Below you’ll find the stories and lessons of some of the best and brightest entrepreneurs, artists and creatives in the community and how they found their purpose.
Avery Groll
I love this question. It truly makes me reflect on everything I have done, worked towards, and accomplished over the years. To answer honestly…I’d have to say that I found my purpose through a combination of professional trial & error and just living out & experiencing my personal life. Over my course of 13+ professional years working in the corporate Healthcare and Wellness spaces (in all different fashions) I grew as an individual and experienced life at the same time. I became a wife and a mother during those corporate-based years and the incredible life milestones really shifted my perception. Read more>>
Natalia Yefremova
I’ve loved this since childhood. The very first time I truly realized what beautiful hands could be was when I saw a home video of a family event — my mom reached out her hand to take something, and her hand looked so graceful and elegant. Her classic red manicure perfectly completed her look. She has such beautiful hands, and I was lucky enough to inherit them from her. Read more>>
Charmaine Carter
I discovered my purpose by embracing my own journey of living with a hidden disability. Growing up with a speech impediment (stuttering) made communication a daily challenge. For a long time, I searched for spaces where I could openly share the anxiety, insecurity, and isolation that came with it. Athletics—especially track and long-distance running—became my outlet. Running gave me confidence and a sense of belonging, and eventually, my children shared that same love for it. Read more>>
Arihant R. Israni
As a kid, I tore open every gadget I could find and built elaborate worlds out of Lego. Curiosity was my first teacher: I loved the satisfaction of a mechanism that finally moved the way I imagined. That impulse to understand how things work led me to electronics classes in high school, a Bachelor of Design in Bangalore, and eventually a Master of Fine Arts at the Savannah College of Art and Design. Each step taught me that design is not just about how something looks but about how it behaves in the world. Read more>>
Vanessa Daly
Finding my purpose hasn’t been a straight path. It’s been more of a journey of discovery. I’ve always been curious about people and drawn to understanding and supporting their mental health, which is why I pursued psychology. But along the way, art became an unexpected but powerful part of that journey. I first started painting as a way to cope with the stress of college, and over time I realized it could mean much more. Read more>>
Lisa Ferrell
After working 35 years in broadcasting, as a single mother raising three children single-handedly while working in Corporate America in a job that was predominantly a male-dominated hierarchy, and having learned through two marriages that ended in divorce and one rebound relationship, I was at an all-time low and contemplated committing suicide. I heard of this thing called a Life Coach and looked into it further. Read more>>
Gabriela Giotto
Its a gradual process, however what I learned over time is that energy is the language of our higher self with our mind. It means that activities that bring you joy and recharge you with energy, is your thing to do in life. Your gifts are connected to your passion & purpose. Read more>>
Sylwia Pogorzelska
I discovered my purpose in a way that still feels like it was yesterday. In my early twenties, I was working long hours in hospitality in Edinburgh, Scotland, feeling tired, a little overweight, and unsure how to take care of myself. One day, a personal trainer named Andy approached me at the gym and asked, “What’s your goal?” He offered me an hour of free training, designed a program, and for the first time, I saw that change was possible. My body began to transform, but more importantly, I felt seen, supported, and empowered. That moment ignited a spark, and I knew I wanted to help people experience that same transformative journey. Read more>>
Meagan Braganca
I was in the environmental club in high school so I’ve always had an interest in, and have been concerned over, environmental issues. Right after college, I joined the Sierra Club and within a few years I started signing petitions for all kinds of issues. The more environmental concerns I read about, the more confused I was as to why we weren’t doing more. So many of our environmental problems are a result of poor legislative & regulatory decisions. We have the knowledge & ability to fix many of these issues. It’s just the political will that stands in our way. With solutions so tangible, it’s easy to fall into the purpose of bringing about positive change. Read more>>
Katerina Anderson
I didn’t wake up one day and just know what I wanted to do with my life. Honestly, it was a lot of trial and error. I went to school for accounting (dropped out). Then legal secretary (finished, but never used it). Then veterinary assistant (had a terrible internship experience and realized it wasn’t for me). Eventually, I landed at an insurance company and I actually thrived there. Read more>>
Leah Koskinen
I’d say ultimately my purpose found me but it wasn’t as easy as that sounds! After my son was born, I decided that I would quit my job to focus on our family. Shortly after this decision, we moved our family from Michigan to Canada for 2.5 years for my husband’s job. I’ve always been a go-getter so quitting my full-time job that I started right out of college was a big adjustment for me and then on top of that moving to another country really through me off balance. Read more>>
