It’s more important to understand someone than to judge them. We think the first step to understanding someone is asking them the fundamental questions about who they are and how they became the person they are today. Understanding and empathy are essential building blocks for a better, more compassionate world. We’re incredibly fortunate to be able to ask these questions each week through our interview series. Below you’ll find inspiring interviews from in and around Atlanta.
Daniel Washington
How I got my start is in church. I was a shy, quiet and honestly aimless 14 year old just meandering through existence until my Apostle, Angelo Hollis introduced me to instruments. He gave me a chance to play the drums even though I never played them before or had an interest in performing music prior to this. I enjoyed it and decided that if I am going to play I may as well learn how. That is what sparked not just wanting to play what was already made by someone else but to create my own which lead to me going to college to get an education in music and to get established to own my own studios and label that I decided to call Gaijin Productions. Read more>>
Hailey Binion
So I spent the next two years studying and my photography took a backseat for the next six years until my son was born and the itch to pick up my camera and create was too unbearable not to scratch. Especially in this era of documentary style sessions and film booming again. What a perfect time for me to come back. Read More>>
Katina Driver
My love of Photography and Art started with my mother. Growing up she was always trying different thing’s. She was an amazing athlete, still is incredibly smart, and artistic. If there was a special event, you better believe she has the photos, and with her being a Sunday school teacher she was always finding crafts or trips for us to do. Read More>>
Brittni Cole
As a child, everything felt safe and magical having so much trust in the world around me. When in reality, I was oblivious to the ways and the realities of the tumultuous world we live in. I would later learn this lesson in some of the hardest ways imaginable. I graduated from college with honors as an academic scholarship recipient preparing to move to California with my husband and live the dream. After all, it was the thing to do in the eyes of society’s order of life events for a young person in the early 2000’s. Even with a great childhood, support, foundation, and prominent faith I wasn’t prepared for what life had in store for me. Read More>>
Shantia Morgan
What started as a small event, quickly grew into annual block parties on the same block where my family has lived for over 50 years. This year, we celebrated our 7th Annual (nature themed) Back to School Block Party on August 3, 2024. With the support of my family, friends, and the block club committee, these events have allowed me to channel my creativity and passion for counseling, travel, cultural enrichment, and mentorship. All of these elements are now integrated into Infinite Bloom, where we strive to empower and uplift the youth. Read More>>
Kaylan Fox
I was accepted into the school and program, and fortunately, I was in two other variations of the department, including Technical Theatre and Musical Theatre. As I was learning my craft, I began to realize that I had stage fright, but this did not hinder me from learning how to develop a great actor. I began to fall in love with being as hands on as possible with a production, even if that meant being behind the scenes, so I developed my skillsets from each department to learn the artistry that takes place backstage in order to make the magic on stage happen. Read More>>
Harrison Rodriguez
My creative journey started in the fifth grade when I played trumpet in band class. Since then, my musical skills have grown vastly, and my true passion for music and the arts began in high school, where I played in my school’s jazz band, starred in many shows and musicals, and even had the opportunity to create a musical project with some of my best friends during the last semester of my senior year. Read More>>
Austin Starks
Fast forward a couple of years, and I was pursuing my MS in Software Engineering from Carnegie Mellon, the best school for software engineering and artificial intelligence in the world, according to US News and World Report. My first class was Foundations of Software Engineering, where we learned how to build high-quality software systems in teams. While completing my homework for this class, I had the idea to start building my own trading platform. In fact, I essentially did the homework twice – once for my class project and once for what would eventually become NexusTrade. Read More>>
Christina Rodriguez
Today, I focus on creating engaging content for major brands while balancing life with our four children and husband as we split our time between homes in Johns Creek and Las Vegas. Outside of work, I’m passionate about giving back to the community through coaching basketball and track, and I’ve had the privilege of serving as Board President for the Technology Association of Georgia’s Young Professionals division. Read More>>
Lilly & Bella Benitez
Our creative journey! It all began when Lilly made the bold decision to sell her beloved Apple Watch, a gift from her husband, to buy a used camera from a pawn shop. With her new passion ignited, she started capturing moments for family and friends, quickly discovering her love for photography. Read More>>
Siah Clarke
I am a 24 year old , versatile and creative hair stylist in the vibrant Gwinnett County area. From a young age, I had an eye for beauty and fashion and also passion for transforming hair into works of art. Also making women feel beautiful and more confident within them selves , I went to Keune Academy, where I earned my cosmetology license and honed my skills in cutting, coloring, and styling. Read More>>
