Portraits of Atlanta

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.

Diana Korir

Today, as the founder of Rannd Consultants, a Greater Atlanta–based digital marketing firm, we partner with small business owners and professionals to transform startups into recognizable brands. Guided by her philosophy, “Do it excellently or not at all,” we help businesses master systems through website design, social media management, and brand marketing. Read more>>

Sabrina Mayo Monique Mincey

Sabrina’s response: Six years ago, I visited my mother in California. She let me know that her brain is not working right and she is moving to Georgia with me, and gave me orders to find her a place to stay where she can maintain her independence. Read more>>

Renee’ Bumpus

The Bumpi Group LLC was established in 2014, built on a strong foundation of experience in the business and hospitality industry. With over 30 years of combined expertise in Business Development, Marketing, Sales, Human Resources, Corporate Training, Operations Management, and Event Planning, the company was created to help organizations strengthen their brand presence, improve operations, and achieve sustainable growth. Read more>>

Joana Pratt López

My career began in Colombia, my birthplace, where I studied theater at art school since I was a child, eventually specializing in set design. Read more>>

Stephanie Simmons-Cole

In January of 1988, I lost a childhood friend to suicide, and that was when I decided that I would ‘save’ as many adolescents as possible. After working a series of unfulfilling corporate jobs in the airline and finance industries, I went back to school at age 30 and got my Master’s Degree in Clinical Counseling. Read more>>

Karen Herrera

I have been around sports my entire life, mainly soccer. I have 2 beautiful children, Anthony, 17, and Victoria, 15. They have both been involved in sports growing up as well. As all athletes, they have both gone through different sports-related injuries. Anthony has had the majority of injuries due to higher level sports competition. Read more>>

Scott Robison

My Journey into the Home Service Industry My journey into the home service industry began unexpectedly after being laid off in 2008. At the time, I had spent ten years in the insurance world as a Customer Service Rep, Sales Rep, and eventually an Account Manager. Insurance was never my passion—it was simply a career that paid the bills. Read more>>

Edi Picon Finamore

Funny how the best adventures happen when you aren’t planning them! I was a Spanish teacher and loving every minute of it. One day a student said, ‘all this language acquisition and nowhere to use it’. ‘Take us somewhere where we can practice’. Read more>>

Omegia Keeys

My love for filmmaking started at a very early age. I used to put on full productions for my family, but it wasn’t something that I thought of outside of providing entertainment while snowed in. It wasn’t until I recreated some of our training videos for the military that I thought wow that’s something I’d like to do. Read more>>

Mehak Merchant (MS, APC, NCC)

I’ve always been fascinated by people’s stories, how they make meaning, how they heal, and how they navigate the world around them. This curiosity led me to an unconventional but meaningful path. Read more>>

Rheitta Ohene Amoako

Edible Education started as one of the after school clubs at Learning Hive Learning Hive was established in 2013 offering early learning, preschool, afterschool and summer camp enrichment for school age children. The core of the Learning Hive curriculum has always been a focus on hands-on learning experiences for children. Cooking and more recently gardening are incorporated into the activities at the centers. Read more>>

Michael bailey

After a 15-year career teaching high school and college literature in Clayton and South Fulton County I decided I needed a career change. I researched all the great opportunities the Atlanta Market offers and decided that real estate was a good choice based on income potential, flexibility, growth potential as well as personal freedom. Read more>>

Bucci

I started writing rhymes, poems, stories, raps, as young as 5, and recorded songs regularly by 12, and never stopped. I had a family full of musicians, pianists, drummers, singers, guitarists, etc., as well as athletes. I started with piano, then guitar. Music was an outlet earlier in life, just like sports. Read more>>

China Cardriche-Clements

My story starts right here in South Cobb, where I was raised. I’m a proud graduate of the same community I now serve — and I know firsthand both the beauty and the barriers our students face. Growing up, education changed the trajectory of my life. Read more>>

