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.

Anna Koltun

Since I was a child, I was always creative — drawing was my safe space, my way to express emotions I couldn’t put into words. I begged my mom to let me study art, but we couldn’t afford it. Instead, I got into journalism on a government scholarship, even though I never wanted to work in that field. I nearly dropped out during my final year. Read More>>

Yesica Coria Zavaleta

I came to the USA about 19 years ago. I tried many jobs, so many new ways to fit into this new culture. I didn’t understand why I felt so empty. I thought coming here and making some money would make me feel successful, but it didn’t work. I began to feel empty, but my artistic spirit never shut down. Back in my hometown, I learned a skill that connected me with my roots, and I began to heal my empty heart that missed my culture so much. I started creating crafts made of cornhusks and promoting them through videos and craft events. Read More>> 

Marnie Stockman & Nick Coniglio

Short answer? We tripped over it while trying to outrun burnout and bad bosses.

Longer answer? Our purpose didn’t arrive with a marching band and banner. It snuck in somewhere between a school hallway (Marnie was teaching math to teenagers, bless her) and a server room (Nick was in tech, with more dashboards than daylight). We collided in the world of EdTech. Through multiple acquisitions it felt like the company we worked for had sold its soul to the devil. So we decided to do something about it. Read More>>

Emma Highfill

Honestly, I’ve always been the kind of person who tries a little bit of everything. I never really had one clear passion or calling. I liked a lot of things, but nothing ever truly stuck or felt like “this is it.” I’d go down these rabbit holes, trying new paths to see if they fit. I’ve done everything from studying to be a phlebotomist, to working at a trailer manufacturing company, to going to school to become an autopsy technician. I even worked alongside my husband in his media business. Read More>>

Natasha Patino

I often find that when we go through hard things, we can learn something from it and grow. It’s not for nothing, even if it’s difficult. I found my purpose, career-wise, with a father that was very sick mentally, suicidal, with limited resources in our area due to speaking mostly Spanish. This was hard on him and eventually our family broke apart. found my purpose through this difficult experience. I found I enjoyed being the one people turn to, for help, and found a career as a licensed psychotherapist. I am grateful that I am also able to provide these services in Spanish, whereas before this resource was very limited. Read More>>

Xandria Maurer

The journey to finding my purpose began on a Saturday evening in February. I was sitting on the couch when I suddenly started to feel unwell. I told my partner I was heading to bed because of how bad I felt. When I went to brush my teeth, I could barely lift my toothbrush — it felt as though I had just done the most intense triceps workout of my life. As I walked into the bedroom and laid down, it felt like someone was trying to rip my insides out of my chest. That’s when I texted my partner to bring me some aspirin. Read More>>

Kesha Christie

I didn’t always know my purpose. For a long time, I was just trying to survive.

I grew up in Stony Hill, Jamaica, in a home where love had to stretch thin. My mother left when I was young to try and build a better life abroad. The money she sent back didn’t always find its way to me and my sisters. I was the eldest, and before I even understood what childhood meant, I was already playing the role of mother, protector, and provider. There were days when the only thing on the menu was fruit from a nearby tree, and even that we had to ration. Read More>>

Judy Fulmer

The search for my purpose could be likened to the creation of a tapestry. My mix-matched work life and personal experiences led to my discovery of purpose and the fulfillment of my calling. My professional journey took me through the classroom and homeschool as an educator, industry and consulting as a Health Physicist protecting workers and the environment from negative effects of radioactive material, childhood cancer advocacy, and multiple volunteer roles including encouraging and guiding others through college prep and admissions.  Read More>>

Madison Daniels

I have been a medium since I was a kid, and growing up with spiritual gifts I often felt out of place, weird or even crazy. Once I discovered the Akashic Records I was finally able to tap into why I came here and what I came here to do. This snowballed me launching my spiritual business & empowering others to tap into their spiritual gifts & abilities! The Akashic records are an energetic database where you can tap into things like your soul purpose, soul contracts & past lives. Learning how to use this modality to learn what to do in my business has been a game changer. Read More>>

DAYHANA

I found my purpose by listening to what moved me most—people. From a young age, I felt drawn to care, to support, and to be present during life’s most vulnerable moments. That calling only grew stronger through medical school and residency, but it wasn’t until I started working closely with patients in primary care that I realized this was more than a job—it was a mission. Founding Proper Health & Wellness gave me the space to fully live that purpose: to care for the whole person and to create a safe, welcoming environment for every individual who walks through our doors. Read More>>

Alvaro Pastor

I’ve always felt that my purpose was deeply connected to music, but over time, I realized it wasn’t just about playing an instrument. It was about what music can create in others. From a very young age, music became a space where I could be completely honest, and I discovered that this honesty could truly resonate with people. Connecting through art, evoking emotions, offering presence—sometimes without saying a single word—gave me a reason to keep going deeper. Read More>>

Angie Acosta

I feel like for me, I’ve always been a creative person. I always loved to draw and paint for as long as I can remember. I always found art fun and loved being able to create. I played with makeup at a young age, and eventually realized makeup is another art form. I was known for doing graphic liner and crazy makeup looks on myself growing up. I always wanted to use makeup as a way to express creativity. Read More>>

