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?

K J

I started Beautee Within You to remind people that beauty doesn’t start on the outside, it starts on the inside. I have a mission of making people feel beautiful inside and out. I love to talk about self care and taking care of your skin. So many people don’t understand why it’s important to take care of your skin or what products to use so I take time to explain that when I do markets. I let people sample a popular product I sell so they can get a feel for it. If they love it, they will come back for more. I am currently gaining more knowledge about skin care to take my business and skills to the next level. Read more>>

Eden Strader

At first glance – Eden Strader is a destination wedding photographer turned business coach, leading creative entrepreneurs in building a life of artistic growth, wealth, and freedom. But beyond the business resume – Eden began 2020 with an intense divorce that finalized just two months prior to the pandemic. She left her marriage + home in Utah for a fresh start. She moved to LA just to be met immediately with the Covid home order, and spent several months alone rebuilding both herself and her business from rock bottom. Read more>>

LaShawn Smith-Brewster

I feel it is so important for women to pour into themselves. Have a safe space to talk about their passions, and their fears. Most of my guests are 30+ and I find that we tend to lose ourselves, in our children, relationships….careers. The women that come to me, I believe are ready for a change, not only outward but they are doing overall self work. I love that for them….it’s nothing like a women who is confident, and becoming HER! Manifesting the person she wants to be and doing the work!!! Read more>>

Kris Kelly

The Kris Kelly Foundation was founded by Kris Kelly in 2006 after many years of dreaming of her own Non-Profit to save animals from abuse, slaughter, and neglect. The organization is a 501c3 non-profit vegan animal rescue organization that rescues animals out of local shelters and finds them forever loving homes. Read more>>

Michele Ellis-Williams

My mission is to help aspiring entrepreneurs build financial freedom and regain their time by assisting them with starting and growing their home care businesses. While I love and enjoy working with men and women from all walks of life, I have a passion for women who have gone through (or are currently going through difficult times), including single mothers, domestic violence survivors, and others who come from poor and difficult backgrounds. Read more>>

Jenna Styles

In 2019 I became very ill out of no where and it abruptly halted my entire life and career. Thankfully I recovered and implemented countless hours of research on healing from the inside out. My already thin short hair took a huge toll and after my body started to recover my hair did not and my confidence was shattered Fun little fact women, did you know that approximately 40% of us will experience visible hair loss by the age of 40, and 80% of us by age 65. The causes vary, from hereditary factors to hormonal imbalances, medical illnesses, chemo, autoimmune diseases, childbirth, sudden dietary restrictions and the most recent, COVID, just to name a few. Read more>>

Melody Dao

My social media presence on Instagram and TikTok provides guidance to underserved high school students navigating the college application process. As a first-generation, low-income (FGLI) student myself, I was unaware of the nuances and strategies needed to succeed. I invested countless hours researching different opportunities and resources, eventually earning a full scholarship to a top 15 university—a goal that once seemed unfathomable. I remember the exact moment I received my college acceptance. It felt like all these years of hard work finally paid off and I was so excited for a new chapter in my life! Read more>>

Chef Corso

Outdoor Eats is on a mission to elevate the outdoor food experience through fast, easy and tasty recipes. We also have a series of pocket-sized trail test cookbooks that are perfect for any outdoor activity. I’m a classically trained chef with over 20 years of culinary and food product development experience but I also really enjoy hiking and backpacking. On my first trips, I noticed that most folks were just boiling water, adding it to a bag and calling it dinner. For me, this was a missed opportunity to have a tasty meal that re-fueled in a better way and complimented the experience. Read more>>

Barbara Provost

Women are behind financially. Blame it on the pay gap, the fact that women leave the workforce to care for children or sick family members, the pink tax or even the poor money messages women have been given, and continue to get! Purse Strings was created so that women have one trusted resource they can go to for free online financial resources and access to a directory of vetted financial professionals who are uniquely equipped to serve a female market. Read more>>

Jessica Walker

My mission is to keep us all connected and feel supported during the good, bad, and messy moments of life. It’s easy to fall into the trap of not wanting to say the wrong thing, and therefore not saying anything at all. My cards help bridge that gap by providing the words that make connection and support simple. They lower the barrier to entry so that we can all be there for each other in meaningful ways. Read more>>

Shay Cook

Crusaders for Change®️, LLC’s (C4C) mission is to empower and equip people with the knowledge, skills, and tools needed to become financially free through financial counseling, coaching, classes, and consulting. More about me and how I got here. There are 4 areas of why I am where I am today and that inspired me to start my own business: 1. My Spirit, 2. My Family, 3. My Education and 4. My Career. Steve Jobs said during a speech in 2005 “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever.” Read more>>

