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.

Dexter Patterson

I didn’t go looking for birds—birds found me. I was going through a difficult chapter in life, carrying a lot of trauma and trying to stay present as a father, educator, and community member. One day, I slowed down long enough to notice a bird right outside my window, and that simple moment shifted everything. I picked up a camera, then a pair of binoculars, and suddenly the outdoors became a space for healing, learning, and joy. Read More>>

Kaytlin Ebora

For a long time I thought my “purpose” needed to be a career. In my early 20s I remember feeling like I didn’t have a purpose. I had tried going to school and couldn’t commit to a degree. I went to school for early childhood education, horticulture, dental hygiene, never really feeling like anything stuck. I had been working at a drive through coffee shop and realized I felt the most fulfilled there. I was drawn to the aspect of the company that was focused on caring for the customers.  Read More>>

Theresa Cruz

I didn’t find my purpose—it found me. And I know without a doubt that it came from God. Every step of this journey has been guided by Him. For years, I worked in roles that served the Hispanic community—helping families navigate school systems, access resources, and find a sense of belonging in a world that often didn’t speak their language. I saw their struggles up close, and my heart ached knowing how much they were trying to hold together with so little support. Read More>>

Alexandra Dane

First of all, I am an example of ever-evolving purpose that depended on where and who I was at the time and what time was available. For the last fifteen years I have been developing my writing, but before that — as a daughter, granddaughter and mother — I was a caregiver when needed for my extended family, a mother that raised three babies, a Hospice volunteer, a choir soprano, a volunteer at schools, churches and an historic garden. Read More>>

Eric Syverson

I’ve always been attracted to professional services, but then over time I found that I was very intrigued by public service and people who were in a life of public service. My mom likes to tell the story about when I was in kindergarten for my first class picture I wanted to wear a suit and tie. We compromised and she let me wear a tie. So from a very early age I started to admire people who were in professional services. Read More>> 

Lena Imamura

I’ve always been obsessed with “self-growth” in an effort to become a better version of myself. Very early in my journey, I was drawn to frameworks. But most felt too surface. I eventually came across Ikigai — introduced to me by a friend and executive coach, Jamie Kim. It struck a chord, not just because of the power of the framework, but because I’m Japanese — and the word itself means “breath of life.” Something about that resonated deeper than the productivity-self assessments we often see online. It gave me permission to think of purpose as something bigger than myself. Read More>> 

Gina DiGiorgio

I found my purpose by always having a love and passion for music. When I was in high school, I was in many musicals, and that later turned into a love for songwriting. Read More>> 

Christina Chambreau

I think purpose may be better than resilience.

My purpose is to empower people to heal themselves and their animals in ways that heal the planet.

From age 11 I seemed to be led to the purpose that I fully realized in my mid to late thirties. Living on an air base in Japan, I visited the base veterinary clinic to get help with a science fair project on worms and became interested in what was going on there.  Read More>>

Cesar Ziegler

From the day I was born, I knew music and the arts were my calling. It wasn’t something I discovered—it was always part of me. I’ve spent my life chasing artistic expression, whether through creating music, capturing moments with my camera, or bringing energy to events as a DJ. Every step I take is about living that truth and sharing it with the world. Read More>>

Pinmo(Jinglei) Shu

I didn’t find my life’s purpose in a single moment—it revealed itself gradually through the act of doing. Every project, big or small, became a dialogue with myself, a quiet collision between who I am and who I aspire to be.

In the process of refining my work—again and again—I discovered something deeper: I wasn’t just making the work better or more precise.
I was making myself clearer, stronger, more true. Read More>>

Cliff

“He that finds his life shall lose it: and he that looses his life for my sake shall find it.”
— Matthew 10:39

This paradoxical statement is about surrender—letting go of self-centered pursuits to discover true life in Christ. For me, this was the doorway to finding my purpose. Read More>> 

Brittney Frietch

I didn’t find my purpose in one shining, picture-perfect moment. I found it in the chaos. In the heartbreak. In the grit. In the times I was counted out, underestimated, and told I wasn’t ready.
I became a mom young. I was raised by divorced parents. And like so many women, I was told again and again that I was too much of something and not enough of everything else. Too young, too green, too emotional, too inexperienced to lead anything worth taking seriously. But I had this quiet, burning belief that I was meant for more, and I was willing to work for it. Read More>>

Isaiah Owens

The way that I found my purpose for photography was once I noticed that I was able to change peoples lives with taking just a photo. With me taking photos I was inspiring young kids and young adults that they could do what I do such as taking photos. I was able to show how fun it is to take photos , the opportunites that come with it. I have been able to experience some really cool things just by being booked as photographer.  Read More>>

Mesita Partridge

I believe purpose is revealed through the willingness to keep showing up — even when you’re scared, unsure, or evolving. I found my purpose by leaning into what came naturally to me: creating beauty, making people feel celebrated, and building experiences that linger in hearts long after the party ends. But my deeper purpose showed up when I realized I wasn’t just planning events — I was guiding other women, especially Black women in the wedding industry, to see their worth, raise their prices, and step boldly into rooms where we were never expected to lead.  Read More>> 

Kacey Primer

I found my purpose by paying attention to what really sparked joy, like the things I did effortlessly and the way people responded to them. At first, I didn’t think design would be a career for me, because I was intimidated by the behind the scenes of it all. But over time, with knowledge, education and especially hands-on experience, I realized, I could approach interior design in my own way and professionally. I also deeply understood it wasn’t just about creating beautiful spaces, but how those very spaces made people feel. Read More>>

Olimpia

I’ve always known I was here to make a difference. Even as a young girl, I could feel this pull, this deep sense that I was meant to impact people, to bring about change, and to use my voice creatively. For a long time, I thought that would happen through acting. I saw myself on stages and screens, telling stories that would shift hearts. But what I’ve come to realize is that the core of my purpose was never about the platform, it was about the impact. I’m a creative. Read More>> 

Starr Barrett

found my purpose by first finding myself. Life gave me many roles to play—mother, entrepreneur, healer, visionary—but it was through my own spiritual awakening and healing journey that I truly aligned with what I was called to do. I realized that everything I’d experienced—both the challenges and the triumphs—were divine lessons that led me to help others reclaim their power, restore their peace, and remember their worth. Read More>>

Andreina Gomez

I began my yoga and meditation journey when I was just 13 years old. My mom had a yoga studio, and being surrounded by that energy from such a young age deeply shaped who I am. It gave me tools to understand myself, to navigate life with intention, and to come home to my body, long before I even knew how powerful that truly was. Read More>>

Trang Nguyen

For years, I balanced life between spreadsheets and school lunches — a full-time accountant, a mom of four (including a pair of lively twins), and the quiet force behind the scenes keeping everything moving. Life was busy, noisy, and sometimes chaotic. But it was my daughter’s eczema that shifted everything. Read More>>

Sharee James

Finding my purpose wasn’t some magical, overnight moment. It was layered—built through struggle, reflection, and this constant desire I’ve always had to make people feel good. Whether I’m cooking for family or hosting something small, I genuinely love helping people feel seen, appreciated, and uplifted. Read More>>

Kierra Hagins

I found my purpose after catching covid in 2019 being quarantined for 2 weeks which led me to reading my bible crying out to God while also preparing to take retake my state exam for cosmetology . Read More>>

Peg Kinda

Discovering my purpose has been a journey of self-discovery, exploration, and continuous learning. Through identifying my passions, aligning with my core values, and finding ways to give back to others, I’ve uncovered what gives my life meaning. This process hasn’t been static; it evolves as I grow — shaping my direction, my decisions, and the ventures I pursue. Read More>>