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.
Amy Kessler
I found my purpose the hard way; through a fabulous career meltdown and the experience of being betrayed by my own mind and body. I had worked and trained in a field I loved, gave countless hours, energy and enthusiasm to for more than 15 years, and was on the verge of taking the next big step to the role of video editor, when my body collapsed. I blamed myself; I wasn’t smart enough, fast enough, hardworking enough or strong enough. Eventually, I was diagnosed with a complex illness, but for almost a decade, I lived with a constant feeling of shame, exhaustion and loneliness. My breath shortened. My body shrank and tightened into fossilized masses in my throat, heart and gut. I hated talking to people and was tired of pretending to be okay. I had to reckon with a deeply humbling conflict; who I wanted to be and what I wanted to create in the world with a body that had no ability to satisfy those desires. I lived my life comparing myself to everyone I knew. I had a disability which prevented me from working full time and could no longer push through to some fantasy version of success. Read more>>
Elle Jae Stewart
How did I find my purpose? This is a beautiful yet bewildering inquiry to address. Arriving to the understanding of my purpose was a journey of hardships and brutal honesty. I first had to learn who I was. How I arrived at my level of prescribed thinking and anxieties. Dissecting my existence was how I found….purpose. Humbly, anything I am interested in, I study with great fervor until I understand its inner workings, the cogs that make the “machine” work. With that in mind, when I studied photography, for a moment I believed that was my purpose; to capture love and truth in stillness. When I discovered my talents in acting, I believed it was my purpose; the ability to transform a fictional character into an alive-truthful being. When I had the opportunity to direct my first play, I believed this too was my purpose; to expose the intimacy of thought with vulnerability leading the way. To truly showcase the actions of a being heavily influenced by his/her circumstances and the reward of receiving justice. Read more>>
Hannah Marie Muse
I believe our purpose is an ever evolving journey, just like life. When I was younger, in my 20’s – I knew my purpose was massage and energy work because those things saved my life. Yoga became very important to me, so working at a studio and helping the students was aligned with my personal journey. Now, I teach pole dance classes and mindset to ladies. I travel and support others seeking a sober lifestyle to still enjoy their lives living la vida loca. 🙂 As I evolve, my work evolves. As I grow, my purpose grows. Who I am and what I’ve gone through is always an opportunity to share with others. My invitation for you, is to look at what you are passionate about and how that can help others. Look where you thrive naturally. Notice what people need in the world. And combine all these things into your purpose. Honestly, the Japanese have a word for it: ikigai what you love (your passion) what the world needs (your mission) what you are good at (your vocation) and what you can get paid for (your profession) Read more>>
Paco Jimenez
I found my purpose as a child when I used the soap boxes in the washing machine to play the drums. I remember that I used some sticks that came in shoe boxes as drumsticks. I think it was clear where I wanted to go, although my Parents had other plans for me that a few years later were cut short by my decision to dedicate myself to music. Read more>>
Hannah Williams