Kim Ford

Autumn Glow Botanical’s mission is to empower and educate consumers about the harmful ingredients commonly found in skincare products. We strive to provide high-quality organic skincare solutions that promote healthy, radiant skin while preserving our planet. I once had a friend who worked for a very well know cosmetics company. He began to tell me that he had to wear a hazmat suit when working with the ingredients ! I couldnt beleive it! That is when I started to do my own research and decided that “I wanted to see more non toxic products on the market at an affordable price.” I was using products that didn’t enhance my skin. There was no Glow! Read more>>

Ashley Nicole Bowen

My journey began at the age of five when I experienced the traumatic murder of my first cousin. This harrowing incident left a lasting impact at an early age, leading me to pray for understanding and my purpose here in life. I firmly believe that no child should endure such horrors, and I felt even at such young age that God called me to rescue children who are suffering. To not only provide them with a safe haven but also to provide love, resources and the care needed to flourish in life. Read more>>

Lauren B.

Our mission at Lauren B. Beauty is to empower individuals to feel confident and beautiful, both inside and out, by providing high-quality, non-toxic, and cruelty-free beauty products. This mission was born out of my own personal journey and experiences. Growing up, I was always passionate about beauty and cosmetics. However, I became increasingly concerned about the harmful ingredients commonly found in many beauty products and their negative impact on both our health and the environment. I started researching and educating myself about the toxic chemicals present in cosmetics and the alarming lack of regulations in the beauty industry. Read more>>

Katherine Vargas

I began Mrs. Katherine Vargas Notary and Networking as a way to cope after my youngest daughter passed away from a genetic disorder. I was reading a book about Goddess Energy, which is not the type of book I would typically read (it was suggested by a friend). I read this powerful section asking to tap into two things. First, acknowledge who/what depletes your energy. Second, acknowledge what GIVES your energy. Read more>>

Daimian Hines

After practicing architecture on a global scale, both in corporate design firms in Chicago and Houston and in Southeast Asia, I pursued a path that would further refine my focus and interest in how I would practice. These diverse experiences reinforced my desire to create a design practice centered on communities, cultures, and civic spaces that align with my values. This journey led to founding of HINESAD, a design architecture firm committed to reparative justice in the global built environment. Our mission is rooted in the belief that our work should be architecturally significant and contribute to preserving and creating spaces that amplify the contributions of the underrepresented through place-making. Read more>>

Aysegul Ikna

My mission is to create beautiful, high-quality, handcrafted products through equitable relationships and sustainable practices within the fashion industry. Develop and produce high quality clothing by causing no necessary harm to people and environment, help and inspire other designers to become more sustainable with fashion collections and create awareness about the state of fashion. Read more>>

Ann Kaplan Mulholland

Ann Kaplan is the founder of AnnKM. Through her love of fashion, her interest in business and her philanthropic drive, Ann developed a platform to put the spotlight on sustainability, fairness, inclusivity and other ways that fashion can have a great impact on social change. The platform is not for profit, it is meant to highlight the positive contributions of industry and to bring awareness to designers, both established and up-and-coming of the important of the consideration of the positive impact that the choices made through fashion can have on the world (sustainability fairness, inclusitivioty). Read more>>

Paul Crick

In 2019, Forbes reported that $366BN was invested globally in leadership training and yet, as consulting firm McKinsey reported, most of these leadership programs fail to create the desired results. Putting that into perspective, this investment : – is fourteen times the size of NASA’s total budget for 2023 – would build ninety eight new hospitals in the UK (at 2020 prices) – would buy two hundred and eighty one exact replicas of Buckingham Palace Read more>>

Adam Lucero

It all started when I was viciously stabbed in the throat, arm & chest at a movie theater. The blade went extremely deep in my arm… (almost out the other side) Punctured my lung… And half way through my throat! Read more>>

Amanda Cunningham

My daughter was born with an unexpected diagnosis of Down Syndrome in 2017. It quickly overwhelmed me with appointments and new responsibilities. I was struggling to keep up with my new role while also parenting and 3 year old boy and navigating the complex emotions that come along with a diagnosis. In an effort to bring some organization to my days I created tools to support me in my role. Sharing my experience online other mothers said they needed what I had created. So I began the journey of mass production of daily planners, journals and notepads for caregivers. Launching out first public sale in 2018. It has been a wonderful experience with highs and lows, but the real win has been the community that has developed around our brand. Read more>>

