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.

Annie And Gene Carelli

My husband and I started Fertility Home Care after reflecting on our experience while holding our newborn and reminiscing about the process. I realized that despite the immense support of my family and friends, something was missing. It wasn’t just the medical care, the fertility clinics, or the countless hours spent researching; it was something deeper—understanding, compassion, and a sense of empowerment when it came to the injectables. Read More>>

Ingrid Enriquez-donissaint

I didn’t find my purpose like a gift—it emerged through a mix of a-ha moments, fuck-ups, disappointments, grit, and stillness. I’m naturally drawn to all people and understanding real-life dynamics. The root cause of things and systems—and how they coexist—fascinates me. Maybe I’ve just watched too much Mary Poppins, who somehow carries the modus operandi for chaos in her magical bag of tricks?! Justice and the habit of asking questions to get to the core have been core values for me since childhood. Read More>>

Tionna Gill

My journey to discovering my purpose has been deeply influenced by both of my parents. My mother was raised in a small town called Franklin, VA, and I learned from her that it’s not how you start, it’s how you finish. Coming from a single-parent household, she overcame numerous challenges, graduating from Virginia Union University on full academic and athletic scholarships. Read More>>

Blanche Garcia

I followed the inner prompts, listened to the signs my life sent me, and paid attention to what lights me up. When I first started my journey, I was reacting to what life was showing me and making decisions based on pure instinct. I chose a direction that served the version of who I was at the time. Read More>>

Georgia Bushell

Art has always been the foundation of my identity. I like to jest about what a loser I’d be if I weren’t an artist, like I’d still be ringing up MSG burgers for hungry crowds of torches and pitchforks in another reality. There is some truth to that, as bleak as it may sound. I had no plan B when I was younger, favoring my blind confidence that in some medium I would make it as an artist. I’ve had some sort of utensil in my hand since I’ve developed the motor skills to grab onto it, victimizing my parents’ carpets, walls, and furniture. Read More>>

Rachel Giordano

My purpose has always been rooted in storytelling. Early in my career, I worked behind the scenes in television and radio, helping shape narratives for some of the biggest names in media. But as I evolved, I realized that my real passion wasn’t just in producing—it was in guiding others to tell their own stories in a way that connects and converts. Read More>>

Ope Adebanjo

It’s funny how the process of finding your purpose is less new discovery and more rediscovery. Like most people, I had activities that I enjoyed engaging is as a child. Things like reading, writing pretend contracts for my brother, and telling my family and friends elaborate stories and mysteries. But as often happens to most people, going through school and academic environments, that clarity on what I enjoyed and what I was passionate about got drowned out by what was most prestigious or what paid the most. Read More>>

Viktoria Jonas

I moved from Hungary to the U.S. 13 years ago and worked as a nanny in Long Island, NY. I was homesick—everything was new, I didn’t know anyone, and I didn’t even speak the language. (What was I thinking?) Read More>>

Tanisha Mackin

I spent years searching for my calling. It was only after the devastating loss of my husband that I found my true purpose: to support widows through their grief. I channeled my own pain into my first book, hoping to connect with and comfort others. The overwhelming response – people asking me to help them publish their own stories – inspired me to create my publishing company. Read More>>

Daniel Willams

I was a shy child, which you wouldn’t know by seeing me now. As such, I was a media consumer at the time, mainly in the 80s, even though I was born in the 70s. Read More>>

Emily Hoffman

The Barking Project was established with one of my close friends, Allison Frizzo, after one of the many days we volunteered at Dallas Animal Services. We felt compelled to take action after witnessing countless adoptable dogs being euthanized due to lack of space in the shelter. The situation continued to get worse as more dogs were being surrendered by owners or abandoned daily. As the shelter filled up, the number of dogs euthanized only increased. Read More>>

Anthony Brooks

If you had asked me a year ago what my purpose was, I probably would’ve given you a polished answer—something about visual storytelling, capturing the human experience, and the art of cinematography. And while all of that is still true, I’ve come to realize that purpose isn’t a fixed destination; it evolves. Read More>>

Priya Ranie

Finding my purpose has been a decade long process, and to be honest, I am still on that journey. All I know is at this moment in time, I can confidently say that I am at least on the right path and within the realm of my purpose. Self development is truly one of the things I am passionate about. Read More>>

Darya Baganov

How did you find your purpose?