I think purpose is such an interesting topic as everyone has a unique purpose. For me personally my purpose is to just be a light and empower people. We live in a dark world and everyone has something going on in their life, so why not be the reason someone smiles or find a little bit of joy in a moment. It was years ago when I was speaking with a friend who did mission trips, and I voiced feeling like I didn’t know what my purpose was. At the time I was just a waxer for a corporate company and didn’t feel like that had much significance. After telling my friend that I didn’t feel like I had purpose she just looked at me with shock and said “Hannah.. you touch people!”… My response was along the lines of “well duh.. I have to to wax them”. We laughed but then she began again with “you touch people in more ways though. You are so good at making someone feel comfortable and feeling good about themselves. That is a gift to be able to do that.” And honestly she was right. It could’ve been worded a little different but she was right. In today’s world and culture of social media and comparison, it really is a gift to make someone feel comfortable in their own skin and empowered. Read more>>
Mridu Pasrija
I’ve always loved helping people. It makes my heart sing. Finding my purpose was not a big, grand declaration. It happened very organically, in the process of working on and learning about who I was. As I healed, and grew and continue to grow I felt called to assist others on their journey back home to themselves. The power is always within but sometimes we forget that and in reminding myself of that I realized that I’d love to be of service through helping others remember who they are. Read more>>
Charlene Morin
I don’t believe that purpose is something we find; rather, guided by faith and spirituality, it is something that is awakened within us. My faith in God and my relationship with Him have taught me that through understanding His word, He reveals and awakens the purpose already embedded within us. Every action we take in life is imbued with reason. We face various life challenges, trials, and tribulations for reasons beyond our immediate comprehension. and these obstacles often play a significant role in shaping our purpose. I believe that these challenges serve a greater good, placing us in positions where our experiences and sufferings enable us to assist others. Each experience, whether joyous or painful, contributes to the greater picture of our life’s purpose and reason. This process completes a full circle of purpose and meaning. From a young age, watching shows like Judge Judy and Law and Order with my grandmother sparked a passion within for the criminal justice field. Despite not fully understanding it then, I was captivated and felt a divine pull towards this path. Read more>>
Kristen Elaine Whalen
I feel like finding my purpose has been a life long adventure quest that constantly changes and evolves. In my mid thirties I started feeling like I had missed my purpose somehow and that I was losing time and wasting my life. I started to really slow down and listen to myself. I remembered how much I loved art as a child and I felt like I had something to say with my art so I started giving myself time to create and play and paint and before long I had found my new purpose. I had gotten sidetracked by other’s opinions about what I was meant to do with my life and I had listened to them. It was time to start listening to myself and my inner voice so that’s what I did and that’s what I continue to do. Read more>>
Ezekiel Lazaroo
Purpose can be many things. When you’re 18, it might be moving out of your parents’ home. At 24, it could be landing a better job. By 30, it might be marrying your partner. Essentially, purpose is what you make of it. On the other hand, being passionate about what you do can also serve as a purpose. For instance, if you’re passionate about human rights, that becomes your purpose. You wake up each morning knowing you have a meaningful job to do. Purpose can revolve around your immediate circle—family, friends, and community—or it can encompass larger issues like human rights, climate change, war, and cultural extinction. Each person’s purpose is unique to them. Finding your purpose isn’t always easy, but it requires deep reflection. It’s about discovering what motivates you to get out of bed every morning and keep striving, even at 70 years old. Read more>>
Katakyie Abora
It’s simple. I wanted to create a business that spoke to my inspirations. @thenostalgicroom is that. From a young age, I had always had an appreciation and admiration for the 1990s – 2000s aesthetic. From Destiny’s Child to B2K. Everything was simply perfect back then. I wanted to create something that resonated with people who appreciate 90s and 00s black culture.
