Everyday we meet business owners, professionals, artists and creatives. Photographers, florists, realtors and more. They might come from different backgrounds, work in different industries, have varying personalities, and have vastly different income and educational profiles, but the one thing we’ve seen over and over again is that most people have a unique and special reason for why they do what they do. From a realtor helping families afford the first home he always wished for as a kid to a photographer using her skills to give a voice and face to victims who feel voiceless, we have been blown away by what happens when you just ask people a simple question – why do you do what you do?

Tori Johnson

The story behind my mission is that i had no other choice. In my late teenage years, i made some mistakes that altered my life and life opportunities. I got into some legal trouble at the age of 17, in which i was charged as an adult. This affected certain job opportunities, living situations, and so forth. Once you make a mistake, no matter your age, it causes lifelong consequences. After finding out i was pregnant at the age of 17, I knew something had to be done; Read more>>

Ikaika Anderson

The story story behind my mission comes from my purpose in life. I live my life my to inspire those who look like myself, to provide a model that you don’t have to follow the norms of every day life, that you can create your own lane, develop your own to avenues to success. We live a life where we often caught in the lights and glamour of what is suppose to look like, and that’s often not true. Success is finding a purpose to live by and fulling that purpose from day to day. My purpose is to Inspire others and that’s the story behind my mission. Read more>>

Rusty Ducworth

My mission was to bring awareness and advertisement to the locals that work around me. I’m constantly searching for a closer place to obtain an ingredient, whether it be pork, rice, chicken, seasonal vegetables etc. The folks that I obtain the products that makes my food taste the way it does simply don’t get enough credit. Their work is difficult and when it comes to crops specifically, this farmers depend a lot on weather among other things. Read more>>

Special Ashford

Hair has always been something I’ve enjoyed doing since I was about 12. My friends would come over to my house and pay me to do their hair in my mom’s kitchen. Eventually, it turned into a weekend thing. In college, it helped me keep extra money in my pockets and not go hungry… lol. Read more>>

Lisa Von De Linde

My business and design work are driven by a desire to make a difference in lives and communities. I have a big heart for causes that advocate for social justice, especially those tied to efforts to end human trafficking—a cause that’s been tugging at my heart for the past 18 years. From the beginning (when I first began pursuing the field of graphic design) I said I wanted to design things that matter. I could never enjoy what I do or feel there is purpose in my work if I was designing for a large corporation or agency creating what ends up being thrown away as junk mail. Read more>>

Christina Brunner

During COVID when we started to experience food and supply shortages, we realized how important it was to connect customers with local farmers and small businesses. We began researching what products are grown or produced in our state and discovered that so many items we use regularly can be found somewhere in North Carolina. We took this idea, and opened a store to help show our community that while large stores shelves were emptying, ours were filling. Read more>>

Tiffany Anton

I started working in the world of entrepreneurship in May 2017. At that time, I had just started dabbling in the world of social media. I got a job as the marketing manager at The Biz Foundry, a regional entrepreneur center, as the marketing manager and felt like a deer caught in the headlights. Read more>>

Meredith LeJeune

Thought Bubble Communications has one simple mission – elevate the voices of the often underfunded and overlooked minority-owned businesses. Although our mission is specific to small to medium sized businesses, it stems from a very personal space. As a young girl, I remember times where I felt overlooked and undervalued. I know too well how it feels to be unseen. In 2012, I made it my mission to work directly with businesses that are underrepresented in their spaces. Read more>>

Taylor Faulkner

Being an artist means more to me when there are more people involved. I enjoy supporting other artists in my community, by showing them love on the old instagram, learning more about their practices (and sharing my own), and trying to collaborate to make a show or a piece of work that much better. Read more>>

Robin Brown

I’ve been there. I understand it. I’ve lived it. The anxiety and depression…and a divinely interrupted suicide attempt in 2015. My story is filled with broken pieces, bad decisions and some ugly truths…….but it’s also filled with a major comeback, peace in my soul and a grace that saved my life. There’s been so many twists + turns, up’s and downs and dark tunnels that made me so sure I’d never see the light in my journey to learning to be just who I am and loving myself. Read more>>

Matthew Mulnix

My mission as a music instructor is to foster creativity, skill, and knowledge across all demographics. I give students the tools they’ll need to become self sufficient song learners, rather than relying on me to learn songs. In addition, I love when students begin our time together as cover song artists, and end as creative songwriters. Read more>>

