ATL’s Most Inspiring Stories

The heart of our mission is to find the amazing souls that breathe life into our communities. In the recent weeks, we’ve had the privilege to connect with some incredible artists, creatives, entrepreneurs and rabble rousers and we can’t begin to express how impressed we are with the incredible group below. Check out our favorite stories from across the Voyage family.

Cambria Zyaire

It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. Being a woman in a male-dominated industry comes with its own set of challenges and that’s on top of navigating life, motherhood, and everything in between. I’ve had to make a lot of adjustments along the way, but I’ve embraced the journey. Even when it’s tough, I remind myself it’s all part of the process and it’ll be worth it. Read more>>

NIKKI DUFF

I have always had a love for organization. Growing up my mom was the same way so seeing how she did things made me fall in love with the look of everything having a place from home to office organization. I organized for friends for most of my life at no cost but after being part of a a women’s retreat and taking a course on healing and purpose…Tailor Made Concepts was birthed. I was in denial about it at first because I was like people will NOT pay for this service. All of a sudden when I started getting on social media…all things organization was popping up so I was like OK God…I will take the next steps and do what you’re telling me to do. Read more>>

Ms. Ca$H

Early on, she struggled to get people to take her seriously, facing industry gatekeepers who doubted her skills just because she was a female rapper. Money was tight, too—studio time, beats, and promotion all cost, and without a major label backing her, she had to hustle every dollar. There were moments of doubt, rejection, and even fake friends who switched up when things started looking good. But through it all, she stayed focused, using every setback as motivation. The struggles only made her stronger, shaping the unapologetic, fearless artist she is today. Read more>>

Diego Aristizabal

Seeing how much my clients appreciated my work, I decided to leave the plumbing company and fully dedicate myself to growing my cleaning business. I started securing commercial cleaning contracts, and word of mouth began to spread. Referrals from satisfied clients helped me expand even further. Since mid-2008, I have built a thriving cleaning business, managing seven teams that serve various counties and commercial clients. Read more>>

Carrie Miller

Honestly, most of my struggles come from society’s expectations. This includes trying to conform to what a person at my age should be doing or what it takes to be a “real” filmmaker. Once I started pursuing what I wanted to pursue and work with people that respected me and honored me as a creative individual, everything became smoother. Following my passions at my own pace has done wonders to my creativity. Following through with ideas I have without taking criticisms too personally has given me success. Read more>>

Aaminah Hassan

I co-founded FreeWorld Academy with Zacharias Hassan, also known as ZaRio, a multifaceted artist, entrepreneur, and visionary who’s been equally committed to uplifting our community. He’s someone who’s not only built a name in music and business, but who deeply understands the role culture and creativity play in shaping confident, whole children. Our skill sets and passions are different but deeply aligned and that balance is part of what makes FreeWorld so unique. Read more>>

Jaida Henley

Unfortunately, I’ve been diagnosed with moderate depression and severe anxiety since I was a kid. When I get waves of depression, I isolate and shut down. It’s almost paralytic. My house gets messy, I struggle to walk my dog, and sometimes I even break my own heart by sinking deeper into my problems. I hate it because I always feel guilty for breaking my consistency and having to start over every single time a wave hits. Read more>>

Francisca

It all started during my undergraduate years when I got uninterested in my course of study ( I studied Biology Education at Lagos State University) and I could not drop out because it was not an option for (Education is highly revered in Nigeria) I started watching youtube videos about college life and hairstyle because at that time I transitioned into natural hair and I was deeply in love with haircair. I thought I would go into hair content, so I started watching Nigerian YouTube creators like “Chizi Duru”, Igbo curls (Chinwe Juliet), just because we had similar hair textures.  Read more>>

Zac Harrison

We started hiring folks from the community early on and word spread quickly among our refugee neighbors. It’s exciting to be able to say that roughly 75% of our team originally came to this country as refugees, and Fresh Harvest has been immeasurably impacted for the better by their influence. In fact, we now have a nonprofit arm called Share The Harvest that puts on three weekly subsidized food markets in Clarkston every week. These Share the Harvest markets are supported by the Fresh Harvest community and led by several of our former refugee team members. Read more>>

Teylor Nurse

Starting over in a new place with no familiar faces was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. It was a unique and humbling transition—one filled with growing pains, but also with growth. Those early struggles taught me how to be strong for myself, how to keep going even when it’s uncomfortable, and how to trust that the discomfort was part of something bigger: becoming the woman I’m meant to be Read more>>