In my opinion, we are so incredibly innovative. Black people. This online business is sort of like my way of paying homage to the musicians and artists that inspired me and shaped me to be who I am. Read more>>
Annette Jensen
I think my purpose found me. I had been working in business in California for over 15 years when my husband Neil and I decided to pack up our lives and go traveling. After a while, Neil accepted a job in Cambodia that was supposed to be a one-year assignment. I needed something to do, and before I knew it and much to my surprise, I became the Executive Director of a children’s center in Phnom Penh. I had no experience in the nonprofit world and I had little experience with children, but the job changed my life. I have never worked as hard, made as little money and loved my work as much. When the one year was up, I was not at all ready to leave, so in the end Neil extended his work contract several times and we stayed in Cambodia for almost five years. At the time I was a U.S. Green Card holder, and we left Cambodia only when I could no longer stay outside the U.S. without risking my Green Card. Neil was ready to leave at that point, and loved saying that he got me to leave Cambodia and it was not his fault! My work in Cambodia made us consider starting an education project ourselves, and in 2015 Neil and I founded Education First Cambodia, a nonprofit that helps young women from poor rural families get a university education. Read more>>
Victoria Paul-Chatman
Growing up, in Long Island New York, I was born in Brooklyn and raised in 1990′ s Suburbia by my mom and grandma to a one parent household with 5 siblings and a whole lot of love. My family descended from the Carribean Island known as Hispaniola, Haiti. Emigrating from the islands, came with very strict principles that were heavily enforced by my grandmother. The love in our home was so immense it often drew in distant family, friends and neighbors. Days would turn into weeks, weeks would turn into months or some would completely move-in. lol During our guests stays, I’d find myself catering to them as people from the islands tend to do. I’d give away some of my newest dresses, clothing, shoes & accessories, inadvertently, making them over. Transforming their look & subsequently boosting their self-confidence. Everyone would always leave better than they came. The reaction I’d get from them ,was priceless. The way a persons eyes would light up, brought me Instant joy and my heart would smile. This of course, would frustrate my mother but I never got in any trouble, so I viewed my act of kindness as a good thing, Read more>>
Dante Swinton
I originally wanted to be a high school Spanish teacher when I got to college! I realized halfway through that it wasn’t for me. But I definitely was gaining more concern about climate change (this is in 2008), so I made the switch to environmental studies. I got involved with a multi-college environmental org that year, and it made me realize I made the right choice. It took me several years and a couple of relocations to find a job in my field, but Baltimore made it happen. There are so many injustices in this city, including exposure to toxic incinerators, fossil fuel infrastructure, chemical plants, and more. People in majority-Black and low-income communities deserve clean air just as much wealthy, majority-white communities. These communities also deserve good-paying jobs that don’t cause them or their families harm. And so I’ve been on a mission to work with Baltimoreans, local and national nonprofits, and city government to fight for a transition to a zero waste economy, which lies at the intersection of environmental and economic justice. Read more>>
Paige Walden and Mary Ellen Bryan
CommUNITY Arts STL’s focus is arts access for all. Our big project right now is the expansion of the program Community Arts Bus (CAB). CAB removes transportation and financial barriers to make equitable access to arts education. For the children that need it the most, CAB picks up students directly from school, provides after school snacks, tutoring (partnering with local organization, Stomp the World), and a safe space to be social. From there, each CAB kid chooses an after-school arts education program. They have a choice among our list of pARTners. pARTners are local creative programs such as Central Studio Academy (dance), Pianos for People (music), And Lit shop (literacy and trade skills for girls). CAB kids receive the opportunity and space to build social emotional skills, learn an artform, and create a community through the arts. The last piece of the puzzle is pairing each CAB kid with a volunteer CABBIE driver. This driver provides a safe and direct ride home from their program and serves as a positive, consistent adult figure to connect with each week. CABBIEs are more than just cab drivers. They are an outlet for youth to connect with while they are growing their artistic skills and identity. Read more>>
DONNA GRILLO