Shelia Matthews

How Culture Pro Began The inspiration for Culture Pro came from my years working for large corporations, and then eventually with startups. I’ve helped hundreds of entrepreneurs solve their toughest people and operational challenges, everything from hiring and culture clashes to communication breakdowns and leadership growing pains. Read more>>

Alexis Jones

I’ve always had a passion for entrepreneurship and the beauty of new things. I am the oddball who will talk to a store employee and try to figure out how the company started, who owns it, and where did they begin because the essence of a new thing makes me really excited but excitement is not merely enough to sustain a vision. Read more>>

Erica Holcomb

My journey with Agape Arts Drama Club began with a simple passion for the arts and a belief that everyone deserves a safe space to express themselves creatively. I wasn’t introduced to the arts until high school, when I took a chance and signed up for a drama elective. I was extremely shy at the time, but that one decision completely changed my life. Read more>>

ShaMeeka Campbell

I’m originally from Flint, Michigan — a city full of strength, but also struggle. Growing up where crime was high and graduation and college degree rates were low, the odds were definitely stacked against me. Read more>>

Brett Benton

From Grass to Greatness: Building Backyard Dreams Out of a Pandemic The Spark Sometimes the greatest journeys begin with a nudge. For me, it came from my wife, Brandi, during one of the most uncertain times in recent history: Covid. While the world shut down and routines unraveled, Brandi saw an opportunity. Read more>>

Victor Nunez

I began my career as a CPA in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, more than 35 years ago at a prestigious international public accounting firm. I was later transferred to Caracas, where I have further developed my professional career, reaching the highest level as a partner in the audit division. Read more>>

Kris & Michelle Dunbar

It has always been Kris’ dream to own his own bicycle shop. Back in 2008 Kris and I met through our children, and we became good friends. My background was business, and so when he told me about wanting his shop, I told him that I could help him with the business paperwork like business license and incorporating his business. Read more>>

Brittany Mott

Aijalon Amaree Aesthetics was established in 2021. My career journey began with a different vision. I obtained my bachelor’s degree in May 2015 with the initial hope of working in the medical field. However, I soon realized my personality thrives in an environment that blends client care with creative entrepreneurship. Read more>>

Desireé Harper

Respect for craftsmanship has always been part of my nature. For a time, my family lived among the Amish. Their way of life revealed how purpose, patience, and precision could elevate the simplest materials into something enduring. That sense of honesty and restraint shaped the way I see beauty — grounded, deliberate, and made to last. Read more>>

Westly François

I was born to Haitian immigrant parents and raised by a strong single mother, along with my two brothers. Life wasn’t always easy. I saw my mom sacrifice and push through struggles that most people will never know about. Watching her work so hard just to make sure we had what we needed taught me resilience and gave me a deep appreciation for perseverance. Read more>>

Semeka Samuels

Semeka Samuels’ journey began in the classroom. As a teacher, she saw firsthand students’ brilliance and the challenges teachers faced in meeting their needs. From early childhood to high school and eventually as an assistant principal at a large Georgia high school, Semeka built her career on one central belief: every student deserves teachers who feel supported, prepared, and empowered to do their best work. Read more>>

Nathan Patterson

I didn’t grow up dreaming of becoming a business coach. In fact, my story starts with a broom in my hand. At 11 years old, I became a janitor for a small Christian homeschool where my mom was the director of facilities. Read more>>

Baheejah Rasheed

I started The Baby Whispering Doula out of my deep passion for supporting families. During one of the most transformative moments of their lives. As a Labor and Delivery Nurse I witnessed first hand the impact, that compassionate personalized care can have. Read more>>

Arno Ma

Anytime I tell people that I’m a hypnotherapist, the response I always get is ‘Does it actually work?’ It’s funny, because the first time I heard about hypnosis, I was skeptical as well. Growing up, I associated hypnosis with magic; I thought it was just something used on stage as a form of entertainment… that it wasn’t real. Read more>>