Alyssa Flores

I graduated with my Masters in Speech-Language Pathology nearly 6 years ago and was really enjoying serving the children that made up our community in their homes and at schools! At the same time, I began bodybuilding while in college with my first show November 2017. I was so in awe of the process and dedication that was needed to succeed on the stage, that it made me want to be better; provide MORE for my community. Read more>>

Natasha Teasley

I have been working in the outdoor/adventure recreation industry for nearly 30 years. There have been great strides in recent years to have more female and people of color representation in the outdoors. However, much of that representation still feels very performative and like it is for marketing sake. I just want to share the love of the outdoors with people who have not had access or not felt welcome in the past. Read more>>

Britney Stroud

The story behind me becoming a graphic designer was me finding something I am passionate about. I have always been passionate about creating , so once I had my first son and becoming a say at home mom and experiencing my first failed business. I started created more and more and started relieving this was something I always was good at. So remembering your hobbies can sometimes be your destiny is important do not ignore the things that make you smile. Read more>>

Kristan Saucedo

My mission has always been taking care of my guests and my grandparents. If my guests are happy and my grandparents are happy, I’ve done my job. Read more>>

Ariel Rolfe

My business mission is to get folks excited about going outside! I have been developing this business/side-hustle for around three years now. The impetus was mostly for me to earn enough money back to pay for all the different things I like to make. I truly love drawing and crafting things with plants. From researching and foraging to salve-making and games, I just can’t help myself. Read more>>

Aayushi Mehta

As a child, I constantly saw many people around me struggle with their mental health. I initially thought that it was only my family who struggled with depression, anxiety, PTSD, etc. However, as I grew older, I started to learn that every single person around me was struggling in different ways, yet mental health was not something that was openly spoken about or addressed, and there was no clear support for children. Read more>>

Kennedy Toliver

Over the years and growing up, I have always been interested in self care, self love, and valuing my time to improve myself. I have always grown to believe that the outcome on who you are is how you take care of yourself. So, knowing that from an early age, I always looked for different products, and regimens for self care. I would always have my own self care days, and time to myself. Growing up, I realize more and more h0w important that was to me and how much more I valued my lips, my skin and my body. Read more>>

Kristin Farmer

Looking at me today, one might find it difficult to believe that I was once too depressed to shower, wash my face, brush my teeth, or get out of bed. These simple tasks left me paralyzed and unable to cope – until I learned that I am challenged by Bipolar-II and borderline personality disorder, which had gone misdiagnosed for a decade. Read more>>

Arva Thomas

My mission is to empower and propel more women into executive leadership roles in corporate and government spaces. The story behind my mission is a personal one. As a child, I had a front row seat to my mother’s rise up the leadership ladder in the field of secondary education. Beginning as early as age five, I watched the carefully planned steps my mother took. I listened to the stories and lessons she shared. Read more>>

Erica Wilson

Erica Wilson Erica Wilson is an author and highly awarded leadership development expert, is the Chief Executive Officer for 88 Blessings Inc, A Beauty So Rare, and “IT Had 2 Happen, LLC”. Elica leads teams of executive professionals who are proficients to perform for individuals and businesses through providing strategic solutions. Read more>>

Catherine Neff

The mission of Ride Inspired Coaching is to use mountain biking as a tool to build confidence, self-esteem, and to get more people out riding bikes and loving to ride trails by providing customized lessons and clinics for all level riders from all backgrounds! The story behind the mission comes from me seeing how my confidence grew after taking clinics and lessons and how my story of determination and resilience encouraged others. Read more>>

Stacy Robinson

During the COVID-19 pandemic so many people suffered losses. Many of us had to learn to navigate the new normal of working from home, forced isolation, grieving the loss of loved ones, and coping with anxiety and depression—just to name a few things. The mission of my brand, Stacy Created, is to ‘empower women through mental health tools and positivity apparel’. It was important to me to create resources that promote mental health and highlight the significance of self-care. Read more>>

Julia Lesnichy

I I create art for people. I am very happy when people love my works and I am more excited when they buy them. For me it is not about the money but sharing the pure joy I experience while painting from life. I keep my prices moderate and affordable so people of different financial status can purchase them. Generally my mission is to create beautiful art and make people happy. Read more>>