I wanted a job where I affected people in a positive manner and helped others with their career dreams along the way. Voiceover Casting was a perfect way to help people realize their dreams and then when I started producing voiceover demos and teaching voiceover acting I realized I found my calling. I help people achieve their dreams of working in a field that is creative and fun yet seriously important for the success of the entire show. We make cartoons. We laugh a lot! Read more>>
Bobby G
I feel likeI did not find my purpose rather my purpose found me. I have been a cannabis advocate for 20 years, and a cannabis cultivator for over 15. I have seen the plant help so many people in so many ways. In the early 2000’s cannabis was still strongly frowned upon. I was using it daily to increase appetite and lower my anxiety from a very troubled family. I was always involved in cannabis from a very young age, however as soon as I was old enough to get a “real” job, I always had a full-time job. My cannabis enthusiasm was always put on the back burner while I focused on what I was taught the most important things in life were, school, family and a solid career. I was always looking for a solid career path in the workforce. Read more>>
Peter Belden
When I was 16 years old, I achieved my childhood goal of becoming a Newport Beach Ocean Lifeguard and I absolutely loved it. The camaraderie amongst the lifeguards felt like family and rescuing people from the dangers of the ocean was one of the best feelings I’ve ever had. It was a dream job. 15 years later, I had graduated from UCLA and had spent a decade in real estate and software sales all while maintaining my active lifeguard status by working towers on the weekends. I learned a lot in those different industries, but I always knew I was a fish out of water sitting behind a desk. But everything changed on July 6th, 2014, when my friend and fellow lifeguard, Ben Carlson, tragically drowned while rescuing a victim in powerful surf. It was a stark reminder of life’s fragility and the importance of seizing every moment. Fueled by a newfound sense of urgency, I made a bold decision: quit my software job, sell my car, and embark on a soul-searching journey to Bali, Indonesia, with no plans to return until I found true purpose. After 2 months in Bali I traveled for six months through Australia, living out of a van and immersing myself in the vibrant beach communities. I admired the strong community bonds fostered by Surf Lifesaving Clubs and Boardrider Clubs, which was a stark contrast to what I had experienced in California. Inspired and driven, I had a breakthrough moment and envisioned a surf club that not only united local communities but also provided access to a diverse range of high-quality surfboards—a concept I couldn’t find anywhere else in the world. Read more>>
Danzel Lor
Everyone is born with talent. You just have to go look for it & see what you can bring out of yourself. Focus on what makes you happy then you’ll find your purpose with a passion. Once you found it, pursue your interests into what feels right within you. Read more>>
Becca Houlehan Izzy Zschoche
At our school, we had both experienced how the lack period products impacted us and our learning environment. Many menstruators in our grade had had similar experiences. We started talking and realized how this is such a big issue, and yet no one is talking about it. So, we held a bake sale. The funds from the baked goods went to purchasing period products for our school. But, we ended up doing more research on how detrimental period poverty is, and how widespread it truly is. From there Equity.Period. snowballed into what it is today, and three years later we are making differences in schools across the KCMO area. Read more>>
Michaela Smith
It has been quite a path to discover what my purpose is and to create a life that allows me to share that with others. I guess you could say that this journey started when I began practicing yoga and it very slowly evolved over the course of many years. I started yoga when I was 16 and instantly connected with it. It ended up being a saving grace for me during my first year of college when I experienced significant anxiety and depression. My regular yoga and meditation practice helped me to get through that year, while also giving me the insight I needed to take some time away from school to re-ground before continuing with my education. During that year off, I enrolled in a yoga teacher training program and started teaching weekly classes. Yoga sparked my interest in holistic health but it all came to a head when I began to put the pieces together that the various gut, mood and hormonal symptoms I’d been struggling with for years were related to the birth control I started as a teenager. I went off the pill cold turkey and switched to a copper IUD, but that didn’t give me the results I had hoped for. I felt like I couldn’t get the answers I needed from a conventional medical lens This lit a fire in me to gain a deeper understanding of the body and how to support it. I decided to pursue a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from Bastyr University. Over the course of many years chasing symptoms and desperately grasping for solutions my list of “acceptable” foods had narrowed significantly and I’d become hyper focused on eating only what I deemed as healthy. This was, ironically, taking quite a toll on my mental and physical health. Instead of pursuing the next steps towards becoming a Registered Dietitian, I once again, pressed pause. Read more>>