Isaac Ricks

I was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago, where food was more than just a meal — it was love, survival, and culture served hot. I grew up watching my Aunt Lula and other family members cook from the heart. Their kitchens were classrooms, and I was always front row. I’d watch them season without measuring, taste with intention, and feed people like it was a ministry. That’s where the seed was planted. Read more>>

Cianah

As my audience grew, I began leaning into the business side of content creation — partnering with brands, landing sponsorships, and building multiple income streams. That inspired me to launch my own digital products on Etsy, like flyers, eBook templates, and social media kits to help other creators and entrepreneurs show up professionally online. Now, I use my platform not just to entertain, but to empower others to turn their content into income. I’ve learned so much along the way and I’m still evolving — but I’m grateful for where I am and excited about what’s next. Read more>>

Ericka Blount

My favorite verse in the Bible is Proverbs 22:1; it reads, “A good name is more desirable than great riches; to be esteemed is better than silver or gold.” I was born and raised in Georgia and my last name is everything. In Georgia, I established myself and my brand as an entrepreneur, educator, community activist and more. A few years ago, I moved to Texas and came to realize I needed to rebuild my brand because no one was familiar with my passion. I had not established myself as I did in Atlanta. After moving here, I launched a delicate mental journey, establishing my passion using my name as a brand in Texas. Read more>>

Cassandra Clarke

I’ve always been drawn to all things creative—photography, fashion, music, dance, videography, and acting.I dabble in a bit of everything, which probably explains why I can be a little indecisive at times. But at the core of it all, I’m a dancer. I love whining my waist or “gouyad”,that’s mostly what I’m known for. Read more>>

Travis Toebben

I went to Tri-cities Highschool and I started to recording music seriously at the age of 14 and would sell my mixtapes around the school. After graduation I took a music hiatus and picked up a camera. From there I became successful at shooting music videos for local artists which led to me traveling and working with big names like, Jack Daniels, Pastor Troy, Parlae, Young Ralph, AB, OJ daJuiceman, and many more. Over the past 2 years I slowly fell back in love with creating music and I just released my “Debut” album titled “Old Atlanta”. I now aspire to be one of the first music video directors who is simultaneously a successful rapper. Read more>>

Akeem Williams

After post-grad, not landing a job in my field hit me harder than I ever expected. Not being able to be helped with your sincerely need it, and watching others advance further than me, got to me. I honestly felt like I had to nothing, no skill set or direction. It weighed on me with heavy moments of doubt, loneliness, and feeling stuck started to creep in. There were nights where the silence was loud, and the fear of being left behind haunted me. Sometimes, even now, those memories find their way back in. Read more>>.

Regine Antoine

But what truly inspired this movement was my own circle of women. My friends who I lovingly call my girlfriends have been the backbone of my strength. Many of them are people who started out as strangers and became family. Through my hardest moments, they have shown up, supported me, and loved me through it all. That level of friendship changed my life, and it made me realize something powerful: every woman deserves to feel that. Read more>>

Talie

Additionally, I’ve encountered obstacles with individuals who promised to support my growth but ultimately failed to deliver on their commitments. These broken promises, particularly from those who claimed to be more established or influential than they really were, resulted in wasted time and energy. However, these experiences have taught me to be more discerning when choosing collaborators and partners. They’ve also fueled my drive to stay focused on my craft and ensure that I maintain control over my career’s direction. Read more>>

Maggie Thornton

He inspired me to create a podcast channel called Atlanta Falcons Nation, which was officially established in July 2020. With the launch, we became the Voice Of The Fans. Now we are watched in living rooms across the world. Interviews from legendary former Falcons athletes, beat writers, content creators, super fans, and journalists. We now also host various watch parties, and our Annual Red And Black Event, which is a pep rally/slash party before the season starts. This is an appreciation celebration for our viewers, as we give back, which includes donations towards The AFN Educators Fund. This fund supplies supplies and resources to our teacher’s classrooms. Read more>>

Dymaund Farmer

As I got into high school, my focus shifted a bit. I wasn’t editing as much, but I still kept my creative spark alive by making YouTube channel intros. It wasn’t until college that I truly realized the extent of my talent. I began applying to various campus organizations as a graphic designer, and eventually, the Xavier Activities Board gave me my first real opportunity. Read more>>

Tracey Morrison

My consistency and a push from that same friend got me to where I’m at now. She had reached out to me to cover her story. I told her that I wanted to wait for the right time to get the site officially ready (add more articles to write on the site) and wanted to throw a big celebration. She got on me and told me that I’m going to be writing forever and pushed me just to get the story out there. I was reluctant but took heed of her advice by publishing her story on the site, which got a lot of views. I then got my business social media page started by adding her story content to my social media page. Read more>>

