Core to our mission is helping our audience and community reach their full potential and the most important part of reaching your full potential is starting to find your purpose. Below, we’ve shared stories and insights from the community around how various folks found their purpose and we hope it helps you in your journey.
Jessica DeRose & Karli Visconto
We found our purpose by creating the kinds of conversations we personally needed, but rarely saw happening around us! We both started our journeys in mental health advocacy after realizing that how we looked on the outside didn’t match how we felt internally. Karli had a prestigious degree from The Wharton School of Business and a successful finance job working on Wall Street. Read More>>
Anthony Zamora
My purpose as an entrepreneur in photography is to create more than just pictures, I want to create moments people can actually feel when they look back at them years later. A lot of people forget memories over time, but photos freeze emotions, energy, and important chapters of life. That’s what motivates me. Read More>>
Krista Durant
If I’m being honest, I don’t think I found my purpose as much as my purpose found me through survival, service, and obedience. For a long time, I thought purpose had to arrive in some grand moment — a title, a degree, or a perfectly laid out plan. Instead, mine was uncovered in some of the hardest seasons of my life. Read More>>
Dami Odunewu
At the age of 14, the seed for what would later become my purpose was planted through heartbreak. We lost a family friend, Joseph, a 20-year-old young man who still had so much life ahead of him. He had sickle cell anemia and desperately needed a blood transfusion. But like many hospitals in Nigeria, the hospital had a strict prepayment policy. Read More>>
Katrina Morales
I found my purpose during a time of a lot of doubt. My life was not perfect. It was the end of 2018 that I was unfortunately going through a separation. As I was going through the transition and figuring out my path along with my 1-year-old son by my side, that is where I found lashes and leaned into. Read More>>
Jennifer Askey
I hope that finding purpose can remain, for me, an evolving process. What my purpose was at 21, 31, and 41 changed, as my capacity and awareness changed and grew. Read More>>
Eboni Harris
I used to think my purpose was simply to help people. I chose to become a licensed therapist because I’ve always had a curiosity about humans and relationships. Why do we make the decisions we make? How can we create the lives we actually want? Over the past 15 years as a therapist, I have had lots of side quests. Read More>>
Kary Sinkule
The communities we serve are very much a reflection of my own experiences and the profound impact yoga has had on my life. Yoga’s Arc focuses on populations who have faced significant adversity—whether it’s trauma, addiction, incarceration, or life in marginalized communities. Read More>>
Angela Elizabeth Baker
My name is Angela Elizabeth Baker, Certified Holistic Health Practitioner, Biologist, Herbalist, & Educator of the Holistic Sciences. I’m also a mommy, a wifey, and my purpose lies in raising awareness and spawning positive actions towards bringing a harmonious holistic lifestyle to humanity, focusing on women first and foremost. Read More>>
Janna Weaver
I did not find my purpose all at once. I found it over time, by paying attention to the common thread God kept weaving through my life. Read More>>
Jill Sumiyasu
For thirty years, I was an investment management executive. I was good at it. I either knew most things, had written the manual on most things, or knew how to find the answer. I managed hundreds of people and multi-million dollar projects. Read More>>
Miya Bass
My pastor, Dr A.R Bernard, once said “You find your purpose when your gift meets someone’s need”. I have stood by that statement ever since. This world is filled with gifted individuals. We will never run short of the gifts of writing, speaking, painting, building, engineering, and so much more. As it relates to myself however, my gifts are two-fold: artistic and academic. Read More>>
Tatsiana Berting
I found my purpose through a combination of creativity, human connection, and personal growth. I originally studied psychology because I’ve always been deeply interested in people, how they think, feel, express themselves, and how confidence can completely change the way someone carries themselves. Later, photography became the place where all of those interests came together. Read More>>
Huntress Florals
I continue to follow the nudges and current inspirations and allow myself grace to shift as life plays out. It’s easy to fall into the belief that we have to choose one thing for our entire lives and always have it figured out, but I find if I allow myself to flow like nature (the wind/waves) then the entire process is less frustrating. Read More>>
KennDaBratt
My purpose in music came from realizing I was never meant to fit in one box. Through KDB Kingdom, I created a world where confidence, femininity, masculinity, energy, can all exist together. Music is how I lead that kingdom and connect with people who feel different or overlooked Read More>>
Audrey Williams
I’ve always found purpose in seeing a need and figuring out how to meet it. Looking back, I realize I’ve been creating my own jobs for as long as I can remember. At seven years old, I started a math tutoring business before I could even skip count well. Don’t worry — I just used my fingers under the table to check my students’ work. Read More>>
Janice Reinold
