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.
Imari Hicks
A few years ago, I created a nonprofit modeling company called Inspiring Models. This program is about letting women, men and even kids know that they are perfect the way they are. We go through life kind of questioning who we are and if we look good enough for society. The world plays a huge part in our insecurities for ourselves. Inspiring Models is all about embracing those insecurities and turning them into confident boosters. To love and be yourself for who you are. Read more>>
Essie Taylor
I am a Freelance Hair and Makeup Artist with a passion for empowering women to show up as their best selves. I got into the Beauty Industry a little over four years ago. I truly believe that my career saved my life. Pursuing success in my business helped me discover myself again, gain my confidence and hone in on my gifts. I am a different person than when I began but definitely in an amazing way. Read more>>
Julie Buckman
I started my photography business from home, after may years or photographing my own children until they developed “photographer’s child syndrome”. Every working photographer that still has kids in the home knows the symptoms of this sad phenomenon. With my own seedling in the throws of this affliction, I loved onto other peoples gene pools. I spent year photographing newborns. I had been a labor and delivery nurse, and always felt right at home with newborns. Read more>>
Erin Schneider
I am a recovering people pleaser. I have spent much of my life ensuring that everyone else felt good, but I didn’t know how to feel good myself. I truly didn’t know who I was until my 40s. It took a lot of work, processing a lot of painful feelings – but I finally know who I am. Every day I’m learning something new about myself and it feels really good. Read more>>
Valeen Bhat
I started my company when I was 24 years old after I struggled to find an interesting and exciting position in 2006. After graduating with a master’s degree in Art & Design Education from Pratt Institute, the only jobs I found seemed to focus more on the parent’s expectations, rather than what excited their children. I wanted to create a program that started with children and their exploration of art, while also allowing myself the freedom to listen to my students and modify my projects and program around them. Read more>>
Lisa Ponte
During the pandemic, I started thinking about what makes me happy in life. I’ve always wanted to create something but never knew what or even how to begin. I found that pulling a daily affirmation card made me feel positive and happy. I created my deck in the hope that others can start each day with positive energy. Over the past few years, I realized how many people were suffering. Depression rates climbed and therapists were hard to come by. Parents were struggling and so were their children. Read more>>
Kelly McGee
I created Aesthetics By Kell for women. I wanted to create a space where women feel comfortable and confident. The entire mission behind the business is uplifting women and that mission guides every decision I make. It gives my business a moral compass that guides the products we sell, how we advertise, how I manage my employees, and so much more. We offer clean skin care, beauty brands, and home goods all created by women-owned brands. We emphasize eco-friendly and environmentally conscious brands. Read more>>
Trey Benham
Black Bartow Events started with a mission of increasing the comfort zone of the black community of Bartow County, while providing both, educational and entertaining, options in our community. Read more>>
Jeneene Bailey-Allen
The story behind ASGNMT’s purpose is to provide a platform for women, particularly women of color, in streetwear and sneakers. After attending multiple streetwear and sneaker conventions and events around the United States and noting a lack of female exhibitors, brands, and companies, I began thinking about how to address the need. It wasn’t until I visited Complexcon 2021 that I realized I needed to pursue my concept of creating a platform for women-owned companies in the streetwear and sneaker industries to be highlighted. Read more>>
Angie McCreight
SCHOOL OF ROCK is a growing, passionate community dedicated to enriching lives through performance based music education. Growing up I experienced, myself, how much one could gain from being involved in music and performing on stage with others. Much like a sports team, a band is a well oiled machine and it takes teamwork and dedication to make it work. Wanting to share the great memories that I had performing with other musicians, I found School of Rock to be the perfect combination of music education, team building and inclusivity; a place where everyone is welcome and one can find their passion and their people. Read more>>
Skip Stone
The Stashlogix story starts with a dad concerned that his young kids might get into his meds, especially when they were traveling or off camping in the Colorado mountains. He put his engineering skills to work, and the first Stashlogix bag (smell-proof and locking) was born. Read more>>
Alyssa Caggiano