Jorden Elebor

Since childhood I’ve had to deal with a family ripe with mental illness, financial illiteracy, illegal activities, and drug use, but I did what I could to make things work regardless. Thanks to my mother, who spent most of her time educating me on reading, writing, and cognition, I was able to move far ahead other students my age. Whenever I wasn’t writing a new chapter of a story or doodling a new comic strip, I would sit down and teach myself game development on the family computer. Adults were “generally” fascinated with me- especially the coworkers of my parents who would hear about my latest achievements for the fifteenth time that week. Read more>>

Alex Foltz

The goal is to make my art feel alive, like it could breathe or walk off the canvas. It’s an impossible goal, and I think that’s what makes it work. I’ll never accomplish what i set out for, but I can approach it and strive for it, and interpret it in many different ways, which means that I can work toward it indefinitely. I think that should be every creators ultimate goal, to try to achieve something impossible and to always look for ways to get better. Read more>>

Lauren Finney Harden

I’ll never forget what I was wearing—a white suit and hot pink button-down. Hilarious to think of now. But I got the internship, which led to an almost 10-year career in women’s magazines and fashion in NYC. I got to do all the really fun things little girls dream about, such as sitting front row at fashion shows and being on set for covers with the Gossip Girl cast and Lady Gaga, among others. It was so much fun and a ton of hard work. I did fashion editor work, personal and editorial styling, worked at big fashion companies like Sam Edelman and LOFT, and was the senior fashion editor for magazines like Ocean Drive and Hamptons. New York shapes you in ways you couldn’t believe unless you’ve done it. It absolutely inspired my work ethic and is the reason I can say I’m now a lifestyle expert, exposed to as many things as I was back then. But the adage is true. You have to leave before it makes you too hard. Read more>>

Dr. Deborah Johnson-Blake

With every talk, my confidence grew. I practiced until my voice felt natural and my words carried weight. Many leaders will recognize this journey. By embracing the podium, I boosted my brand’s visibility and unlocked new doors—local boards, regional councils, national committees, even international forums. Chambers of commerce, universities, and community groups invited me to lead. My resolve turned fear into strength. Today, as a best‑selling author, award‑winning professor, and 2021 American Business Woman of the Year, I serve with both pride and humility. Read more>>

Akina Smith

As I kept practicing, my skills improved and my passion for documenting meaningful moments only grew stronger. I started watching tutorials, learning how to use lighting and angles, and experimenting with editing styles to bring my vision to life. By the end of the year, I was proud to receive a 4 on my AP Art portfolio and to have my work shown in art shows. I found so much joy in storytelling through images that I realized I wanted to turn this passion into something bigger; my own photography business. Read more>>

Andy Palermo

One fateful afternoon, I found out that there was a “For Lease” sign in the window of one of the most iconic buildings in downtown Canton. The Historic Jones Building was under renovation. I decided to make a call to learn about the space and see what was happening, I had the pleasure of being introduced to the developers of the building and we shared a mutual interest in the opportunity. They offered to help along the way with their team of architects, designers and builders. It quickly turned into a deal too good to pass up. While we weren’t totally convinced that we were ready, we decided to put ourselves out there and take the risk and bet on ourselves. Read more>>

Brionna Anderson

The transition wasn’t easy. I didn’t know anyone and had to start completely from scratch. To get my name out, I started working in the nightlife scene, promoting my business and networking. Once I realized how vibrant Atlanta’s party culture was, I began styling hair for bottle girls and influencers I met. That opened so many doors for me, and referrals started flowing in. Since then, I’ve been able to grow my brand and client base in a new city, proving to myself that I could thrive outside of what I was used to. It’s been a wild ride—but I wouldn’t change a thing. Read more>>

Kari Culberson

In 2023, as my youngest was heading off to preK, I invested back into my design business and have now expanded into what is now House Marais Interiors Workroom. I operate as a full service drapery workroom & textile design studio. I work with other interior designers to fabricate drapery, roman shades, cushions, pillows, and bedding for their clients. I really love working with fabric and getting to collaborate with other designers to create beautiful spaces is what I am most passionate about. I now work with several interior designers and their clients throughout Atlanta as well as teach my processes to other aspiring workrooms. I have also just finished my first semester teaching Digital Textiles at Georgia State. Read more>>