Photography has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. When I was younger, I photographed my friends and family simply because I wanted to hold onto meaningful moments and create tangible memories, like photo albums I could revisit years later. There was always something deeply special to me about being able to physically hold those memories in my hands. Read More>>
Ericka Reynolds
Interestingly I didn’t find my purpose, I remembered it. And this came when I understood intuitively that in order for me to thrive in this world I needed to go back to the purest part of me, my essence, my soul. When I did that, my soul beautifully reminded me of what I loved doing since I was a child and that was writing. Read More>>
Araven Wiggins
Finding my purpose wasn’t something that happened overnight. It came from years of hard work, sacrifice, passion, and realizing that food was one thing that always connected me to people on a deeper level. I’ve been cooking all my life, since about 8 years old. Read More>>
Daisy Bentley
When I was in middle school, I was a latchkey kid. I was always an outsider with a unique worldview and I didn’t have a ton of friends at school. I’d get off the bus, microwave a burrito or two, and watch Whose Line is it Anyway? until I fell asleep on the couch. Read More>>
Baby Diane Toan
I believe my purpose was shaped by my desire to support both entrepreneurs and virtual assistants. As a mother and business owner, I wanted to create a flexible work environment that allows me to balance family life and my career. Through BDT Virtual Solutions, I empower other moms who are looking to break into the world of virtual assistance and achieve that same work-life balance. Read More>>
Cristy Joy
I found my purpose through following my heart. I was in my first play when I was 9 years old, and I knew I wanted to be an actress. I didn’t have much support around that dream, but I followed it anyway. Read More>>
Lindsay Potter
Honestly, it found me – but only after life forced me to slow down and listen. I spent 15 years in marketing and communications, building brands for other people. I was good at it and really loved being in the work, constantly learning and growing. I held director-level roles, led teams, and thrived in leadership. Read More>>
Tia Justice
I’m not sure I ever found my purpose so much as I slowly realized it had been following me around my entire life, quietly tapping me on the shoulder. For as long as I can remember, I’ve been drawn to storms, stories, and people. Severe weather fascinated me from the beginning, but what truly stuck with me wasn’t just the science of it all. Read More>>
LaQuisha Maxwell
For a long time, I struggled to understand what my purpose truly was. I often battled fear, self-doubt, and feelings of not being good enough. Even after becoming an Older Youth Specialist working with youth in the foster care system, I still questioned why I had been chosen for the role. Read More>>
Teri Cabrera
I found my purpose through a combination of pain, service, and realization. For a long time, I thought purpose had to be one specific title or career, but I’ve learned that purpose is really about impact. Every role I’ve stepped into has pointed back to the same thing: helping people feel seen, heard, and empowered. Read More>>
Rebekah Harrison
For me, finding my purpose starts with looking to what the Lord says about me and His creation. Before anything else, I am His beloved — created to worship Him, walk closely with Him, and share His goodness with others. That foundation shapes every part of my life. From there, I believe God has entrusted me with my family first. Read More>>
Alex & Silvia
Silvia: A year after my daughter was born, and after my son decided that he didn’t want to go to preschool, I had arrived at a moment in my life where I felt as though I had it all – love, family, a career… success. Read More>>
Rebecca Abel
My daughter is bold, loud, confident, and completely unapologetic about who she is. She takes up space fearlessly. Becoming her mother made me realize that if I wanted her to grow up believing she could be anything, I needed to model that courage myself. Starting Luna Bamboo Studio became part of that journey. Every night was a bedtime battle in our house. Read More>>
Isaiah Curtis
I found my purpose through music from a couple things. Personal experiences, struggles I had to overcome. Having passion for it but also balancing seriousness but also fun in it as well to fully enjoy doing it. Dropping gems and messages through the rap bars and punch lines that in general people can gravitate to and it being relatable. Read More>>
Natasha Wightman
Finding my purpose took a little bit of time, BUT when the moment happened it felt SO RIGHT. I was unhappy with my life bartending, but had no direction in where I wanted to go to next. I wanted that ‘ dream’ job, but wasn’t sure what it was and knew I wanted to do something that was fulfilling. Read More>>
Dayna Lee
After years of traditional retail leadership, I struggled with alignment. I realized I needed more heart, more purpose and to use myself as a vessel to make more impact on a broader scale. After a period of self-reflection, I broke free from traditional systems of leadership while boldly stepping into my true purpose as an entrepreneur. Read More>>
Elton White jr
My purpose was shaped through years of real-life workplace experience and observing the challenges many people face once they enter the workforce. I realized that while many programs train people on how to get a job/career, very few teach people what it takes to keep a job/career and grow within. Read More>>
Christa Smith
Around the age of 13 the self doubt and low self worth really set in. Looking back now, I can admit that my mom was probably right that it was the phones and the social media causing constant comparison that drove a nagging hole through my brain convincing me that I wasn’t good enough. Read More>>