With working in the beauty industry, I noticed the lack of representation in products and marketing. It was disheartening to see beginners, as well as professional makeup artists, feel discouraged and excluded by the beauty industry because brands primarily catered to only one specific look. I wanted to start a luxury beauty brand to prove that beauty exists within all of us. CAGGS to me is a brand that values individuality and inclusivity, so makeup lovers of all walks of life feel supported and seen. Read more>>
Taylor Alyssa
For me, my clothing brand has never just been about creating garments. While it is certainly a way to display my art, it is even moreso a platform to speak out to the people. It is my ultimate goal to build a community space for the women. So while I am creating my art in clothing form, I am also building a safe space for the free women. In the near future, I would like to host events for networking and knowledge exchanging. Read more>>
Karla Carlston
It was 3 am and I was sitting in the recliner in my bedroom nursing my 6 week old baby boy. I was scrolling on my phone to stay awake when this intense feel of sadness swept over me. I looked down at my precious baby, my second baby in under two years, and felt so much joy and yet intense loneliness. Being a mother was all I ever wanted. I played with dolls well past the appropriate age, I wrote stories about being a mother, I was the most coveted babysitter in my neighborhood well into my early 20s, and yet here I sat living out my dream wondering how I would find the strength to do it all again the next day. Read more>>
Toni Porter
Our goal is to help other business owners showcase their business and present themselves professionally to their customers. When I first started the entrepreneur journey I could have used more guidance and advice. There weren’t many resources available in 2012 that were local, where I could develop a real business relationship with. So Jax|Co. has filled that void for many small business owners. Read more>>
Chance Stanley
I’m a touring, independent artist out of a small sawmill town in north Mississippi. My path has been (and still is at times) filled with trials and roadblocks, but it’s made me all the more appreciative today, The music industry is tough for independent acts, but I have found my starting place for a happy career and I won’t look back. Read more>>
Brianne Aho
I think starting out with my Mission is important here: I create made to order bakes from scratch using high quality, local ingredients while getting to know you and guiding you along the way; because when it comes to a memorable event, the magic is in the details. Read more>>
CuSandra Wright
The story behind my mission is to Help out more in our community .. Our vision is we can have more supportive services… For Christmas 2022 our teams Women In Alignment and Blessed Modelz year we was able to feed over 12 families for Christmas and buy gifts for the Christmas.. This year 2023 we want to be able to feed 100 families in need .. so my mission is to continue to get out there and continue to help out in our community and show my girls how to give instead of receiving and also educate them as well .. Read more>>
Britt Sanders
Spruce + Bee grew out of a need to take care of my own skin in a way that would nurture it, but also in a way that was sustainable. So many skincare products (and products in general) are so full of added ingredients that strip away all the good things and often leave behind harmful chemicals. My mission was to create truly small batch products with the cleanest ingredients possible that work. Specifically for people with allergies and sensitive skin. In the last few years, Spruce + Bee has evolved to include completely fragrance free products and naturally infused oils. Read more>>
Brenda Galvez
Latina Hustle’s mission is to disrupt systems of bias and highlight channels of access for the Latinx community. We first started Latina Hustle as a way to deal with our mental health when we left jobs that prioritized profit over mental health. Unemployed and with some time on our hands, we needed a healthy gateway to deal with the feeling of worthlessness as we thought we were no longer “successful” because we did not have a 9-5. Read more>>
Tony Wright
The story behind my mission in being creative is but being goal oriented. The reason I started my clothing line is because I saw the same type of clothes and wondered if you had a lifestyle of loving christ would a person be able show that to the world. We started saying it more than thats where we can see do more than let’s take care of the community. Read more>>
Brooke Caroline Rapson
The story behind our mission is simple, keep as many children safe around bodies of water as possible. In the United States more children ages 1–4 die from drowning than any other cause of death. For children ages 5–14, drowning is the second leading cause of unintentional injury death after motor vehicle crashes. Every year there is an estimated 4,000 drowning related deaths. This is the most preventable cause of death, and we want to see these numbers be extinguished. Our lessons begin at just six months of age; once your child is crawling you should never feel over confident around water and begin to take the right steps to protect them. Read more>>
Mara DeFilippis
In November of 2009, I felt a pea-sized lump in my left breast. Though five diagnostic procedures reported negative for breast cancer, it was the sixth that proved them wrong. In early April of 2010, I received a call from the surgeon, who explained the diagnosis of DCIS, the reasons why it was so hard to find, and that I would need to undergo a single mastectomy (though I elected to a double due to the challenges in diagnosing, the fact that I was a single mother, and that it would be easier to “match” in reconstruction). The mastectomy was scheduled to take place three weeks later. Read more>>