Kyle Johnson

Although Dapper Moose Entertainment aims to bring happiness to others, the creation of the company comes from a dark place. Kyle Johnson, author and the founder of Dapper Moose Entertainment, has dealt with a mystery, invisible illness for almost 10 years. In 2018, the illness took a turn and forced Kyle from the classroom, where he taught Social Studies in Rochester, NY for about a decade. Between the illness and inability to work, Kyle entered a deep depression. Thanks to therapy, he was able to rise from the ashes. Toward the end of 2019, the idea of Dapper Moose Entertainment was born. Read more>>

Dan Bauer

My mission remains the same as it’s been for the past 35 years… educating, empowering and encouraging the next generation of business leaders. The genesis of this journey was my good fortune to have a series of amazing mentors who instilled and nurtured my professional focus and direction from the very start of my career. Inspired by their unselfishness, patience and wisdom, I feel compelled to honor their legacy by doing the same for students and young business execs. Read more>>

Shanequa Milner

My business started from a hobby and I decided to make it a business. I love accessories and how they can help people express themselves. Our motto is, “find the complement to your life and that outfit.” I believe accessories complement more than just an outfit; I provide options for diffère personality types. I love to create something with my hands. Read more>>

Jasmine Baxter

I’m Jasmine Baxter, founder of Open House Socials, a full-service design and marketing agency. Open House Socials works on more than just social media and more than just brands. We work with people we believe in to establish an online presence that is memorable with adaptable and sustainable systems. We’re passionate about putting more goodness in the world and focus explicitly on collaborating with businesses doing the same. Read more>>

Amber Dawkins

“What can I do to help your business grow?” I had just resigned my middle school teaching position to pursue photography as a full-time career, and another small business owner was standing in front of me, asking me this question. I was struck by the selflessness of it, and I would soon come to realize that this is a common mindset among Kansas City entrepreneurs. And a powerful one at that: The success of one can have a positive ripple effect on others. If we seek to build each other up, to serve as references and resources for each other, we will all grow together. Read more>>

Rachel Dinkins

Our story behind our mission is to provide high quality products that revive healthy hair, restore moisture, and health to all hair types, ensuring the growth and quality of beautiful hair. Having majored in Fashion Marketing and Management, I had a passion for the beauty & fashion industry. This led me to research the hair care industry, which is an $87 billion industry. Read more>>

Pamela Claytor

My mission centers on building people up and celebrating exactly who they are, right where they are. While I found my inspiration in capturing my daughter when she was born, as my children grew, their fun quirks and uniqueness gave me passion in celebrating and capturing the beauty in each person’s own interests and personalities. I also spent years struggling to find my beauty and I hope that in my own small way, I can help individuals see the beauty I see in them. Read more>>

Giaina Skarlett

As a Latina in the technology industry (previously a software engineer), I am extremely passionate about creating inclusive spaces in which all minorities can participate. The first step toward a more inclusive future is to provide people with the tools they need to participate in the conversation, which often means developing ways to onboard them. Read more>>

Emily Butterfield

Our Boutique Art Hotel, Oak Street Mansion, was a single-family home for nearly a century, until the Sabates family turned it into a Bed & Breakfast with a unique positioning – an Art Hotel. They displayed all of their personal (and impressive) art collection throughout the mansion for guests to enjoy. When they retired from the Bed & Breakfast world, Audrey and Aaron Clemons (a brother-sister duo) bought both the Oak Street Mansion and Southmoreland on the Plaza. Read more>>

Jamie Simon Sr

There was a barbershop about 20 yards from the home I grew up in. Seeing people getting their haircut and paying attention to how happy they were vs how they went in. Sparked my interest. I was around 15yrs old. It was like magic. After getting many haircuts from my grandfather, who was not a barber. I asked him. Can I borrow his clippers.. He looked at me and asked, what was I going to do. Read more>>

Shanni Teague

I am Shanni Chalese owner of Pretty Little Waist, devoted wife and mother of 4. In 2015, I graduated with a bachelors degree in criminal justice from Indiana Northwest University. During my college career at IUN, I was introduced to fitness and health which inspired my personal fitness journey leading up to the development Pretty Little Waist! Read more>>

Isiah Butler

The story behind my mission is simple but deeper than the surface. I come from a small inter city located in Lorain, Ohio. I have always been a well put together person with big dreams and as a kid up until I was a teenager playing basketball was my dream. Fast forward to my early 20s a very interesting time in my life but great self development years for me, I got into fitness as an adult from noticing myself not looking that good and by that I mean slim and out of shape. Read more>>