Robin Bousel
For a long time, I did not fully understand my purpose. I knew I loved theatre and storytelling, and I knew I wanted to perform, but I did not yet understand the real value of joy, humor, or human connection. That understanding came through the fire. Read More>>
Carol Chenkin
I think purpose often reveals itself through the things people naturally come to you for. For years, friends, clients, family members, and women in my community would ask me for advice — what to wear, how to present themselves, how to build confidence, how to walk into a room with presence, how to promote a business, how to tell their story. Read More>>
SC Cavali
First, I searched for my purpose everywhere. In my early 20s, I was honestly desperate to find it. Everyone kept saying, “Follow your purpose,” but no one really tells you what to do when you have no idea what that purpose is supposed to be. What I’ve learned is that sometimes purpose isn’t something you instantly discover — sometimes it reveals itself over time. Read More>>
Dr. Vinod Prakash
I was born in 1933 in Meerut, in northern India, as the youngest child in a large family that placed enormous value on integrity, learning, and contributing to society. My childhood unfolded against the backdrop of a country still under colonial rule, a time filled with uncertainty and transformation.I was born in 1933 in Meerut, in northern India, as the youngest child in a large family that placed enormous value on integrity, learning, and contributing to society. My childhood unfolded against the backdrop of a country still under colonial rule, a time filled with uncertainty and transformation. Read More>>
Susan Hoffer
Painting has always been a way for me to figure out myself and my experiences, When I realized how lonely I was when I moved to the Adirondack Park from the Capital Region, NY, I thought I would use my art practice a way to meet my neighbors. The paintings represent real conversations with real people in real time. Read More>>
Sorenmy Valdez
Growing up as a kid, I enjoyed drawing, taking things apart, and working with computers. During my high school years, I used to take a lot of self-portraits, and graphic design became part of my career interests. I attended LCTI, a technical institute, because I wanted to learn how web design and web development worked, mainly because of MySpace. Read More>>
Tyler Allard
Finding my purpose became simple once I stopped overcomplicating it. For a long time, I thought it was supposed to come as one big realization, like everything would suddenly click. But for me, it happened quietly. I started noticing that the moments when I felt most fulfilled were always connected to helping people, uplifting people, or creating something that made someone feel understood. Read More>>
Shackisha Clark
“I found my purpose through a combination of empathy, curiosity, and problem solving. Over time, I noticed a consistent pattern in my life: people naturally came to me for guidance, solutions, and support during important or overwhelming moments. I have always cared deeply about helping others, but I also genuinely enjoy analyzing challenges, identifying what is really needed, and finding practical solutions. Read More>>
Shawn Whitsell
At a very early age, I recognized my passion for the arts. I knew being an artist would be one of the primary ways I’d leave my mark on the world. I knew I wouldn’t just create art, but that it would be a tool for helping others. Read More>>
Mary ShyNiece
Honestly, I didn’t find my purpose in one big moment. It wasn’t some dramatic “aha” situation. It came to me slowly, through real life, real lessons, and me finally choosing myself. For a long time, I was just surviving. Doing what I had to do. Showing up for everybody else. Carrying weight that wasn’t mine. And then one day, I just got tired. Read More>>
Cristie Cerniglia
I discovered my purpose through a combination of heartbreak, faith, and personal transformation. When I was a senior in high school, my parents divorced after twenty-one years of marriage. I remember how deeply it affected our family and how it changed the way I viewed marriage. Read More>>
Tamar Springer
I grew up as the daughter of “Santa Baby” composer Philip Springer. While he is best known for his worldwide Christmas classic, co-written with Joan Javits in 1953 for Eartha Kitt, he has a vast catalogue of beautiful melodies and songs co-written with the most iconic lyric writers of the 20th Century. Read More>>
DaShaun Johnson
I found my purpose through service, observation, and experience. Over the years, I noticed that so many seniors and underserved individuals were being overlooked when it came to fitness, movement, and overall wellness. I saw people losing mobility, confidence, and independence simply because they didn’t have access to programs that were relatable, accessible, or consistent. That realization pushed me to create something bigger than workouts. Read More>>
Dasia Brown
I didn’t my purpose was already created and it was waiting for me to be obedient and to obey it. God created us in our mother’s womb for a purpose for us to serve him and elevate the kingdom. The moment I realized that and stopped looking for my identity in other people but looking TO the father my purpose was able to be revealed. Read More>>
Becky West-Hoffman
I found my purpose through struggle. I learned who I’m not to understand who I am- a slow, lifetime process that has stripped me of everything I thought I knew about myself, the world, my family. I’ve found my purpose through suffering which has produced character in me. Read More>>
Saran Myers-Martin