Jackson Usoro

Elevotix was initially founded with three partners. The CEO Jesse Bray approached me with an opportunity to create value in the real estate marketplace through a mutual friend and co founder. We had a rough run getting started and learning early on that business like any thing else worth doing is unpredictable. Read more>>

Austin Grigg

My fascination with technology started young. I vividly remember campaigning for my parents to buy our first family computer right when they became available. That initial curiosity quickly turned into a passion. In high school, I began building websites and fell in love with the idea of solving real-world problems with software. Read more>>

Tom Larimer

Larimer Design was born from a simple idea: sports architecture should do more than meet technical standards — it should bring people together and make the game feel alive. After years of leading projects in San Diego, I founded the firm to focus on the gameday experience, designing high-performance venues for Major and Minor League Baseball, USL, the NFL, and collegiate and municipal sports. Read more>>

Einat Shinar

When I turned 40, my health started to shift in ways I couldn’t ignore. I gained nearly 40 pounds, felt exhausted, inflamed, and disconnected from myself. I tried several weight-loss programs, but the results never lasted. Each time I stopped following them perfectly, the weight came back, leaving me even more frustrated. Read more>>

Kendra Dunagan

I’ve have always loved being around people. Hosting, planning, and making events special is something that’s always come natural to me. That’s really how Dunagan Hills came to life. I wanted a place where others could celebrate and make memories, too. It’s been such a fun journey turning something I love into what we have today Read more>>

Shanique Lovelace

Sundays were baking days with my mom, throughout my childhood. This continued throughout my life, into adulthood where I took over & began baking for family and friends, sending treats to their workplace, as a surprise. After years of causally baking, I chose to make it a business, as I was often asked to bake. Read more>>

Atlanta Feldenkrais

Atlanta Feldenkrais: husband-wife team, Ravi Prabhakar & Aruna Padmanabhan Ravi: I came across the Feldenkrais Method® when I was looking for ways to avoid sports related injuries. I am an avid tennis player and in 2009 I hurt my shoulder while doing a tennis serve. Read more>>

Inna Milter

Originally from Lithuania, my journey into baking was an unexpected but deeply rewarding evolution of a lifelong passion for cooking. While I had always enjoyed preparing meals for family and friends, I had never considered a career as a baker. That changed when a free web seminar on cake-making caught my attention. Read more>>

Shameka Landers

I became a mother at 15. By the age of 19, I had two children, and by 21, I was raising three. My journey into accounting began at 19 when I started preparing tax returns for myself and family members while attending college. In 2007, I moved to Georgia with my best friend and began working in the accounting department of a law firm. Read more>>

Britney Ledford

In 2012 I graduated from the University of Alabama at Birmingham with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and moved to Atlanta to begin the Marriage and Family Therapy program at Mercer University. Read more>>

Henley Cook

I studied fashion in college and worked in related industries for a few years after graduation. I realized during that time that a core part of my identity was helping people and that I would need to incorporate that into my professional life to have a fulfilling career. Read more>>

Nancy Masoud

Nancy Masoud, with twenty plus years of experience as a metabolic specialist, nutrition counseling, and weight loss, established LockedIN Wellness in 2014. Her drive is to provide a unique path to wellness by focusing on finding the root cause for issues such as weight gain and lack of energy. Read more>>

Pamela Cooper

I grew up in Clayton County, and ever since middle school, I’ve always had a natural drive to hustle and create opportunities for myself. My mother didn’t always have much, but I never liked feeling defeated—or seeing others around me in that position. That mindset pushed me to find creative ways to earn money, starting with selling snacks. Read more>>

Pink the Wordsmith

My story starts in 2022 when I made the decision to attend Oglethorpe University as a Communication Studies Major. That fall is where I met Jaidyn Carter (dj glassheart) in Intro to Digital Photography. From there we built a bond based off mutual respect and the love of art. We weren’t close at first kept in contact. Read more>>