Kimberlyé McKinney

You have children and you slow down a little bit and never lost a desire to perform as a result in 2009, I created my first band with an ex spouse and finally a formed KJJM Media,, and Kimistry Music. I look back and I can recall my mother named me, Kimberlyé, Patrice with the middle name Patrice, who at the time was the hottest female musician dominating the music charts, keyboardist, songwriter, composer, and arranger Patrice Rushen. And as it comes to my surprise, I am doing the same. I am also a songwriter composer, arranger, and producer; most of which took place at the age of 11. It’s so important how your parents can shape your life without even knowing it. Read more>>

Tanjuria Willis

I wanted to change that narrative. My goal was to raise awareness about the hidden impact of clothing, introduce consumers to eco-friendly, small-batch designers, and offer real solutions for making more environmentally responsible choices. I also wanted to show that sustainable fashion can be sexy, stylish, and modern—while staying authentic to its mission. Education is a key part of this, helping people make small, incremental changes toward living more sustainably. Read more>>

Raven Beard

My name is Raven and I mostly go by my nickname Rae. I’m an Atlanta native, born and raised in Decatur, Ga. I have always been interested in the arts, drawings, paintings, museums, and sculptures, but never recognized my own crafts. Eight years ago I decided to pick up a vintage camera and began shooting. I loved the idea of capturing an image in time, creating a memory. December 2016, I purchased my camera and haven’t put it down since. I love meeting new people and collaborating with different creatives in Atlanta. What started out as a hobby has become my newfound love and passion. I’m loving this new journey that I’m on and I can’t wait to share my gifts with the world. Read more>>

Kenneth Vasquez

Now, with over a decade of creative experience, iDaydream Studios is a content powerhouse working with celebrities, government leaders, churches and brands across industries. Known for producing high-level video content, social media reels, podcasts, events and educational courses, Kenneth built his company on authenticity, storytelling, and a deep love for the culture.He’s just as focused on building a legacy as he is on scaling a business. Blending strategy and heart, creativity and clarity, forming a vision-driven brand that’s rooted in faith, family, and forward motion. Read more>>

Britney Harris

I knew that in order for my career to be worthwhile, it had to be purposeful, flexible, and offer uncapped growth. Real estate is all of those things, plus many more! What I love about the real estate industry is that if you’re a hungry, highly-skilled agent who’s ready to put in the necessary work…there’s a seat for you at the table and success will come. It still blows my mind that my job is to help my clients fulfill their dream of homeownership, and all of the added benefits that come with that. I love what I do and I’m grateful to get to do it! Read more>>

Xeron Pledger

Much of our recent work has centered around supporting high school athletes—male and female from volleyball to baseball. However, this program is not just for athletes, just as it wasn’t solely for performing artists in the beginning. Example, I have been working to expand an athletic ministry at The Greater Piney Grove Church in Atlanta. In a nutshell, i know that creating hope and being a hand up and not a hand out to people is my purpose. So I simply go where God calls me and He always cuts off the branches that don’t bare fruit. Read more>>

Kristina Wynn

The road has different been rocky. This industry is tough, and you REALLY have to know who you are, what you want, and how you want to get it. There’s been plenty of times where I’ve been super discouraged, disappointed. You hear so many times you’re “DOPE”, but “Dope’’ is NOT good enough! You wonder when it’s going to be your turn a lot. But you HAVE to have faith in Divine Timing & DONT STOP. Read more>>

Alexis Long

Honestly, it’s been a pretty smooth road so far. Of course, every event comes with its own little challenges, like trying to find the perfect table centerpieces on a super tight budget or coming up with a bunch of event theme ideas and the client not really loving any of them. But I wouldn’t say it’s been anything terrible. Every time I hit a bump, I just figure out a better way to handle it next time. Read more>>

Monique Russell

I officially stepped into entrepreneurship over a decade ago, founding Clear Communication Solutions to help high-performing leaders and global organizations communicate with power, purpose, and emotional awareness. I started with small workshops and consulting sessions, then grew into global keynotes, executive coaching, and transformational leadership programs across the U.S., Africa, the Caribbean, and the Middle East. Read more>>

Paris Landon

My journey with coffee began in 2015, rooted in the culture I grew up with in Seattle, Washington—where coffee is more than just a drink; it’s a daily ritual and a way to connect with others. I started by learning the craft of roasting, working alongside my family to create small-batch, high-quality coffee and deliver it locally. As we honed our skills, our reach grew—we began serving churches, schools, and neighborhood cafés, always focused on building community through great coffee. Read more>>

Katie Lynn & Laura Grace Sears

We’re twin sisters, and we’ve been creative collaborators since we were kids. After studying at Georgia Tech, we found ourselves in some “trial period” contract jobs that, frankly, weren’t it. We were lucky enough to find ourselves surrounded by women who ran their own businesses. Watching them made it all seem possible — like entrepreneurship wasn’t some far-off idea, but something we could actually do ourselves. Read more>>