I didn’t begin my career knowing exactly what my purpose would be but I always knew it would involve helping people live healthier, safer lives. As an undergraduate studying Biology, I was drawn to science and health. Like most of my classmates, I considered medical school. I was passionate about improving health outcomes, but not about becoming a physician. Read More>>
Dr. Kiki Ramsey, PhD
I believe my purpose was born out of pain and transformed into passion. It really started with my mother, who struggled with addiction for much of my childhood. In the beginning, my goal was simply to help her get off drugs. I became deeply focused on understanding people, healing, and what causes someone to struggle or thrive. Read More>>
Kylee Duteau Olympia Moulton
Kylee and I found our purpose in starting KO through the game that shaped both of our lives. We were inspired by Olympia’s mom, who coached us throughout school and travel field hockey and showed us what it meant to lead with passion, commitment, and heart. Read More>>
Brittney Yarbrough
My purpose became clear through the experiences and environments that made me feel most connected to myself and others. Through movement, wellness, and community-building, I realized I’m passionate about creating spaces where people feel safe, supported, and empowered. Read More>>
Gaurav Sharma
Eigen Sciences has played a central role in shaping purpose by creating a structured pathway for students to engage in meaningful, real-world research. The research program is designed not just to teach concepts, but to immerse students in the full scientific process—from identifying a problem and designing methodologies to performing computational analysis and writing a publishable manuscript. Read More>>
Briana Bazail
I found my purpose through realizing how connected mental wellness, routine, and confidence really are. There were times in my life where I felt overwhelmed and disconnected from myself, and I started noticing how much small intentional habits – taking care of my space, moving my body, creating structure, slowing down – helped me feel clearer and more grounded mentally and emotionally. Read More>>
Abrar Ansari
Purpose found me slowly — and honestly, a little uncomfortably. For most of my career, I was a management consultant and advisor. I helped corporations and institutions build accountability systems, advised leaders on how to navigate complex decisions, and watched. Over time, a distinct pattern began to emerge — not in the systems, but in the people. Read More>>
Thomas Martin
“I found my purpose when I realized faith was never meant to stay silent. Faith Defines Us was born from pain, sacrifice, growth, and a deep understanding that God can take broken seasons and turn them into something powerful. There wasn’t just one moment — it was a series of moments where I kept seeing God pull purpose out of pressure. Read More>>
John Goodwin
It was easy finding my purpose because all I ever did was write songs that I was inspired to write and sing. All finding happened at the moment they were being created. Finding was doing. Read More>>
Haytham Fadhil
In college, our senior year was focused on making senior films. Those in the Storyboarding concentration would come up with a story and pitch themselves as the directors of their respective stories while those in the 2D/3D/Technical concentrations would work as the asset artists. Read More>>
Spencer MacIntyre
When I was 6 years old, my mother saw an ad in the local newspaper from a local agency seeking new actors and asked if I was interested. I was. We went to my first audition a few weeks later – an in-flight commercial for the now defunct Air Nova airlines. I booked it. Read More>>
Bobbie Christmas
How did I find my purpose? Finding my purpose wasn’t my challenge as much as following it would be. I knew from a young age that I loved everything about literature—reading it, creating it, and working to improve it. I had to overcome everyone else’s negativity about being able to make a living in the world of writing, though. Read More>>
CeLisa Patterson, MA, ADC, LPC, CCPS
I did not find my purpose. My purpose actually found me. After spending 20 years in active addiction, God told me that I had been around that mountain long enough so I started working towards abstinence from drugs. I’d always wanted to continue my education and starting looking at going back to school. I was interested in understanding the ‘why’ behind behaviors. Read More>>
Natalie Pace
At the age of 65, I can honestly say that I am living the life of my dreams. This wasn’t always the case, and where I am today is definitely not what I thought my purpose was all about. Read More>>
Ciara Jenkins
I began to explore a career in Psychology, then Social Work as a career when I was in high school and faced the reality that close family members were struggling with substance abuse that ultimately led to incarceration. This was incredibly difficult for me to navigate and thankfully I had a wonderful mentor (high school teacher) who encouraged me and believed in me.I began to explore a career in Psychology, then Social Work as a career when I was in high school and faced the reality that close family members were struggling with substance abuse that ultimately led to incarceration. This was incredibly difficult for me to navigate and thankfully I had a wonderful mentor (high school teacher) who encouraged me and believed in me. Read More>>
Evelyn Brabant
I was lucky to find it early on in life. Like many people, quarantining through 2020 to 2021 was an enlightening time that allowed me to reframe the internal image of myself. Read More>>
James Wilkinson
My purpose started with my faith journey, but it has been shaped over time by real life. I grew up in an environment where faith was acknowledged, but not actively pursued. Read More>>