Cory Ferris
As fitness does for most, it came in spurts of motivation. After years of hopping on and off the horse I finally dedicated my time to my health. I went back to school to learn more about fitness and overall health and wellness. I was working at Marriott and lost my job in March of 2020. I went through a couple of months of boredom and old habits started creeping their way back in. Read More>>
Soniya Momin
My professional career kicked off early, even before I graduated from college. I was fortunate enough to work with some amazing brands, including Coca-Cola and CNN. My design work eventually transitioned into hospitality, where I had the opportunity to work on large-scale hotel projects like the Westins. Those 10 years in the design industry were filled with amazing experiences, challenges, and personal growth. Read More>>
Andreea Glenney
Soon after, I learnt that Photoshop can take my pictures to a whole different level and I wanted to give it a try. It wasn’t easy, it was intimidating and overwhelming, but I discovered that Youtube has endless videos about everything I wanted to do. With continuous support and encouragement from my husband and my family, I started to share my pictures on line and slowly gaining the confidence that I needed to take clients. Read More>>
Lindsey Bell
In September of 2023, I decided to put all my trust in God & I resigned from my job in the medical field. I only had 4 weddings booked for 2024 at the time but I felt it in my soul that this is what God wanted me to do. So I did it. It is now October of 2024 and I have already photographed 28 weddings this year. Although these numbers may not seem like much to someone else but for me it is a testament of what God did in my life because I trusted him. I still have 9 more weddings to photograph this year & am currently booking for 2025 too. I truly love this life and am so thankful I took the leap when I did. Ephesians 4:1. Read More>>
Nathalia Mosquer
Like many, the business paused during lockdown. With no reason to wear makeup since everything was closed, I found myself focusing more on skincare and haircare. I’ve always loved researching before diving into anything new, and with a history of thyroid issues, cancer, and other health concerns in my family, I ended up going down the “ingredient rabbit hole.” I discovered that around 90% of the products we see on store shelves contain harmful ingredients—endocrine disruptors, potential allergens, carcinogens, and more. Read More>>
Destiny Nwanjo
My name is Destiny Nwanjo, and I’m currently a senior at Dacula High School, where I’ve spent all four years working hard to achieve both academic and athletic success. Born in Decatur, Georgia, and raised in Suwanee and Auburn, GA, I’m also proud of my Nigerian heritage, which has shaped my values and passion for community service. Read More>>
Stacii Lewis
Covid hit us and I couldn’t do motivation speaking anymore, so by 2022 June I decided to try acting out in ATLANTA and from there I knew I found something that I really liked doing and my past didn’t even matter all the film industry was worried about was my work ethic. Now I’m in multiple films from big productions to small productions and in the end I just keep working hard every day and thank GOD for the opportunity of a lifetime turn around and really hope my story can motivate others. It’s never over unless you throw the towel of life in. Read More>>
Sapphire Daniel
One of the biggest challenges has been keeping a steady flow of clients. In an industry like this, especially when you’re new to an area, building a loyal customer base takes time and consistency. There were definitely slow seasons where I questioned if I was doing enough, but I always reminded myself that God is in control. If something went wrong, I took it as a sign to slow down, reflect, and see if I missed a step. Each setback became an opportunity to learn and improve. Read More>>
Sherri Schofield
It’s been an exciting road, but not without its challenges. Like any business owner, I’ve faced my fair share of obstacles. Learning how to manage every aspect of the business while staying true to my passion for providing top-tier cleaning services has been a balancing act. One of the biggest lessons has been mastering operational efficiency—knowing how to streamline processes while maintaining the level of care that Cleaners Confidential is known for. These challenges have made me a better business owner and allowed me to focus on what truly matters: delivering exceptional service to our clients. Read More>>
Melanie Morris
My mission in life is to help underprivileged and underrepresented individuals find their voices and reintegrate into society stronger than before. This is why I founded The First Real Chance Corp., a nonprofit organization dedicated to building strong-minded individuals and guiding them to become their most authentically successful selves. Read More>>
Lena Stevens
I’ve always wanted to do hair. I remember being a little girl and my mother not doing styles i liked, so i decided to take it into my own hands. I would call my older cousin and ask her to walk me through certain styles i wanted to try and just started doing them on myself. In high school i would do some friends hair as well as family friends. I started working a long side a traveling natural hair stylist and was able to learn alot of natural hairstyles. Read More>>
Hea Won Harris