Tara Jackson

My name is Tara J music and entertainment entrepreneur. I am from Garfield Neighborhood in Pittsburgh, PA. I started in the music business back in 2009 when I use to write, record and perform my own music. Read more>>

Jae Vinson

Design OCD, LLC was founded by Jae Vinson. Jae comes from a family of creatives with a mother that is also an Interior Designer. In the early stages of Jae’s career, she found blogging to be a way of unleashing her passion and creativity for design projects, decorating endeavors, and home improvement escapades. Inspired by Deborah Needleman’s words, “Decoration can be life-enhancing. Read more>>

Phil Beniamino

Well, I started as a young boy growing up in a small town in upstate NY called Geneva. Having no water as a child taught me how important the little things are in life that we take for granted.  Read more>>

DJ Khaleesi

The shorty story is, I’ve always loved music. From chorus, to band, to high-school DJ, to mixtape curator to dancer to DJ was my progression if you were to put it on a graph. Read more>>

Kaitlynn Kressin

My journey started with a deep love for community and a belief that small businesses are the heartbeat of every great city. During my time at Mercer University, I saw incredible potential in our downtown — beautiful historic buildings, passionate people, and a growing creative energy. I wanted to be part of shaping that growth in a meaningful way. Read more>>

Shane Hendricks

From Firefighting to RV Adventures – We’re Here to Help You Hit the Road with Confidence! As a full-time firefighter and passionate RV family, we’ve traveled across the country several times — and we know the RV lifestyle inside and out. But after seeing too many RV buyers make costly mistakes due to lack of guidance, we knew we had to step in. Read more>>

Aaron Wright

I started my journey as a substitute teacher in the public school system and was struck by the evident need for more men in education. This realization motivated me to take action, leading me to establish my own homeschool. Read more>>

Stella Harris

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. After graduating from college, I worked in various sales roles—primarily with Fortune 5 companies—because the benefits were excellent, and sales came naturally to me. I genuinely enjoy meeting new people and building lasting relationships. In my free time, I’ve always loved watching shows about homes—HGTV has long been my favorite channel. Read more>>

Christy Burkett

After undergrad, I found myself working as a realtor. It paid the bills comfortably, but something was missing. The part I enjoyed most was building relationships, but overall the work didn’t feel deeply fulfilling. Then, after five years in real estate, 9/11 happened. Read more>>

Jana Bitton

Perry Price Interiors was born out of friendship and a lot of time spent at the baseball fields with our kids. We first met through a mutual friend, but really connected during countless hours cheering on our boys at their games. Read more>>

Bryan Coleman

I was born and raised in Detroit but have lived in Atlanta for 22 years I truly can’t believe it’s been that long lol. But I have been raised in the church from the womb. Read more>>

Drusilla Gibbs

I started off as a Kennel tech and worked my way up to being a vet tech. From there, a receptionist friend of mine started recommending me to clients who didn’t want to board their pups, with the blessing of the practice owner. I had been working for another pet sitting company doing visits and so had gotten my feet wet a little. Read more>>

Regina Mandell

We both have long histories working in the service industry. Most recently, Matt owned a cocktail bar for 10 years and Regina previously operated her own clothing boutique, so the idea for a bottle shop came about naturally from those two experiences. Read more>>

Daphney Louis

My story began over 20 years ago with a passion for creating logos and flyers, but it truly started to take shape about a decade ago when I opened my first LLC in Florida. I’ve always been the go-to person for organizing, problem-solving, and bringing ideas to life. Read more>>

La’Nisha Rene

From Corporate Climb to Community Catalyst: The Story Behind LR Consulting Firm! For over 17 years, La’Nisha Rene thrived in corporate America — leading teams, driving results, and breaking barriers. Her career was defined by structure, deadlines, and measurable success. But everything shifted the moment La’Nisha Rene became a mother. Motherhood didn’t just change her schedule — it changed her purpose. Read more>>