Almost ten years ago, I created the Seahawks Kids Instagram fan page https://www.instagram.com/seahawks_kids?igsh=cmY4NHRobno5bHRw as a place for families with children to come together, celebrate their love for the Seattle Seahawks, and show that we are a strong and united community. For us, the Seahawks are more than just a football team—they are an essential part of the cultural identity of our city. Supporting them is a way to teach our children about belonging, resilience, and pride in where we live. Read More>>

Vivian Villanueva

I found my purpose after I came to know Jesus in the beginning of 2024 and fully surrendered my heart and my life to Him. I thought I knew who I was and what I wanted. Little did I know, once I started this journey with Him and I started getting into my bible that everything would change including me. It was like life started to make sense. Read More>>

Sukanya Madhav

I found my purpose through doing choir. I started choir when I was in 3rd grade, and joining choir helped me find my passion for singing. Through the year I have continued choir and my passion for singing has only grown. So far, I have done many singing competitions like All Region and Solo and Ensemble, and I have also done many performances as well. Read More>>

Haina Zhang

I find my purpose through my art, which serves as my voice and resistance. As a feminist, I use my work to process the complexities of living in a world where women still face systemic injustices, deep-seated fears, and everyday struggles.  Read More>>

Gallagher Green

I just look back at the bad things that have happened in my life, and the bad things happening in the lives of others and say, “I don’t want anyone else to go through this,” and then work towards making that happen. I want my novels to make people feel seen, to know they aren’t alone. Read More>>

Ashton Rodgers

Finding your purpose is one of those big, almost mythical ideas that can feel overwhelming. For me, it wasn’t a single, life-altering revelation—it was a process of uncovering my strengths, leaning into them, and realizing that purpose isn’t just about what you do, but why you do it. Read More>>

Kelly Castro

I found my purpose the moment I realized that all of the work my young son, who is on the autism spectrum, was doing would be unraveled once he turned 21. People who have intellectual and developmental disabilities, or as we like to say, are differently-abled, work incredibly hard to achieve what so many (including myself) take for granted. Read More>>

Nichelle Wilson

I found my passion through a deeply personal journey of healing. For a long time, I lived in a state of emotional turmoil, marked by resentment and unresolved pain. It wasn’t until I faced the difficult and soul-shaking battle of forgiveness that I began to discover what truly mattered to me and where my heart found peace. The act of forgiving—something I had always believed to be simple—became a powerful tool in reclaiming my identity, my faith, and my sense of purpose. Read More>>

Brother_francis Revels-bey

When I was 8 years old, I had a dream about being on a college campus playing volleyball, and within that dream, I met a college professor who I would work for on campus. Upon telling my mother about this dream, she clarified it by telling me it was a vision – something I would experience.  Read More>>

Ming Cheng

For as long as I can remember, my career path has always been clear: to become an artist. As a child, I was fascinated by crayons, colors, and geometric shapes of all kinds. This passion carried me through high school, where I found solace in creating beyond the confines of math equations and chemistry formulas filled with endless English letters. Read More>>

Sean D. Andrews

My name is Sean Andrews, and I’m the owner of Esquire Repair LLC. Reflecting on how I found my purpose, I can pinpoint one exact moment that changed the course of my life. It wasn’t a series of epiphanies, but a single, transformative experience that gave me the confidence to walk the path I’m on today. Before I ventured into the world of electronics, I had no clue of my capabilities. Read More>>

Tnah Louise

Throughout my life, I have felt more led than anything else, guided by an unseen force, an inner knowing, and the wisdom of my ancestors. My purpose was not something I went searching for, it unfolded before me, revealing itself in moments of deep connection. Read More>>