Rebecca And Jonny Raymer

We are also at an age where planning for retirement is crucial, and we have not been able to do that. We have been through so much over our lifetime of years together and feel it is now or never, and we aren’t “never” kind of people. We started this business with very little capital, but a tremendous amount of experience and passion not only for making our lives better, but for offering the simple comfort of bread to so many who do not have access to it for the same reasons I don”t. There are endless stressors to starting any business, but this is our business, and each ounce of stress is mitigated by a pound of excitement and hopefulness about our future. Read more>>

Joseph Lopez

My journey started with a deep love for music and sound. Growing up, I was always experimenting—writing, producing, and performing wherever I could. That passion led me to pursue a formal education at Full Sail University, where I sharpened my skills in music production, engineering, and audio technology. From there, I jumped straight into the professional world, landing a role with ESPN where I had the privilege of mixing audio for flagship shows like SportsCenter, The NBA Draft Lottery, and Baseball Tonight. Being part of the Emmy-winning SportsCenter team was a major milestone in my early career. Read more>>

Ariana Torres

Everything started long time ago when I was studying hospitality at Universidad Mondragon Mexico, there was when I realized I enjoy bringing to life others dreams. Just listening to people describing their perfect moment, event, party, etc. and imagining how could I make it possible, brings me so much joy. Read more>>

Lindsay Ann Minix

As a young adult, massage therapy and other modalities of body work had always intrigued me. I knew that I was being led to a career that helped people heal- physically, mentally and spiritually. Creating a safe space for people to connect with themselves and their bodies felt naturally in line with my life path. Read more>>

Antonio Anderson

Christian Anderson who is the Digital Director for the company is inspirational with all video production and some website creations. Last but not least my Daughter is part of my modeling team for most print material. My mother and father has always been there with there support and I do have some ANGLES that are not seen. My biggest challenge I must say is how can we partner with a big company that is currently in this space that can see there is a major market for an upscale christian clothing brand that has the right messaging that everyone can feel and gravitate to and they can catch the GODDID vision. Read more>>

Ni’cola Mitchell

I’ve been honored with the L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth award, multiple Presidential Lifetime Achievement Awards, and even had my story brought to life in a Lifetime movie, Giving Hope: The Ni’Cola Mitchell Story. But my biggest accomplishment is watching our girls thrive—seeing them beat the odds, return to school, launch businesses, and rise into the women they were destined to be. Read more>>

Danielle Wilson

I grew up fascinated by the simple beauty that surrounds us every day. I started trying to capture the beauty I found in various landscapes—the simplicity of God’s handiwork. I found the harmony between the animals and their surroundings to be the definition of beauty. I guess it could be described as spiritual in a way. So, I set out with my little Fuji camera to capture that essence in a photo. Spending long hours sitting in the woods behind my grandparents’ farm, I attempted to blend with nature and capture the world around me. Read more>>

Kyra King

The Topnotch Experience is a Georgia-based brand dedicated to supporting cheerleaders and aspiring athletes through valuable tips, resources, and hands-on training. We offer clinics, camps, and private lessons for teams and individuals at all levels. Specializing in both Stomp N’ Shake and traditional technical cheer, we also provide focused sessions on tumbling, stunts, and jumps. Our services are budget-friendly, and we proudly travel nationwide to work with teams wherever they are. We provide a fun and unique experience that you can’t find anywhere else! Read more>>

Ashlea Wyzard

That pivotal moment transformed not just my career—but also my purpose. It revealed my love for the art of hair and makeup and how beauty could empower others. I’m known for blending traditional and contemporary elements, crafting looks that are both timeless and on-trend. My attention to detail and commitment to understanding each client’s unique vision set me apart. I don’t just apply makeup or style hair—I create personal statements that reflect each individual’s beauty. Read more>>

Jay Patel

If you truly know me, the only Indian thing about me is the food! I have been the default grill guy dating back to college and have had a lot of fun hosting cookouts and BBQ’s at my home. Ironically, I was raised a vegetarian since my parents are Hindu and I never ate meat growing up — that was until a high school football team dinner. Before every day we had a team meal and during one of these times I opted for chili which in the past was vegetarian. Something about this chili was different (in a great way!) and my teammate told me it had beef in it. Let me tell you, that was the BEST chili I had ever eaten. With that instance, I started eating meat behind my parents back and soon realized all of the deliciousness I had been missing out on. For those interested, I did end up telling my parents that I eat meat and they are (now) fully supportive. Read More>>