Feeling exhausted and stressed, I knew I needed to make a change. I began cleaning up my diet and soon realized how profoundly what we put into our bodies affects how we feel, both physically and mentally. This shift toward holistic wellness, combined with my passion for health, led me to a bigger idea. Having seen family members struggle with illness, I became even more committed to finding natural ways to heal and thrive. Read More>>
Branden Roane
I’ve always been creative, but there’s something about “the grind” that can almost rob you of the ability to showcase that creativity. Not only school or work, but busying yourself with a different activity or place to go every weekend. It wasn’t until I went through a major break up that I was able to sit and really take account of who *I* was and what I was capable of that I opened my laptop and started to write what will by my first book. Read More>>
Kerry Warren
The biggest obstacle was breaking into the market! I didn’t feel that I was adequate enough, to help tell the stories of other entrepreneurs. I didn’t know how I would be received, and even if I would have a profitable business. The market saturation deterred my initial Investment in the launch of the business. I would talk myself out of doing everything I had planned. The funny thing is that, the more I talked myself out of the idea, the more God would send people my way. It wasn’t necessarily an obstacle or challenge, I just needed to get out of my own way. Read More>>
Darwynn McPherson
Imagine a young child growing up in a broken home, some identify broken homes as home without both parents. Well, I had neither! Most children at least have their mother raising them. My father had moved on and remarried, and my mother was running the streets. Read More>>
Fenell Darlene
Native Atlantan, Fenell “Nell D” Darlene, is a multifaceted creative force. Grew up in Decatur,Georgia raised by Liberian parents and the oldest of three children. Nell’s artistic journey began in elementary school with spoken word and performing arts. At 15, she expanded her talents to journalism, writing for VOX Newspaper in Atlanta. Read More>>
Victoria Ravenell
I originally went to school to become a teacher. After graduating, I taught in elementary schools for about four years. During that time, I often saw students coming to class without the basic necessities yet still being expected to learn. This experience sparked something in me—I wanted to work with youth in a way where I could really understand their needs and support them on a deeper level. That’s when I started exploring opportunities in the nonprofit sector. Read More>>
Trey Shaw
I was a very hyper-active kid in my childhood and I was felt very connected to the physically, athleticism , and overall spectacle display every Friday night as I sat and ate dinner at my favorite spider-man table. I became enamored by stars like Dave Batista, Bobby Lashley, Eddie Guerrero. Much to a point where throughout my entire life no matter what sport I’ve played or career I’ve looked to transition into, I’ve always known my path would lead me to becoming a Professional Wrestler. Now I’m 6 years into my career, consistently learning and being coachable in order to achieve my dream of my art being showcased on a grand scale Read More>>
Kalipop
I started music as a child in Montreal, Quebec. My craft was championed and nurtured by my family. They sensed something special in me early. I worked the Montreal music circuit for many years, meanwhile traveling to the United States during the summers. At 21 I took the leap of faith, and moved to NYC where I worked with countless legends and created my own professional foundation. Read More>>
Kiara Walker
But I also never felt like I was being fulfilled in my professional either. It wasn’t until I was 30 and working a pretty decent paying job but was so burnt out and tired of the daily routine that I started searching for what I’m passionate about and hair just jumped out at me! So I decided to go to back to school at 30 and get my cosmetology license. Since making that decision, my life has shifted in so many ways and I am so grateful for the gift that god blessed me with, because I get to make people feel pretty for a living and it really excites me! I now am a licensed stylist and I work for myself in a fully functional home based salon suite and I love it. Read More>>
Cierra Ramseur
After graduating from the Art Institute of New York City and completing my internship with Derek Lam 10 Crosby in 2016, my journey in the fashion industry began. I started as a Production Assistant at Rashti and Rashti, where my daily tasks involved communicating with overseas vendors, conducting quality inspections, approving fabric colors (TPX), and ensuring accurate sample measurements. Moving forward, my role evolved into that of a Junior Designer, where I conceptualized collection inspirations, created digital CAD illustrations, and developed Techpacks. Read More>>
Chandra Aka “nicki” F.
What sets me apart is my passion for empowering women to embrace their personal style and love for sneakers, regardless of their budget or background. I believe fashion should be fun, not intimidating. My unique blend of affordability, trendiness, and sneaker love has resonated with thousands, making me a go-to source for stylish and budget-friendly inspiration! Read More>>
Dr. Trudy-ann
But in that darkness, I began to rediscover who I truly am. Faith became my anchor, offering guidance and peace. Perseverance helped me bounce back from setbacks and see challenges as opportunities for growth. Most importantly, I realized that my worth wasn’t tied to others’ approval. This realization freed me from the need for external validation and fostered a deep sense of inner confidence. Read More>>