Becky Parsons
I’m really passionate about this question. When I meet someone new, this story always comes up, because I feel it’s important to talk about how common it is to not know your “purpose”, at least until your later 20s. In undergrad, I studied Public Relations at Appalachian State University, which didn’t have a music business program at the time. So, I actually didn’t know I could work in the music business without being an artist. I play multiple instruments and sing but didn’t desire to be a performer. So, even though my life revolved around music and the artists I listened to, I resigned that the music industry wasn’t for me. I graduated with my bachelor’s and had a few PR internships in other industries that bored me. I had a PR internship with Louisville Ballet in Kentucky while still in school, so I started to wonder if there were similar roles in music that I could fill. I got a call from an old AppState professor who had moved over to East Tennessee State University (ETSU) letting me know the graduate program she worked with was looking for students to join their master’s program in Brand and Media Strategy. I still didn’t know what my career goal was, so I decided to go back and learn more about paid marketing. Read more>>
Heather Hallam Ray
My journey to finding my purpose was a deeply personal and organic process, born out of a period of significant loss and heartache. After losing my father and experiencing a difficult breakup, I found myself inexplicably drawn to the ocean. It became my sanctuary, a place where I could express the emotions I was holding inside. I began posting photos of stunning sunsets at beaches accompanied by inspirational quotes on social media. This simple act of sharing my feelings resonated with many, and I quickly gained a following of like-minded individuals who found solace and a sense of calm in the beauty of the beach. Designing jewelry was not part of the plan at the outset. However, everything changed when I stumbled upon a piece of sea glass and crafted a quick ring. I posted a photo of the ring on social media, and to my surprise, people were immediately captivated, asking where they could get one. This moment was a turning point, revealing to me that my purpose extended beyond just creating beautiful jewelry. It was about connecting with fellow beach lovers and building a community. These days, you can often find me sporting my “I’d Rather Be A Mermaid” shirt on the beach, which brings smiles to so many faces while I’m out there beachcombing. I think a lot of people resonate with the idea of escaping to a simpler, more whimsical life as a mermaid, especially in times that feel heavy and filled with uncertainty. It brings me immense joy to put a smile on someone’s face or start a conversation because of this cute shirt. Read more>>
Marc Moir
Theatre has always been my first love, but my educational background is actually in the field of Biblical Studies. When my wife and I started having children I took a break from touring (more out of familial and financial necessity than choice) and worked at a Church teaching and caring for their teens and young adults. One of the things I used to share with my kids–and carried on sharing when I taught University theatre for a number of years, and share with my own children now–is, where your skills and passions intersect that’s your vocation; what you were created to do. Some people are great at something but don’t love doing it. Other’s desperately want to do a job but they just don’t have the skills or tools to do so successfully or at the level they may want to. It has to be both. Whatever you’re best at whatever you enjoy doing the most that’s what you should be doing with your life. If you can monetize it all the better, but if you can use it to bless and benefit others then you have found purpose. After nearly 20 years of nibbling on the margins of a career in the arts, I decided it was finally time to take my own advice and take the plunge. So far it has been every bit as fulfilling as I had hoped. Getting to do theatre and run a professional company not only allows me to do what I’m best at and enjoy doing the most but we are using it to provide up-and-coming actors with the opportunities that we never got and do, and having so much fun doing it. Read more>>
Adriauna Davis
I found my purpose after giving birth to my daughter, Harmonie Grace, at just 23 weeks and 1 day. She was a micro preemie, weighing less than 430 grams (15.1 oz). During our NICU journey, I witnessed firsthand the severe lack of resources and support available to fellow NICU parents. Motivated by this experience, I wrote a book about my journey and established the Harmonie Grace Foundation. Our mission is to provide crucial support and resources to those who face similar challenges, ensuring they do not endure these tough times alone. It was my personal experience and unwavering commitment to supporting families with infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) inspired me to establish the foundation. My vision is to provide essential resources, advocacy, and emotional support to NICU families, empowering them to navigate the challenges of premature birth and critical care with strength, resilience, and hope. Founded in 2019, the Harmonie Grace Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting maternal and infant health. The foundation focuses on providing comprehensive support to families with infants in the NICU, ensuring they have access to the resources and care they need during one of the most challenging times in their lives. Read more>>
