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?

Angelita Parham

Opening my storefront, SteeleDivine Cosmetics was about bringing a black-owned beauty brand for ALL to an area that once thrived. The area of Whitehaven played a pivotal part in my life by giving us places to shop, go to a movie, beauty salon, and more. Whitehaven was an area that you could find both whites, blacks, and other races enjoying the area; especially the Southland Mall & SouthBrook Mall. It is my mission to help restore that by advocating for change and planting my business there. Read more>>

Isiah Barnes

Our main mission at Reigning Talent is to help showcase homegrown talent on national platform, whilst showing kids from here that they have a real avenue to chase their dreams. As a kid from a small city, I was always told I lived in the wrong place and I needed to move away to be noticed. We want to shatter that stigma. We want to people from this state. Read more>>

Kelly Nickel-Dubin

I have always loved babies and knew I wanted to spend my life surrounded by them. The moment I knew I wanted to be a doula was when I went over to my aunt’s home. She just gave birth to my cousin and was finally ready for visitors. Everyone was crowding around the baby trying to get their turn to hold him. Read more>>

Katy Lopes

The birth of Halu stems from a spiritual awakening that ignited a strong desire within me to explore oneself. Our company is more than just a team – we are a united force committed to respecting the rights of all living beings. We believe that by leading a life of generosity and harmony, we empower a community to prosper. Read more>>

Leah Garcia

My mission as a young, ambitious, latina CEO reflects that and is heavily rooted in the mission of MotivateYou. Our mission statement is that we seek to democratize leadership and motivation through Breakthrough coaching for everyone and anyone. But it extends beyond the folds of accessibility and affordability and really goes into helping everyone make a difference and leave an indelible mark. Read more>>

Janet Whetston

Our Mission is to Create a Fun Environment, Value Integrity and Embrace Teamwork. Read more>>

Paul Jervey

My mission is to spread the message of financial literacy with a Biblical backing to as many people who will recieve it. The reason why this is important to me is because i am a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ , and my journey to get become that. I grew up having a true rich dad poor dad experience and my wife and i have a true rags to riches story. It wasn’t until i learned the priniciples within God’s Word that changed things around for my business, my income, and my wealth. Read more>>

Alvaro Oliveira

Our mission is: Read more>>

Sara Eklund

In 2021, Sara Eklund and I partnered together to produce ¿Qué Somos?, a short film about a young girl’s eye-opening playdate. The entire experience, from pre-production all the way through its festival run, was an incredible one. We found that we worked together with immense synchronicity and we decided to co-found Purple Cactus Productions. Read more>>

Jessica Adanich

I have two companies; one is DesignPod Studio, which is a branding, graphic design, and marketing agency. The other is a division of DesignPod called Fuzzy Sharks, which is a purpose-driven organization that helps raise awareness and education on the importance of sharks and their conservation through artwork. As the CEO and founder of both, both companies are driven by the mission of using my creative (as well as others on the team) talents to make a positive difference in the world. Read more>>

Cassandra Burnvoth

I first read the book “It Starts With Food” back in 2012, and I also did my first “Whole30” that same year. Eating Paleo changed my life! I felt better and had a ton more energy! As I started paying more attention to the foods that I was putting into my body, I also started paying a lot more attention to the products that I was using ON my body. Read more>>

Michelle Murchison

My mission is to tell stories that illuminate experiences that all people have, but most people don’t talk about. I am telling the stories of people of all ages with scares. The hope is that this creates inspiration and validation for those who are suffering and creates more empathy in everyone else and, by default, starves out isolation, creating connection and belonging. Read more>>

Blue Kalamian

I started making films because I wanted to tell stories, but I honestly didn’t really know what stories I wanted to tell. By the time I graduated from university, I had a deep interest in geopolitics and the complexities of war and conflict. I didn’t realize how close to home it would hit only a year later. Read more>>

Chamar Latanja

I had tried to commit suicide three different times. I thought about it constantly, I simply wanted to die. I had no vision for my own future, I had no vision of my value, in my mind I was fat (which I would later come to realize those weren’t my words, but the words said to me and placed in me by others in my life) I was ugly, I was always messing up I was useless. So, I…I there was no reason for me to be here. Read more>>

Jay Lanham

After 20 plus years in law enforcement, I made a career change to wildlife removal and prevention. It didn’t take long to see that upselling was the norm in the industry. I wasn’t comfortable with doing that so I started my own company and we do not “sell” or “upsell”. We won’t even make “follow up calls” to see if the customer has decided on way ir the other. I also do not solicit business. Read more>>

Francesco Lucatorto

A mission for a restaurant, tend to sometimes get’s lost in the never ending purse of a profit. Read more>>

Samuel Enyi

My mission is to reach as many people as I can through my music. No just reach anybody but people that appreciate good music not just following the crowd or popular demands. Read more>>

Mimi Beumer

I have been into photography since I was a child. I remember snapping pictures on an old disposable camera and pretending I knew what I was doing. About 4 years ago I decided to turn my love for photography into a real thing. I upgraded cameras, and lenses, and I haven’t stopped since. I started small with doing photos for family and friends. Read more>>

Emily Berning

December 1, 2018 was the day that our lives (and though we did not know it yet, the lives of thousands of people) changed forever. It was about 3 am and my husband, Nathan, and I were in Michigan at his grandparent’s house for a family Christmas party. Nathan is a night owl so he was up looking at facebook while I was sound asleep next to him. Read more>>