Marcela Treviño

I started trying on clothes in Stores, since I was a child I felt inclined towards this beautiful profession. On the other hand, I love designing people and helping them choose their clothes. Read more>>

Bella Chauni

I love hair and beauty products especially when they are good, a whole vibe. Even if you feel down, you can makeup and feel fabulous right away. Read more>>

Kasia Muzyka

I would love to see people opening to who they truly are, to what they truly love. I see a very different way of people working together towards something that is more collective but influenced and flavoured by individuality. I imagine that the big questions about who we are, where we come from and where we are going that humanity has asked for millennia will not have to be asked anymore. Read more>>

Madison Morgan

I tend to jump into new opportunities quickly, which could be both a strength and a weakness. My career in mechanical engineering started easily, with a push from several close family members and friends, since I was “good in math and science”. Staying with the career was more difficult. In college, you really don’t understand the opportunities available to you in engineering. I jumped around internships, even trying to switch majors to become a vet halfway through (I’ve always been passionate about animals). Read more>>

Jasmen Richmond

I created R.I.C.H Health LLC from experiencing a death in my family. My family member experienced health complications due to being morbidly obesed. After her passing I wanted to find some type of way to educate individuals in my community, on healthier lifestyle practices. That’s where R.I.C.H Health would come into play. (Rejuvenating Inner City Health). Before the pandemic we would provide free Health seminars for the Binghamton community at the Binghamton development center. Read more>>

Kyleigh Giddens

My Mission For My Brand Is To Help Everyone Get The Proper Bath & Body Products That They Deserve. When You Shop With Creole Thangz, You’ll Keep Coming Back. I Wanted To Start A Business To Not Only Provide The Best Bath & Body Products But To Also Stop Generational Curses & Start Some Generational Wealth. Read more>>

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When I look back on my life, as far as I can remember, I realize that most of the things I’ve done has consisted of helping people. It is something about finding solutions that excites me! I love hearing people talk about their dreams and with this information I would feel compelled to assist and find resources that could help execute them. From my event planning company, lifestyle management company, my women’s organization, my radio show and now my skincare line and project management company, my main purpose is always to find solutions. Read more>>

Drea Penndragon

Inaktha Arts started when I was able to claw my way back from being homeless, and found myself in Topeka, KS with the opportunity to take care of a small disabled kitten with many special needs. Knowing my love of resin work and my goal of making my own silicone molds, I decided to open Inaktha Arts to support the veterinary bills for little Hercules. Thus far my Etsy shop has allowed for me to take on a total of 6 disabled kitties that would have otherwise been put down, and rescue a big goofy disabled dog. Read more>>

Tamara A Dopwell

Social Workers are known to be helpers and healers and not always viewed as business savvy. I have entered the space of Social Entrepreneurship to dismantle this belief. Read more>>

Lashonda Modest

Melanated Wine was created due to the lack of diversity in the wine industry. I would go places and would never see brands that spoke to me as a minority woman. Additionally, many of the wines that I purchased were not desirable. This prompted me to research why minority brands were so underrepresented in the wine industry. During my research I was inspired to help change the narrative for people who look like me. Read more>>

Julie Mattson

I have been a Registered Nurse for 27 years and, in that time, I have worked in the NICU, Progressive Care Unit, Triage and as a Charge Nurse in the Emergency Room. Approximately 21 years ago, while working in the Emergency Department, I began training as a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner and began collecting evidence on adults and children who had been sexually assaulted for all local law enforcement agencies. I became passionate about forensics and wanted to do more. Read more>>

Tanya Cross-Kimble

Ever since I was a little girl, I was always the “helper” and “giver”. I just loved to see people happy and smiling! So fast forward to my adulthood, I was not surprised when God placed the mission of blessing others on my family. We were always placed in environments where we would build important meaningful relationships with people from all “walks” of life and therefore would enable us to be obedient to God’s calling and create our Nonprofit – WeSeeU Inc which is a 501c3 that serves hardworking individuals and families in our underserved communities throughout the year. Read more>>

Tashima Freeman

I know what it is like to have an abundance of money, and I also know what it likes to lose it all and get it back. It is more important to me to be of service to the people who want it and make a difference on this earth by helping others get rid of fear an live in abundance. Read more>>