Christie Bishop
One word: Cancer. I know it sounds completely counterintuitive, but stick with me. I just turned 45 (saying it loud and proud) and, ironically, feel like I’m just getting started. If you had asked me to describe myself two years ago, I would’ve stuck to the shiny part of my life: “I’m a successful advertising executive, pretty awesome wife, and proud #girlmom.” But that would’ve been omitting the double life I’ve led for over 15 years. So here’s the truth: I’m all of the above but I’ve also been caregiving for my husband, Bryan, who in 2009 was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and given six months to live. I was just 29 years old. Spoiler alert: He’s beaten all odds and is still surviving, and I’ve been caring for him while also working full-time, traveling to see clients, raising our daughter, managing teams through a pandemic, and showing up for everyone to the detriment of myself. That means taking calls from chemotherapy centers, hiding in vacant offices across the world to call in for MRI results during biz trips, getting hospitalized from my own stress, etc. Read more>>
Cecilia Bettencourt
I think finding one’s purpose is a journey in of itself. I know there are people who search their entire lives trying to find their purpose, and I feel very fortunate to have been guided to mine at a young age. I myself am a Chiropractor, and during my first job as a Chiropractic Assistant at around 16 years old, my boss/mentor assigned the team a little personal homework. We had to write down our own personal mission and vision statement by our next meeting and I remember REALLY struggling to find the words of what I thought my contribution to this world could be. I was hyper aware of the fact that I myself was a kid! Surely there were things about the world I didn’t know yet, but I couldn’t show up to my job empty handed so I got very broad and gave myself permission to change it later. After some time it just clicked. My mission was to positively impact a community for generations. I didn’t know “how”, but I had a unshakable certainty and that was good enough for me. For me, my mission and my purpose are synonymous. Eventually that same boss/mentor asked us to identify our core values and somewhere along the line I heard that finding a career that both aligned with your purpose and values was the key to happiness, so here I am. Trying to fulfill my purpose through empowering those to take control of their health through natural and holistic means to help change the health and wellbeing of families. That’s how I believe we can impact a community. Read more>>
Erin Wheeler
Discovering my purpose came from little things here and there that eventually came together to create a path for me. I am a true-born horse girl so having horses at the center of a lot of my decisions came naturally. Being a photographer’s daughter, I eventually grew into that passion. My first year of college, I was at a local state university that was not a good fit. I spent the whole year miserable and never really found a group of friends that I connected with. Towards the end of the school year, I finally was able to purchase my first horse. Through him, I met one of my best friends who introduced me to the college that I transferred to the next year. Within a few months, I found myself at a new school with a group of great friends (also horse girls) and a new member of the school’s equestrian team. I had this moment driving to the barn to ride my horse that Fall and realized how a year prior, I was depressed and somewhat lost. I was amazed that in just a year, I was so happy and felt like I had found “my place”. I made a promise to myself that day that I would always chase happiness. Through my journey in photography, I decided to focus on equestrian photography because that was what made me happy. After a couple of years in business, I realized I also had the opportunity to bring happiness to my clients. Seeing their reactions to their photos with their beloved “pony” or moms crying happy tears seeing photos of their daughters in their element became a source of great joy and pride for myself. It solidified that that was my purpose: to bring happiness to others with storytelling through my camera with the animals that we had a shared love for. Read more>>
Ly Thuy Mai