Saint Williams

My name is Rah’Mere Williams but I go by Saint. My story started in 2018. I was on the edge almost homeless, angry, lost but still chasing a feeling. Not fame. Not money. Just the desire to create something that meant something. I’m from Vineland, New Jersey. Fifteen years in foster care taught me how to adapt, how to see the world differently. Read more>>

Tomas Frenes

Son of immigrant Cuban parent .My love for music, art, and storytelling shaped every moment. Creativity wasn’t something I learned — it was in the air I breathe . After moving to New York at a young age , I began my career under Gianni Versace, an experience that forever influenced how I see luxury, craftsmanship, and emotional storytelling in design. Read more>>

Angela Johnson

I served in the U.S. Navy and after completing my service, I was a legal secretary for 10 years in San Diego, CA and in Atlanta Georgia over 22 years. After living in Atlanta for over 20 years, my best friend and ride or die (my husband of 32 years was suddenly diagnosed with a rare terminal cancer). Read more>>

Queen Thornton

The Queen of Coverage “Don’t settle for the environment you were given. Create the environment you want.” Brittney ‘Queen’ Thornton is a multi-talented and multifaceted military brat born in Ft. Hood, Texas. During her early childhood she spent years in Germany and back home in the south. Read more>>

Stephanie Bloop

My name is Stephanie Bloop, the creative alias I go by online and in my work. Off the mic, many know me as Stephanie Burke, but at the core I’m one woman living out a Full Circle story. I was born and raised in Bainbridge, Georgia—straight out of Decatur County. Read more>>

Jonas Thomas

I have shot over 2500 homes in my 7 year plus years of doing real estate photography, from small condos to 45 million dollar estates. I offer photos, drone, video floor plans , whatever realtors need to market their properties. I have shot commerical buildings, air bnb , personal homes and of course thousands of listings for realtors and more. Read more>>

Alexa Clarke

I found my passion for the Hair industry at a young age of 16. I started Cosmetology School at the age of 17 right out of high school. I was working full-time in the salon by 18, and fell in love with my job. A couple years after working for a company I decided it was time to work for myself. Read more>>

Ja’Rory Purnell

Before going to college in Atlanta (Morehouse College) it all started in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I started my journey by saving up money one summer and investing in a heat press and vinyl cutter. At first, I made AAU shirts for my high school and local teams. As word spread, I expanded into creating warm-up shirts for AAU programs across different schools. Read more>>

Angel White

Well I was born in the small town of Xenia, Ohio and moved to Georgia with my family when I was in the fifth grade. Although I love my home state, I truly consider myself a “Georgia Peach” and enjoy southern hospitality. I finished middle and high school in the Dekalb County school system and attended college at Mercer University in Macon, GA. Read more>>

Rae Broyles

I am from a long line of painters, musicians and artisans. My father was an illustrator in the 1950s who studied with Norman Rockwell. He then opened a commercial art studio/ad agency in Chicago where I assisted him with many projects. I studied illustration and painting at Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, RI. Read more>>

Chrystal Gammon

I began my medical career in 2008 as a Registered Nurse, and very early on, I developed a deep love and compassion for caring for others. In 2015, I returned to school to complete my Bachelor of Science in Nursing while gaining diverse experience across hospital settings — from medical-surgical and emergency departments to eventually serving as a hospital supervisor. Read more>>

Orinthia Carter

My journey began in Jamaica, where fashion was woven into the fabric of my family’s legacy. I grew up surrounded by the hum of sewing machines and the artistry of tailoring — my great-grandmother was a seamstress, my grandfather opened one of the first tailor shops in our community, and my mother carried that craft forward. Read more>>

Brian McGuire

I’m Brian McGuire — the “B” in B. McGuire Marketing. At heart, I’ve always been a storyteller and a creative. Over the years I built a corporate marketing career around one core skill: taking almost any subject and weaving a go-to-market story that resonated. Read more>>