Melani Savich

Finding my purpose didn’t happen overnight, it was something that slowly revealed itself as I started working with clients and seeing the impact my work had on them. I’ve always loved the art and creativity behind makeup, but I realized my deeper purpose when I began specializing in bridal makeup. There’s something incredibly meaningful about helping someone feel beautiful and confident on one of the most important days of their life. Read More>>

Brianna Jones

As a photographer, one of the greatest honors is to be trusted with the most important milestones of people’s lives – whether that’s a high school or college graduation, celebrating an anniversary with a partner, expecting mothers or even just yearly holiday family portraits, every photoshoot that I book has a story and reason behind it. When a person reaches out to me about booking a photoshoot, I do not see it as just a business transaction, but as a great sign of trust to capture a period in their life that matters, and I find so much purpose in that. Read More>>

CHERLETTE MCCULLOUGH

I found my purpose through vulnerability. It wasn’t a straight path—it was born out of moments when I felt exposed, uncertain, and even broken. As a therapist and entrepreneur, I’ve learned that real transformation begins when we stop pretending to be okay and start being honest with ourselves first. My purpose revealed itself when I leaned into my own healing, acknowledged my pain, and gave myself permission to grow from it. Read More>>

Tonja Lindsay

How I found my purpose is
I always had the passion and heart
To help others.
I’ve also had leadership character.
Finding my purpose
Didn’t come easy for me.
I had to REALLY DIG into
What I had the passion for
as well as is
Giving back to the community. Read More>>

Boris Amado

My purpose in life is to be a storyteller. I entertain people with my written stories. Even as a child I loved telling stories, but I never envisioned myself as an author of books. I mean, I never did well in school, and my penmanship is like that of a fourth grader.

But once I began writing, I knew this was my purpose. I went to college to learn how to direct motion pictures, and I never saw myself as the screenwriter, but here we are. Read More>>

David Emenheiser

I found my purpose while healing.
For 20 years, addiction ruled my life, stealing joy, purpose, and hope. But in the depths of that pain, during the journey of healing, I discovered something unexpected—photography. Or maybe, photography found me. I believe God gave me this gift not just as a creative outlet, but as a form of therapy—an instrument of grace that helped me see beauty again, both in the world and within myself. What began as a personal escape has become my passion, my purpose, and my way of sharing light with others. Today, through every frame I capture, I celebrate freedom, faith, and the power of redemption. Read More>>

Karen LaPorte

After 25 years of working in the fashion industry, my purpose now is to pass on my knowledge and inspire a younger generation of designers to be who they are meant to be, design and live with intention, and to achieve all that they dream of. I worked really hard to do all the things I wanted to do in fashion. I worked on Seventh Avenue, had an indie fashion line and small boutique, worked for a lingerie start up and along the way I was always aware to learn as much as possible. Everything is a learning experience. Read More>>

Natalia Ocampo

From a very young age, I understood that true success depends on building individual goals and on achieving results for ourselves first, so that we can later generate a positive impact on others.
My life’s purpose has always been to build bridges. In my mind, when I speak with people, I automatically start weaving invisible shapes and maps of possibilities. I listen, observe, and create connections between people, companies, and, most importantly, between cultures and generations. Read More>>

Victor Migalchan

I spend a lot of time in prayer. Through deepening my relationship with God the Father, I’ve come to see my purpose more clearly. It’s in those quiet, personal moments of faith that I feel most aligned with who I’m meant to be—and furthest from the noise of empty glamour and superficial success. Read More>>

Roby Peñacastro

A few years ago, I realized I was on the wrong path. It was 2017, and I was about to finish my degree in International Business when I decided to go on exchange to Finland. While I was there, I had the opportunity to join the team at Slush, one of the most important tech conferences in the world.

That’s where I listened to Daniel Ek, co-founder of Spotify, deliver a talk that truly shook me. It forced me to pause and ask myself a tough question: *What was I doing studying logistics and international trade?* That moment was pivotal. It awakened a desire in me to change direction and immerse myself in the world of technology. Read More>>

Sunkin Duarte

As a first-generation Latina college graduate, I grew up navigating the complexities of identity, responsibility, and ambition. My journey toward purpose didn’t follow a straight path—it unfolded through resilience, reflection, and radical alignment.

While earning three degrees and interning with global organizations, I pursued achievement as a means of security and pride for my family. I climbed quickly—working in international development and humanitarian assistance and landing what I once thought was my dream job in D.C. But even in prestigious roles, something felt off. Burnout and misalignment led me to a pivotal decision: to leave the path I had worked so hard to build. Read More>>

Jiayue Zang

From my perspective, my journey to becoming a scene designer has been a deeply fulfilling exploration of creativity and collaboration. My time at CalArts provided me with a solid foundation in design principles and techniques, but it was the hands-on experiences that truly ignited my passion. Whether assisting established designers on large-scale productions or leading the charge on independent film projects, each opportunity allowed me to hone my skills and discover what truly excites me.  Read More>>

Kayla Course

Honestly, I feel like my purpose found me. When I gave God my full “yes,” everything began to shift. I wasn’t searching for a platform or a spotlight, I was simply focused on growing in my faith and becoming more disciplined. In one of the hardest seasons of my life, after so much loss and heartbreak, I made a decision to create a sacred space, a place where I could meet with God daily. That place became my prayer closet. Read More>>