Rachel Donnelly
Some days I feel like a real-life Little Orphan Annie whose life should be subtitled “Death Becomes Her.” (I’m joking! Sort of.) Growing up, I used to accompany my physician father on house calls and hospital rounds, which gave me a deep understanding of compassion and leaning into hard spaces. When I was 16, my father passed away at the age of 48. Several years later, my mother was diagnosed with cancer and passed away shortly thereafter. Read more>>
Nakia Camp
The process of creating is a treasure that I am deeply grateful for. It is my escapism. My primary mission is to create work that reflects the joy and peace that I find in making art. It is to make work that connects with anyone who understands that there is beauty all around us, even in the “little things”. My goal is for collectors of my work to know that they have invested their hard earned money into a quality piece of art that will last for years to come, no matter if they are purchasing for themselves or as a special gift for someone else. Read more>>
Tanisha Mackin
My mission began when I lost my husband tragically in 2010 on our one year wedding anniversary to a mass shooting. Through my pain, I developed my purpose for writing and sharing my story to encourage and inspire others. Through that pain, I developed my passion and purpose and I birthed Tanisha Mackin Publishing. My goal is to help others share their stories through writing while encouraging and inspiring others. Read more>>
Leticia Jones
In preparing to become a teacher my energy was directed toward learning the science and art behind teaching. My educational philosophy is clear. I’d always lead and teach with love. Connecting with the heart and then the minds of my students. I kept that promise. However, I wasn’t prepared for the physical, emotional, and spiritual toll this would have on me. With each passing year, the realities become real. Burnout is real. Read more>>
Katie Zeller
Ash Drive Designs’ mission is to create beautiful spaces where clients can find peace. Whether your home is meant for lounging, entertaining, or anything in between, it is our goal to design spaces that allow you to enjoy them rather than worry about what’s missing or not working. When we accomplish that goal for our clients, we believe that is when they can truly relax and focus on what matters — from designing a bedroom that one can find rest and recovery, to kitchens that can host the most joyful gatherings, and living areas that are comfortable and welcoming — we want you to have peace of mind that your home is serving you exactly as it should be. Read more>>
Melissa Rojas
The story behind my mission is to show others, that “Eres Mas Fuerte de lo que te imaginas” (You are stronger that what you can imagine) I had just moved back to Texas from a failed marriage. Just my daughter Camilla and I, with nothing to my name. It was a now or never moment, a few months later after my move, I started Chasing Camilla with one single item. The Zarape Santa hat. Sharing my journey since the beginning, where is resonated with other women. My mission from the beginning has been to inspire. Because of my business, I am able to travel and personally source and meet with Artisans, in Mexico and South America. Read more>>
Kami Simmons
It has definitely not been a smooth road. However, all of the hardships I have gone through have definitely been pivotal to creating the person I am today. I grew up in a family where no one attended college and having children at a young age was the norm. My mother raised my twin sister and me in Washington, D.C. as a single parent working two jobs. She taught us to never limit ourselves, follow our dreams, work hard, and to make it happen. Read more>>
Josh Ray
Our mission has always been to provide a quality product at a quality price all while making others feel better. Self-care is such a big part of our lives and it is also something that sadly is tossed to the side by many. Our schedules just don’t always allow for us to take time to sit and breathe for a minute. Read more>>
Chino Lucci
I have always helped and advised people of essential knowledge when it come to life, business, relationships, goals, etc. My ultimate goal is for uplifting and building up the people. I got into skincare because hygiene is something everybody may not be the best in, but everyone can learn and be better at it. Hygiene may not be a priority for a lot of people, but it is very vital when it comes to self-love and self care. Read more>>
Rana Coleman
The story behind my mission is simple chances and inclusion. I’ve been in the legal industry for over a decade now and a common theme that saw throughout the various firms and cooperations I worked for and the different roles I held was the lack of diversity and the lack of opportunity given to diverse candidates.. I grew tired of seeing this and took matters into my own hands and launched the first division of my firm the staffing division RSColeman and Associates Staffing LLC in February 2022. Read more>>
Cory Brown