Julianne Merritt

From the moment I learned that teaching piano was a job, I knew it would be my job one day. As a child, I would draw blueprints of my future music school, and I even enlisted my uncle to do landscaping one day. Read more>>

cesar hernandez

My story started with a dream to bring the authentic street flavors of Oaxaca, Mexico to the city. I felt there was a missing piece, something that truly captured that street feel. What began as one spot has now grown into three locations one in the Lawrenceville area, second in Chamblee, and last in Chamblee/Dunwoody area, each staying true to those roots. Read more>>

Linz Prag

My journey started back in Charlottesville, Virginia, where my love for music turned into a real passion for sound. I began producing and DJing locally, experimenting with different styles until I found my lane blending EDM, synthwave, hip-hop, and modern production. Read more>>

Spirit BUTTERFLY

I am a Bronx, New York-born and Atlanta raised Natural Hair-Care Specialist, Actress, Songwriter, Fitness Consultant, and Entrepreneur who has successfully developed DIGESTIBLE hair and skin products, that consistently deliver amazing results for my customers and clientele! Since 2001, I have graced the pages of countless industry magazines, and appeared in numerous music videos, television shows, and movies. Read more>>

Craig Ford

I am an Atlanta native who was educated in the Fulton and Clayton County School Systems. While in high school, I was accepted into the Governor’s Honors Program in the field of art, studying drawing and photography at Wesleyan College in Macon, June to July 1978. Read more>>

keshay Devine-tucker

My name is Keshay Devine-Tucker, a devoted wife, proud mom of five, and the self-taught fine artist and sculptor behind DevineArt Studio in Woodstock, Georgia. My artistic journey began long before my business did. I’ve had a natural gift for sketching since early childhood, as far back as age five. Read more>>

Tirrell Stevenson

Meet Tirrell Dion Stevenson: Founder of Stonecrest Mobile Notary Services and Legacy Estate Planning Solutions I was born in Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, on the campus of Central Michigan University, where my parents were both students. I spent most of my early years on the east side of Detroit, surrounded by family and a community that emphasized resilience, education, and self-reliance. Read more>>

Audrey Johnson

Sure! I was born and raised in Senegal, and my journey has been anything but traditional. When I moved to the U.S., I came with a dream that was completely different from anyone around me. It was a huge challenge, learning a new culture, a new language, and basically starting from scratch but it taught me resilience and adaptability very early on. Read more>>

Brian Braddy

Brian Braddy, Esq., is a seasoned attorney at Merlin Law Group, where he concentrates his practice on first-party property and casualty insurance litigation. He represents residential and commercial property owners across Florida and Georgia, leveraging a diverse background to deliver strategic, results-driven advocacy. Brian is licensed to practice in both Florida and Georgia, with federal admissions to the U.S. Read more>>

Soma Ma

My life has always been centered on spiritualism. As a child, I was drawn to the mystical texts on my parents’ bookshelf and was always the curious one in church, asking questions that reached beyond the surface. In middle and high school, I became fascinated with religion, philosophy, and the arts. Read more>>

Tomas Uribe

I was born in Colombia, had also lived in Mexico and the United States by the age of 14. Having grown up changing culture to culture, change and adapting was the nature of growth. Luckily, to all the change, there were a few constants that truly contributed to the enjoyment and beauty of the world – one of which was music. Read more>>

Mo Clark

I’m a multi-talented media personality, journalist, publicist, and entrepreneur based in Atlanta, Georgia. Since making my mark in the summer of 2014, I’ve become a familiar face in Atlanta’s vibrant entertainment scene—known for my energy, creativity, and dedication to the culture. I started my journey as a party and event promoter, curating unforgettable experiences across the city. Read more>>

Michael Schluetter

I was born and raised in East Germany, in a small town called Zella-Mehlis, during the final years of the Cold War. Growing up behind the Iron Curtain shaped me deeply – creativity had to exist quietly, within limits, and I learned early on how to make something meaningful out of very little. Read more>>

