequities that have long plagued African American communities, particularly in the realms of health and economic opportunity. Read more>>

Kaylee Phillips

My Mission is to empower women by guiding them on a transformative journey towards authentic self-confidence through mentorship in both personal confidence and style. Through my unique, customizable Master Class, I offer a multi-layered growth experience that provides women with an exact roadmap to discover and embrace their highest selves. Along the way, they will connect with a supportive community that encourages growth, empowerment, and personal evolution. By the end of their journey, they will not only walk with newfound inner confidence but also exude it through their personal style and an elevated wardrobe, showing up as the bold, authentic versions of themselves in every aspect of their lives. Read more>>

Alexandra Benites

At LUMA, our mission goes beyond simply introducing people—we’re dedicated to fostering meaningful, lasting connections that enrich lives. We believe that human connection is at the core of happiness, and in a fast-paced, digital world, finding genuine love can be challenging. Read more>>

Laura Shryock

At the heart of my business is a commitment to wellness, confidence, and self-care—inside and out. I believe in saying yes to you and your health, empowering you to feel better, look better, and live better. Through expert aesthetic treatments and science-backed wellness solutions, I help clients embrace their beauty, vitality, and overall well-being. Your journey to looking and feeling your best starts here—I can help. Read more>>

Hara Allison

In high school, I had my own darkroom. I had to wait until late at night and would cover my windows with all my blankets to make my bedroom as dark as possible. After school, I worked at the Great American Chocolate Chip Cookie Company at the mall, and all the money I earned went toward purchasing film and chemicals to develop my images. Read more>>

Rossana D’antonio

On a stormy late May morning in 2008, TACA Airlines Flight 390 crashes at one of the most dangerous airports in the
world, Honduras’s Toncontin International Airport. Five people die in the crash—among them my brother, pilot Cesare D’Antonio. Suspecting Cesare will be made a scapegoat for the accident, as so often happens to pilots, I decided to leverage my decades of experience as an engineer and set out in search of the truth. Read more>>

Lukas Simianer

Vetclaims.AI is a veteran-owned and operated platform dedicated to simplifying Veteran Affairs (VA) disability claims for US veterans. Unlike traditional services, VetClaims.AI provides a transparent, affordable, and user-friendly approach to help veterans secure benefits and optimize their VA requests. On average, VetClaims.AI customers see a lifetime earnings increase of $618,000 in VA benefits, with the platform unlocking over $101 Million in benefits to date. With a mission to fix a broken system, VetClaims.AI leverages the power of artificial intelligence coupled with personalized support to provide veterans with educational resources and tools to file and maximize their entitlements. Read more>>

Sarah Glink

We’ve been mission driven even before we opened our doors for service, “we are determined to be welcoming, positive, and considerate…” These ideas have given direction and helped shape our business, here are just a handful of examples:
-using our space to promote local artists, clubs, small businesses and musicians.
-leaning into sustainability practices in our use of compostable goods and recycling. Read more>>

Nicole Comis

I had a very successful career in the mortgage business. I loved my job, the company I worked for, and my incredible boss.
I was making great money and winning incentive trips.
I had a beautiful home and drove my dream car.
I enjoyed nice dinners out and had a fun, active social life.
I truly believed I’d spend my entire life in the mortgage business, growing with this amazing family-owned company. Read more>>

Laurel Mustafa

Afro—because the African diaspora deserves spaces that honor, celebrate, and reflect their cultural identity. Too often, we’ve had to adapt to spaces that weren’t designed with us in mind. AfroElite is about reclaiming that narrative, creating home and lifestyle pieces that don’t just decorate but affirm who we are. Read more>>

Chip Baker

Your radar of influence determines your return on your investment and your return on investment determines your radar of influence. In my life I have been fortunate to be raised be and cross paths with some amazing people that have poured in to me. This started with my family and in my hometown of Hearne, Tx. It then carried on as I went to college at West Texas A&M University. Then it continued to expand once I started my career in education as a teacher/coach in Conroe ISD. Read more>>

Kiwon Kang

I grew up in Korea, where I studied biotechnology. However, I always had a deep passion for fashion, which eventually led me to move to the U.S. to pursue a Master’s degree in Fashion Textile Design at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. During my time in school, I met my wife, who comes from a family deeply rooted in the arts—many of them are artists or work in art-related fields. She herself studied installation art, and through her, I became surrounded by a vibrant community of artists. Read more>>

Bynia Reed

Throughout my career, I have been dedicated to exploring the role of play in children’s development. Recognizing the widespread need for safe and nurturing spaces where children can play and freely express themselves, I knew this was an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. This passion resulted in Hyper Kidz, a unique fusion of my experience as a child psychotherapist and the established concept of indoor playgrounds. Read more>>

Megan Mitchell

At Opulent Suds, my mission is to provide everyday luxury through handcrafted soaps and body care products made with gentle yet effective ingredients that are safe for the whole family. Inspired by the journey of my acne and my kids’ eczema and sensitive skin, I focus on nourishing, high-quality formulations using ingredients that are easy to understand and pronounce—because self-care should be simple, not complicated. Read more>>

Michelle Naumovski

Having a pet with issues and not being able to find a solution is what drove me to find a way to solve the problem. Having a dog with reactivity, aggression & behavioral tendencies is what got me started making leash sleeves. I wanted something durable, noticeable, affordable, multi use as well as the option to be used unilaterally on a variety of leashes. The wheels started turning. Prototypes were made, improvements to the design over time then voila my vision took shape and has only been improving since. All the while giving back to pet rescues and shelters all over. Read more>>

Tiffany Davis

My journey began years ago, with a simple camera and a heart full of curiosity. What started as a love for light and composition soon became a calling. Weddings, families, entrepreneurs—each session revealed something profound: the beauty in authenticity, the power in vulnerability, and the way a single image could speak when words fell short. I want people to see themselves the way God sees them—full of light, beauty, and purpose. Read more>>

Tasala Rufai

I am a fervent lover of nature and plants (I have nearly 80 house plants of my own!), and I love to bake and share my sweet treats with friends and family. So, it was only natural that I merged those loves into one to create something rooted in nature hence the birth of Sweetly Rooted by Tasala in 2023. Sweetly Rooted by Tasala is a vegan bakery created as an ode to nature and its power to make you pause to admire its beauty, its ability to support the body’s health and wellness, and to provide everyone with something simple yet sweet. Read more>>

Sandy Gordon-kolb

The mass production jewelry industry has dominated the moderate price level jewelry market. It has conceived what current jewelry design trends should be and convinced customers through its marketing strategies to buy them to conform with the crowd status. The idea that jewelry should have special meaning for its buyer and wearer, that it should reflect their character has somehow been lost. So has the value, appreciation and beauty of the art of handmade jewelry via traditional goldsmithing techniques been buried beneath less costly mass produced designs. I am one of many independent artisan jewelry designers that strives to have a voice in this mass market. Read more>>

Lily Shu

At Berkeley Bears International School (BBIS), our mission is to provide the early childhood education your child deserves in a safe, respectful, and diverse environment that builds a foundation for a lifelong learning, and ultimately prepares your children to become resilient, self-reliant, and productive individuals.
Our mission stems from a deep understanding of the transformative power of early childhood education and a strong commitment to supporting children’s overall growth and development. Read more>>