Mandi Penney

I wasn’t always aware of my purpose. As a child, I was quiet, often observing from the edges rather than stepping forward. I felt things deeply—the emotions of those around me, the unspoken struggles, the weight of unseen burdens—but I didn’t always know what to do with it. I wasn’t the one to boldly reach out, but I noticed. I saw. I felt. And even then, God was planting the seeds of my calling deep within me. Read More>>

Kiera Nadeau

As an artist I have always known that I wanted a creative career, it’s just taken awhile to figure out what exactly that looks like and where this drive comes from. When I started to struggle with my health, I was forced to confront what was really important to me and I realized all I ever wanted to do was create. Read More>>

Mackenzie Ten Napel

Like many people who grew up in a chaotic environment or faced trauma, I spent much of my early twenties asking myself, ‘Why?’ I didn’t find the answer to that question until April of 2020, when I accepted the Lord into my life. For much of my life, it felt like a constant war—against myself, my circumstances, my body, everything. Read More>>

Ashley Huff

Growing up, I was extremely shy, so much so I would barely speak to anyone besides my immediate family members. For whatever reason, starting conversations, making friends, and accomplishing tasks in front of others was absolutely terrifying to me. Art became a type of release for me, as it was a way I could express myself without having to use words. It was my lifeline. Read More>>

Bow Thayer

Since the very earliest days of my existence I have been drawn to music. Bounce to the age of 12 I saw a concert and discovered I was on the wrong side of the stage . Bang my life’s purpose started and I never looked back. I learned how to play instruments until I got to a place where i could do it in front of people. Read More>>

Chengmin(michael) Yu

As an artist, I don’t come from a music family but music have been inside my body since I was born. I’ve showed big interest in music since I was born according to my parents. I learnt piano since I was 4 and start singing, dancing, playing guitar…as I grow up. Read More>>

Victoria Faith

Finding my purpose wasn’t a linear path; it was a winding road of exploration and self-discovery. Early in my career, I gained expertise across various industries – airlines, bridal consulting, retail, corporate environments, and even the service sector. Each experience, while seemingly disparate, provided invaluable lessons and insights. However, I always sensed a much deeper calling. Read More>>

Bryce Boyer

I’ve always gravitated toward wanting to help others. Even growing up, I had a strong passion for protecting and advocating for those who may not feel comfortable speaking up for themselves. In the Navy, I ensured my Sailors had what they needed—including access to educational resources, advocacy for personal travel during family situations (even while deployed overseas), and career advancement opportunities. Read More>>

Bernadette Logue

My purpose found me and that’s how it often happens for many of us.
Leading up to 2010 I had a successful corporate career in the public and private sectors. I like to describe this period of my life as “nice on paper”. It was an extremely blessed life, for which I will forever be grateful, with beautiful people, resources, opportunities, success, love and what many of us are taught equates to a great life.  Read More>>

Allison Costlow

I never thought I would have a career as a professional artist. I’ve always had a deep love and appreciation for the arts which was something instilled in me early on by both my parents and grandparents . However, I always felt like there was this mystique about artists where they were born with some magical natural talent or certain eye for creating. I never felt like I had that innate natural talent and so turned my attention towards art history. Read More>>

Dr. Brittany Lewis

When I was a graduate student I ran into bell hooks at the bar of the 2014 National Women’s Studies Association Conference. Hooks advised me not to allow the conservatizing efforts of the tenure process to overshadow my commitment to making my work accessible. In her keynote address, she later described the many emails and phone calls she was receiving from women across the country suffering in silence in academic institutions. Feminism had lost its politics. I would later become one of the women that hooks described. Read More>>

Dharma Shakti

I have found that when you pursue what interests you, or what makes your heart expands, the path to your purpose unfolds for you. And thats what happened to me. Each pursuit of interest molded and shaped me with knowledge, experience and perspective. Read More>>