Brittney Kenyetta

Dance was introduced to me through my mom in New York, which is originally where I am from. From there I fell in love with it. I started at the age of 5, doing the standard training and fun choreography you do in little tutus and jazz/ballet slippers. Just in my own little world. Read more>>

Drew Brucker

My creative journey started in the trenches of B2B SaaS and tech startups—13 years of building brands, scaling content, and driving $150M+ in marketing-sourced revenue. During that time, I learned how to make brands feel alive and stick through resonance and storytelling. Then I saw AI coming, and I knew it would reshape how creativity worked forever. Read more>>

La’Nai Clark

From Passion to Purpose: The Journey Behind Beautiful Bartenderz Events When I became a certified bartender back in February 2014, I didn’t know I was stepping into my purpose. I just knew I loved making people happy through what I created. At first, I didn’t even promote it. I’d mix drinks for my family and friends at parties, and word slowly started to spread. Read more>>

Monica Kelsey

My journey started over two decades ago with nothing more than curiosity, creativity, and a deep desire to build something meaningful. I began designing websites and graphics in the early 2000s simply because I loved bringing ideas to life visually. Read more>>

Cathleen Kaye

My story is long but full of amazing things I never thought possible for me. I am currently a stay at home mom of 2 young children, business owner, farm owner, home schooler & wife. I’ll start from the very beginning of where it all started. I am not a very girly girl. I was never into getting my nails done or wearing makeup. Read more>>

Lashawn Baker

Well, I’m a simple, classy Detroit girl living in Georgia, so the grind is in me. I was adopted, so I learned early that life can flip fast and still work out. In 2014 I discovered Wake Up Now and saw people living well without a 9 to 5. I kept getting fired and knew I had to change. Read more>>

Melody Felix-Prieto

I started writing when I was ten as a form of escapism. It was a way to create space where I had control, where things made more sense than they did in real life. I never aspired to be an author. I always wanted to be a filmmaker. Read more>>

Danasia Frazier

I started styling back in 2021, but fashion has always been a part of who I am. Even before I made it official, I was the friend everyone came to for outfit advice and confidence boosts. I’ve always believed that style isn’t just about clothes , it’s about energy, presence, and how you choose to show up. Read more>>

Glenn Braunstein

I’m the owner of Pulse Performance Studio Buckhead. I had a successful 30 year career in corporate America working for some of the largest tech companies – the latest being Salesforce.com, as one of the first employees in Atlanta, where I spent over 17 years. I’ve always had a passion for fitness, health, and helping others ever since I was a young child. Read more>>

Hunter Gabriel

As a child, I was drawn to cameras and photography as a whole. In 2014, when I was 13-years-old, I received my first DSLR camera for Christmas. Nothing crazy expensive, just a basic kit. From there I started teaching myself how to use it and all the settings. In 2018 I decided to take a brave step and I created my small business, Hunter G. Read more>>

Jai Cory Bailey

From the Pavement to the Pulse of the Culture — The Story of Casino404 I started with nothing but a mic, a dream, and a deep hunger to flip pain into poetry. Casino404 was born in the belly of the inner city — where every verse had to fight for breath, and every beat carried the weight of survival. Read more>>

Preeti Bhat

I first stumbled upon a breathwork program offered by the Art of Living Foundation 27 years ago, when I was still a student. At that time, I wasn’t searching for anything spiritual. Life already felt complete — I had a loving family, a solid education, and I was a high-performing student. Nothing seemed missing. But during that very first 5-day program, I was amazed. Read more>>

Abigail Keirs Rhee

I spent 20 years in hospitality, working in operations and training with Starwood and Marriott. That time taught me how to manage people, systems, and pressure — and it gave me a love for continuous improvement. My foundation of discipline and resilience goes back even further to my time in the U.S. Read more>>