School kills creativity. Going from childhood to adulthood, the statement “you can be whoever you want to be” changed within a short few years to “get a job with a steady paycheck and good benefits.” In our most impressionable years, we are taught to believe our security is worth more than our dreams. I can’t even recall how many times I have been in the position of receiving unwarranted advice on what i SHOULD or NEED to be doing with my life. These comments ALMOST stopped me, but I was blessed with ability to think outside the box. Read more>>
Rachel Craig
I grew up loving the arts, especially music. I listened to a lot of rock and metal bands as a kid and always dreamed of going on the road in some way – whether that’s on stage or in the crew. In high school, I always loved collecting photographs of my favorite bands and even took a small point-and-shoot camera to local shows without even thinking I could make it a career. Read more>>
Chenise Bowden
It is my mission to help my clients create a life that feels good on the inside, not one that just looks good on the outside. So, I decided to focus on both Spiritual and Christian coaching. Changing the way you think makes you feel good about yourself. In order to light up your inner beauty and let it shine, your body needs to be fed a diet of love and appreciation. It needs positive encouragement rather than criticism and demands. Read more>>
Karen Wade
The story behind my mission is helping women with big families keep up with their keys. I was inspired by this because my mom use to always lose her keys and I decided to do something to help her out and that’s how I made my wristlets. I also made them if women had to walk alone to their car at night they won’t be digging through their purse if someone is following them and they need to get away quickly. So that is my story behind my mission helping women with a easy solution to a problem. Read more>>
Ashley Masters
My mission is to heal and to help people find their own unique path to healing. I don’t believe in a one size fits all approach, we are all such complex creatures with different backgrounds that shape and mold us. Despite what we’ve encountered, our ability to transform pain into purpose never ceases to amaze me and that spark is what I love to ignite in my clients. The shift from, ” This Hurts” to “This hurts but I’m actively choosing to heal my pain and help others too!” Fascilitating the space for my clients to deep dive is one of the most important pieces of what I do. Read more>>
Lamar Robinson
Hi Im Lamar Robinson Founder of The Melanin Market, a Community Activist , Anti-Gun Violence Speaker , Marketing & Event Specialist . Honestly the story behind The Melanin Market is a lifelong testimony amongst myself and my partner /co-founder and friend Cory Cottingham .. As far as the story behind our mission/the melanin market it’s all about providing the opportunity to learn, earn and build generational wealth for entrepreneur and innovators worldwide . Growing up In the Philadelphia Tristate was a very fun but challenging area . Read more>>
J. Reese Bradley
I wrote the first in my series, Brumbletide and the Daughter of Eve, in 2017. It wasn’t called that. It had another name and was almost another story entirely. I was so proud of it! It was time to start the long journey to getting published. An author who would like to publish their book traditionally (meaning sell your manuscript to a publishing house like Harper Collins, Simon and Schuster, Scholastic, etc.) has to query literary agents to hopefully receive an offer of representation. Read more>>
Shevonne Rumph
Grief was the one thing that pushed me into becoming a better me! In all things, push your way through! You’ll be glad you did! Read more>>
Elizabeth Correia
I literally moved from PAIN to PASSION to PURPOSE to PAY. For many years, I never believed I could be something, do something or get anywhere pass the pain I was living in. I decided to write a memoir as part of my own healing and also to create awareness around the affects of sexual abuse and what happens to a child who grows into adulthood with that shame and pain. This is the story of my life. A life of sexual abuse (father), physical abuse (both parents), poverty, growing up on the projects around drugs, crime and a whole lot of mental illness. Read more>>
Melina Softa
When I became a vegetarian, after seeing a video about slaughterhouses, questioning myself and my habits became the norm. Animals and the environment became a priority and very important factors I took into consideration when making decisions in my personal life. Read more>>
Christine Trippi
I began in hospitality at the early age of seventeen when I was in the high school work program. My first position was a van driver/laundry girl. Since that time, my mission has been to change the world one YES at a time. Fast forward thirty-five years later and I’ve served select, full, and resort properties. Read more>>
Dr. Monique Williams
Heirloom’s story begins with Cancer, Covid and Connection. 8 months before COVID began my family was already experiencing the isolating conditions of quarantine because my younger brother had been diagnosed with T-cell histocyte rich large B cell lymphoma. For 8 months our faces were covered with masks, our wardrobe was medical grade PPE (personal protective equipment) and we fretted over every invisible microorganism that could potentially send my brother’s immune system into panic. Read more>>