The clarity I have around my business purpose came through a slow unfolding of four-years of struggle and resilience. In 2020, I had a successful marketing and event business. But behind the scenes, life was a struggle. I had just become a new mom to my son, and had made the scary decision to escape an abusive relationship. My business at the time was my life-line, giving me the resources to leave. Then the pandemic hit. Within 48-hours business was shut down. Live-events and gatherings were banned, and all contracts and revenue stopped. The security and confidence I had counted on to rebuild for my son and I was gone. The next two years were a fight for survival. I was a single mom navigating a pandemic, unemployment, depression and food stamps. For two-years I poured everything into building back my business. I made it a point to connect with my community of other incredible business women. These women became my clients, purchased my products, and shared their networks & referrals with me. With this support, I was able to get back-on-my-feet. March 2024 was a turning point. I rebranded with my true-mission: empower women and BIPOC business owners to reclaim their space, build powerful brands, and find the support they deserve. I built a community that empowers others to do the same, co-founding “EmpowerHer PDX”, a network of over 100 women-led independent business owners in the Portland, OR area. Today, my agency serves women who are building their dreams, reclaiming their voices, and standing together- my business purpose stems from my raw and personal experience and understanding of the the fight for hope and unconditional support. Read more>>
Devyn Richmond
I found my purpose when I realized that life isn’t about finding a purpose. I believe everyone’s true purpose is to find happiness and then spread it. My purpose wasn’t going to be giving facial treatments to others — it is to make others feel good through confidence. I truly think the best thing you can do in life is to be a kind person to those around you. You just never know whose life you can positively affect by doing so every day. Read more>>
Hannah Judson
I think of purpose more of as a journey than a static, finite state. Purpose is an ongoing construction, and it changes over time. As a child I knew I was creative, and that working with the materials I had on hand (bags of fabric, yarn, musical instruments around the house, a pump organ in the hallway) made me happy. I looked forward to art and music classes, and once you have something you love, you naturally gravitate towards that. As an adult, purpose gets mixed in with practical matters, like making money, paying rent. My natural tendency toward creativity was housed within a desire for no drama, functional admin. I like things to clip along, with worries kept to a minimum. Read more>>
Brooke Lark
Finding my purpose has been an on-going journey of surrendering my own old stories — aka what I *thought* life should or would look like—and learning to live inside of the Now. Staying fully present & fully open to (and really, really learning to trust) the truth that Life is always handing me what I need to grow & expand into the best version of me. And so, in the middle of a life full of wild and unexpected shifts, I am learning that my purpose can be constantly evolving. The journey isn’t to decide what I am. But to constantly stay open-hearted and curious to what I am becoming. To let the shifts and hard things in life teach me, to face life and growth with gratitude, and embrace the journey—whatever it is, whatever it may become—with presence and joy. Which, I suppose, is all to say; I’ve learned that my purpose is learning how to “sing the song of Brooke” and love that process. Read more>>
Saya Harada
When I was a little, I admired a lovely ballerina appeared on my favorite kids TV show. I imitated the movement she did in the show, and I enjoyed my “creative movement” in the small living room in my house. My mother found a ballet studio for me, and I started my classical ballet training when I was three and half years old. I fell in love with dancing. I always danced when I heard the music and kept dancing even the music was stopped. One day, my mother brought me to the theatre to see the ballet “Giselle” by Bolshoi Ballet. The performance and a prima ballerina grabbed my heart, and I said to my mother “I want to be like her!” I had dreamed to become a ballerina since then. I have trained in classical ballet for many years, and my passion for dancing kept glowing. I joined the junior ballet company during my pre-professional training and performed a various of classical ballet repertories in Japan. As the year passed, I became interested in choreographing, staging dance performances and training young dancers. That is how my carrier shifted from dancer to a dance educator and a choreographer. I decided to come to New York in 2007 to re-train myself not only ballet but also learn modern / contemporary dance. I was fortunate to find the information that American Ballet Theatre® and New York University established new master’s degree program focused on the ballet pedagogy. I enrolled the program in 2009, and I became the first Japanese citizen who graduated from ABT NYU Master’s Degree Program and obtained MA and American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum (ABT NTC) Certification form Primary to Level 7. Read more>>
Kerry Damiano