Daniela Salazar

Allow me to introduce Tank, an eight-year-old English Bulldog warmly welcomed into the lives of co-founders Eric and Daniela in 2014. Tank’s resilient journey, characterized by severe skin infections and weight issues, ignited a deep-rooted commitment in Eric and Daniela to explore holistic solutions, stemming from a profound appreciation for the harmony between conventional and holistic approaches. As Tank’s recovery unfolded, the weekly ritual of bathing him within the confines of their apartment proved to be both arduous and physically taxing. Read more>>

Sisi Surgant

I was born and raised in Germany to working class immigrant parents from Morocco and Tunisia and growing up I felt inferior to everyone else because I did not share the same culture, have the same skin color and didn’t even speak the same language at first.  In addition, I experienced a nearly-fatal burn accident when I was very young that left me with big scars across my body that caused me to feel even more self-conscious.  I learned how to live through these things and I fell in love with fashion because it was a way to feel beautiful. Read more>>

Karen Duffy

Since 1982 Karen Duffy, the founder and director of Come to the Rainforest Foundation, has had a heart for the indigenous peoples of the Amazonian rainforest. While in college Karen had a strong desire to serve the indigenous who live in this remote rainforest. But Karen’s life went in several different directions, all moving her farther and farther away from the dream of serving in the rainforest. Read more>>

Billy Giordano

Coming from the restaurant industry, we wanted to build a tool that supported the industry, not just profited off of it. Did we build a company to make money? Of course we did. This isn’t a hobby. Do we prioritize revenue/profits as our number one metric? Absolutely not. Read more>>

Terran Eaton

I started acting because my father saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself. He saw my gift of entertaining and before acting it was dancing and comedy, but my father helped cultivate it. For years he put his best efforts to place me in agencies, classes, in front of amazing people. Read more>>

Rachel Scott McDaniel

I believe in the power of story. Most might say it’s just a novel. Total fiction. What can a bunch of sentences really do? Yet within the boundaries of Chapter One and The End lies the potential of something remarkable. Words have the ability to refresh, motivate, and evoke emotions. Read more>>

Sophia Zarate

The Corporate Pero Latinos mission can be broken out into three areas: social, professional, and philanthropic. Read more>>

Mark Brathwaite

I’ve overcome countless obstacles of gatekeeping and barriers to entry in entertainment. I encountered it when I first launched MCB Music, despite the accolades of producing for MGK, French Montana, Wizkid and more. Read more>>

Alina Abramenko

Every day women step into nicehairchair salon and place their beauty in my hands. I offer each of them my expertise and passion, in a pursuit of perfection. By using my talent, skills, and education I assist and inspire them to realize and enhance their own beauty. Read more>>

Adriana Delgado

Renowned photographer Gordon Parks once said, “The camera could be a weapon.” Although I do not compare my work to that of Mr. Parks, I do believe a camera is a wondrous tool that has the power to capture stories and fleeting moments. It allows us to preserve our memories and express our emotions in meaningful ways. This is especially true for those who are often forgotten. Read more>>

Capt Armando Alejo

Close one decade ago, I caught a 40 lb. Black Drum (A popular game fish in south FL, known for it’s pulling power!). It was on this day and after fishing recreationally in the Flamingo Everglades of South Florida for nearly three decades that I decided to create a business to help show my passion for fishing to others. I went to Captain’s school, obtained all of the licensing needed and went to work as a fishing guide. Read more>>

Kara Duncan and Humberto Rodriguez

Bougie Budget Builders. Read more>>

Candus Hinderer, Carrie Ferroukhi N/A

Our mission is to help our clients get home to their families. That may come as a surprise coming from an accounting consulting firm, but in the end, when we really thought about it, that is truly our WHY. Read more>>

StormyWeather Banks

StormyWeather Banks is driven by her emotions when it comes to fashion designs. She takes pride in providing the best original eclectic out-of-the-box apparel design possible. As a Fashion Designer, StormyWeather’s goals include entrepreneurship, mentorship, and philanthropy. In addition to her primary job functions, StormyWeather has been recognized by Embassy of Fashion Designers for her extraordinary commitment to the education others within her field of fashion. Read more>>

Timon Adams

My mission is to bring out the best in every creative that I work with. I want the artist to feel free/comfortable with me and to be able to trust me to serve them as needed. Rather that’s the recording or mix engineer to the producer and/or songwriter. Read more>>

River Jax

I’ve been out publicly since 2018 as someone who is non-binary and trans. I was incredibly thankful for the resources out there for Trans folks but still felt there needed to be more done. Baking was always a form of healing to me not only spiritually but mentally as well and I aim to make sure every Black trans person that is sponsored by donors feels that love. Read more>>

Kayla Droog

Our mission is to support heart-centered entrepreneurs who are growing businesses that they love and believe can make a difference. Read more>>

Michelle Curry

Hi, my name is Michelle Curry. I’m a licensed Public Adjuster and I work for a firm that is licensed in 48 states. Read more>>

Topaz Navarro

Escape Velocity’s mission is to put young adults on the fast track to high demand career opportunities in science and technology. Our mentoring and education program is designed to use recreational drone flight and competitive gameplay as an introduction to robotics, aviation, aerospace, and the commercial drone industry. We believe in taking experiential, hands-on learning “upstream” to students and communities in order to mitigate exclusion from STEM career opportunities. Read more>>

Barbara Lane Tharas

Barbara Lane Tharas (they/them) is an artist living and working in Emporia, Kansas. Tharas received their Bachelor of Fine Arts from Texas A&M-Corpus Christi in 2016. They have exhibited nationally over the last eight years, including five solo exhibitions and numerous juried exhibitions. Tharas creates work that is motivated through sequences such as comics, animation, and printmaking. Read more>>

Sunday Caston

My life is the Story Behind My Mission. Read more>>