Lauren Pires

One of my favourite quotes is from Brooklyn Nine-Nine, when Captain Holt says to Rosa “Every time someone steps up and says who they are, the world becomes a better, more interesting place.” I was born with a rare neuromuscular disorder called Central Core Disease (CCD), which results in me having about 33% of the strength of the average person. Not 33% less strength, just 33% strength. Basically, there are areas in my muscle cells where mitochondria are missing, making it more difficult for my body to convert energy into strength, so I have to work harder at things most people take for granted. Read more>>

Eric Chebil

Discover how Cher® revolutionizes homeownership, making it accessible and rewarding for everyone. We offer innovative co-ownership plans and exclusive mortgage solutions that simplify your path to wealth accumulation. Cher® serves as your premier digital gateway to the world of homeownership, empowering individuals with modest to moderate incomes to embark on a journey towards co-ownership and financial prosperity. Read more>>

Dr. Olivia Wedel

My practice is mission driven because it includes pieces of my own story and how I healed from postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety while also inspiring hope for others in their healing journey. This work is meaningful to me because not only am I a survivor, but I believe it is possible for other women to heal and recover. Sometimes extra tools for support are needed, and I feel very strongly about normalizing asking for help and reducing the stigma associated with maternal mental health. I suffered for a long time in silence while battling intrusive thoughts, guilt and shame, and fresh grief related to losing my mom, who died years before I had my own child. Read more>>

Lisa Wright

In a world that often misunderstands and misjudges neurodivergent learners, my mission is clear: to cultivate success and bolster confidence in those with dyslexia and other neurodivergent traits. Far too often, parents, teachers, and adults attribute laziness, procrastination, and a lack of motivation to these exceptional individuals. I stand in strong opposition to these misconceptions. From my own journey as an elementary school teacher to becoming a dyslexia therapist, I’ve witnessed the transformational power of knowledge and the importance of providing the right tools and support. Read more>>

Jeniece Harris

My mission is to accomplish: MORE ART. This simply means, more art for the world, all ages, all mediums. I believe art adds deep value to cities, homes, corporations, families. Art is a way to express yourself AND find yourself. I have had hundreds of toddlers-adults in my studio and I have seem them come alive, break down, whatever is necessary for their journey. Art is vulnerable and important. Read more>>

SavagelyHumble

The story behind my mission is to create a space where the up and coming artists, designers, & creators can come to promote themselves. Issa Hard Knock Lyfe Podcast is here to serve music, beauty & fashion to the masses. It’s a platform where you can connect with other artists, designers & creator in hopes of collaborations to come about. It’s a platform where you can draw people in to want to check out your work. The podcast is up and coming so it’s only right to talk to the up and coming so we can come up together. It’s all about togetherness at all times. Read more>>

Cali Shabazz

Dear Laney is a contemporary womenswear brand based out of Philadelphia. Prior to the pandemic, each year we would host a 3k walk raising awareness to youth homelessness in Philly. All of the proceeds as well as the donations we received (we ran a cold weather drive hats, gloves, scarves) were donated to YSI Philly which is a youth shelter and program in west Philadelphia. My best friend asked me to volunteer there almost 10 years ago and I was immediately impressed by the program and wanted to do more. This year will be the first year back since 2019 and I’m trilled! Read more>>

Nikia Pratt

To Know Thy Self LLC’s mission is to educate mompreneurs on how to create and sustain a healthy and harmonious balance between work life, family life, and mindfulness. I will never forget the day I realized I did not know who I was and how I allowed the daily demands of life force me to neglect myself. I divorced my ex-husband in 2018. During this time my three children, who were two years, ten years, and thirteen years of age, began visiting their father every other weekend. Read more>>

Lindsay Thomason

I founded The Nanny League back in 2010, right in the heart of Los Angeles, California. This endeavor came about after I made the transition from a career in the entertainment industry to becoming a full-time live-in nanny. It was during my time as a nanny that I had the opportunity to wear many hats and gain firsthand experience in the field of childcare. This experience opened my eyes to the pressing need for high-quality childcare services. At its core, The Nanny League has always been committed to setting a high standard in the industry. From the very beginning, we took a pioneering approach by being one of the first agencies to require a college degree for all our candidates. Read more>>

Kerri Lewis

My mission is to guide people as they face what causes them suffering, overcome addiction and addictive behavior and step into a life that fills them with passion and purpose. At the age of 14 I found myself with little parental guidance and in a whole lot of mess. Coming of age on the streets left me susceptible to addiction, domestic violence and s*xual assaults. After yet another beating from my partner at the time, I had enough. I filed charges and a year later found myself testifying in open court against a man I gave my heart to. Definitely not the way I had envisioned stepping into my twenties. This said, testifying in open court gave me the courage to leave my past behind and begin anew. Read more>>