It found me! It was there all along, but it took 22 years (and really even longer if I’m being honest) for Ms. World Traveler to reveal itself. I left a “regular” job in 2000 as a President/COO of 2 multi-million dollar companies in different states, where I commuted between them, to start my own business. My initial endeavor was as a professional entertainer, but soon added pageant coach, wardrobe consultant, Christian speaker, my own television show (2 years), and a women’s fashion line (3 years). Some of the ventures were more successful than others, but I was busy and loved what I was doing. However, I always knew something big was coming. As each new element was incorporated, I would wonder, “Is this it? Is this what I’ve been waiting for?” And until June of 2022, the answer was always No. Read more>>
Gina Bruno
My purpose found me and continues to evolve. With a graphic design and marketing background, I spent several years in the field before transitioning to a freelance career in social media marketing. All my clients were in the culinary world, including restaurants, bars, social clubs, and private chefs. I loved working with people in the food industry—it’s like a delicious religion that hooks you once you’re in. Through this work, I experienced both the beauty and challenges of the culinary world and one day; I realized I needed to be more deeply involved with food. I immediately applied for food-related jobs and began working at a sandwich shop. My following roles were on the line at two excellent Brooklyn restaurants—Leland and Misi. At the same time, my fiancé, now husband, and I, both with restaurant backgrounds, started renovating Frank’s House. We aimed to create a space where chefs could shine, cook, and connect with their guests. Franks also hosts numerous production needs that lean towards culinary – go figure. So, in a long-winded way, my purpose found me and continues to evolve. I manage Frank’s House independently and love connecting with such unique individuals. I host numerous dinners and events there. Now, after having a baby, I’m transitioning back to my roots in food content, but this time, I’m doing it for myself. Read more>>
MiKayla Norris
In July of 2022, I gave birth to twins in Nashville, Tennessee not knowing that our world was about to change forever. We were there for a 3rd opinion on our son’s heart and quickly got a diagnosis that left a lot of uncertainty. Nash was born with not only a failing heart but a rare disease in his brain called Vein of Galen Malformation. Though his prognosis was grim, we fought along side of him for 31 days before he gave up his fight (which is a total miracle, because he was only given 30 minutes to live at birth). While in the NICU I began sharing our story with our friends and family on Facebook, which then took off and brought thousand of people along with us on our journey. As time went on after his passing, I continued sharing about his rare malformation, grief and what our faith looked like in Jesus after such a loss. Those few thousands of people went from thousands to millions in just a few short months. We were featured in Nashville’s most inspiring stories by Nashville Voyage, in a best selling children’s book about infant loss, have helped several other families around the world with infant loss by VOGM and built a community of mothers who feel the pain of missing their child. Our story was seen by Christian artist Cory Asbury and then later Brandon and Brittany Lake. Brandon Lake found my husband and I in a crowd at his concert and told our + Nash’s story to 13k other believers. It was so special and dear to our hearts, to be able to have such an influence tell our story to so many others who lifted us in prayer. We truly felt the love of God and like our purpose was given a nod from above that we were doing the right thing by continuing Nash’s legacy and voice. It has been a soul searching, deeply rooted in faith journey to find what my purpose is. Read more>>
Trinity Rose
That’s a great question! For me, finding my purpose was a process of assessing my values—what matters to me most—and aligning them with my innate skills and passion. I grew up in a household where meaningful work was highly encouraged. My love for branding and visual communication started back in high school in a visual communications class. I attended a private high school that promoted independent learning and thinking, which is where I initially developed the discipline to work for myself. A turning point was when I co-founded a sustainable fashion app in NYC. One of our investors said, “There are two types of entrepreneurs: those meant to support others in their dreams and those meant to lead and be visionaries.” Being a co-founder was a profound learning experience, and one of my takeaways was that I truly love supporting others in making their dreams and visions come to life. I also knew that if I was going to help others’ visions come to life, I needed them to make a positive impact so I could feel good about the work I was doing. Additionally, my own healing journey and intuitive skills have influenced how I view my purpose and my integrative coaching and mentorship style, enabling me to connect with clients on a deeper level and guide them holistically. Read more>>
