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.
Olivia Frasco
My name is Olivia Frasco, an Independent producer based in Atlanta! My love of reading and writing poetry fueled my passion for cinema. Reading poetry feels like solving a puzzle, like peeling back layers of meaning, metaphors, and feeling. I felt a drive to find that same thrill visually. Read more>>
Charlotte Ramberg
My path to where I am today has been shaped by both professional training and deeply personal experience. I’m a licensed therapist and certified perinatal mental health clinician, and for the past several years I’ve specialized in supporting individuals and families through pregnancy, postpartum, loss, infertility, and the many identity shifts that come with becoming a parent. Read more>>
Heather Fritz
I am known for my architectural photography and drone imagery in the Atlanta area and nationwide via my company Bloodfire Studios. And I love this work! But when I started to surrender to God every day, he turned me into a farmer. This is the last thing I ever thought my life would be, and I’ve never been more challenged, fulfilled, and happy. Read more>>
Casey McClintic
My real estate marketing story starts in Florida, and it started fast. I was going to school and working full-time as the Marketing Manager at Treeline Realty. So yeah, I basically lived on caffeine and deadlines. But I also had amazing guidance, and it taught me how to do this the right way: build a brand, tell the story, and execute consistently. Read more>>
Khadijah Sholarin
My name is Sholarin , and I am the founder, owner, and lead designer of Sholarin Co. Long before I understood what a brand was, fashion was already speaking to me. I began designing around the age of eight, sketching silhouettes and imagining garments while watching commercials from early 2000s fashion powerhouses like FUBU, Rocawear, and Baby Phat. Read more>>
DEMI OCHE
I am a humanitarian, nonprofit founder, producer, and matriarch, and my life’s work has always been rooted in love, service, and generational impact. I was raised in a small town in North Carolina, surrounded by deep family values, rich culture, and a strong sense of community. Read more>>
Derek Thomas
I started my career learning blue-collar trades from my dad, where true quality work and customer satisfaction were the foundation of everything I was taught. That passion slowly but surely led me into the roofing industry here in a fast-moving city. Read more>>
Lakia Shelton
My path hasn’t been linear, and that’s one of my greatest strengths. At my core, I’m driven by faith and service. Everything I build across law, and entrepreneurship is rooted in being the hands and feet of God in the community. I’ve always been drawn to work that creates access, protects people, and helps families see possibilities beyond what’s immediately in front of them. Read more>>
Kristen Pipitone
My most cherished childhood memory is gathering every Sunday at my aunt’s home to cook and share sauce with family and friends. Parents, grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles—everyone showed up, no matter what else was happening in their lives. There was only one rule: show up. Read more>>
Christine Cooper Nowicki
The Sandwich Project started with something simple and deeply human. Making sandwiches for people who needed them. In 2020, a small group of neighbors began preparing fresh sandwiches at home and delivering them to local organizations serving people experiencing homelessness and food insecurity across Metro Atlanta. What began as a grassroots response to an urgent need quickly revealed something bigger. Read more>>
Ping Chen
My name is Ping Chen. I graduated from Savannah College of Art and Design in 2023 with a degree in Industrial Design. After graduating, I started working as a product designer and am currently at a small startup based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Read more>>
Kthemogul
My journey started with a genuine love for music, culture, and conversation. As a child I was raised by entertainers who opened my eyes to so many avenues, dancing, singing, producing and more. I’ve always been drawn to storytelling, highlighting people, moments, and sounds that deserve more attention. Read more>>
Kayla Alexander
Some families are athletic, but mine is definitely artistic. Each one is talented in music, illustration, singing, or dancing. You could say my love for art was inherently genetic. It started with drawing. I was known as the girl who could draw for my entire school career. Then, around middle school, I would use my mom’s phone and take pictures of nature, flowers mostly. Read more>>
Michael Hughes
I’ve always had a fascination with the natural world. It started small with a love of pets and animals. As I got to reading age, I began picking up books about natural habitats and ecosystems across the globe. From there I dove deep into the natural sciences, discovering cellular biology, genetics and taxonomy. Read more>>
Caleb Cody
I’ve always been wired to build things and solve problems. As a kid, that looked like selling flags in my neighborhood or finding creative ways to earn a little money. As I got older, that instinct grew into something deeper. I realized I didn’t just enjoy business. Read more>>
Mike Plummer
Southbound wasn’t something I set out to build as a grand plan. It started with a building and a gut feeling. Back in the early 2010s, Chamblee was quiet and overlooked, but I have always believed that good neighborhoods are built around places where people can gather. Read more>>
Ronda Ford
My journey to owning Muscle Masters started with 10 years in the Army, from 2002 to 2012. After relocating to Atlanta, I worked in Human Resources and Project Management , but my passion for healing sparked as I searched for ways to combat readjustment to civilian life; which was increased when my son suffered a life changing injury, requiring assisted care. Massage became a lifeline. Read more>>
vikas chilkuri
Vikas Chilkuri is the chef and owner of Cafe Le Rue, tucked into The Landings in Columbus, Georgia. Cafe Le Rue was born from Vikas’s love of cooking for others and his belief that the best restaurants feel less like businesses and more like extensions of home. Read more>>
Johnny Brajdic
Rising from the Shadows: A Self-Made Master of the Macabre Some artists are born into privilege, handed opportunities on silver platters. This isn’t one of those stories. At fifteen years old, while most teenagers were navigating the typical trials of adolescence, they were falling headlong into an obsession with the macabre and the odd—a fascination that would shape the next three decades of their life. Read more>>
Ava Stuck
I started my business back in 2012. Read more>>
Alejandro Arocha
Eventually, he cut ties with the youth group for personal reasons, but it was very sudden, and we had a big meeting to discuss what the plan was moving forward. The leaders were worried, spitballing ideas, meanwhile in my mind I thought; ‘I have my brother’s old camcorder, and we have bootleg Premiere CS6…’ so I jumped in the conversation and told them that I’ll take it from here. Read more>>
Kevin Enners
I always loved creative writing. As a kid in elementary school, I would write small short stories. They were not long. Only two or three pages. Part of that was because I didn’t have quite the advanced technology that I am currently using today. Read more>>
Cierra Lober
I knew that I wanted to start a community center of some sort, but didn’t know what form that would take until my friend in Oakland introduced me to tea house culture. I realized that tea can facilitate community in a beautiful way by bringing people together, helping us to slow down & be more present in the current moment with the people around us. Read more>>
Shawndra Merriweather
Shawndra Merriweather is a dedicated advocate for abused, neglected, and abandoned youth in Gwinnett County, Georgia. For over a decade, she has been passionate about addressing the needs of homeless, at-risk, and foster care children, working tirelessly throughout Gwinnett County and parts of Metro-Atlanta to bring awareness to the challenges these young people face. Read more>>
Silvia Gil
I began my career as a special education teacher, working in classrooms for over ten years. During that time, I saw firsthand both the potential of students with disabilities and the gaps in systems meant to support them. Read more>>
Bonezz The king
I got my start in the church in Omaha, Nebraska, behind a drum set. Like most kids at the time, I was inspired by watching icons like Michael Jackson, Prince, and The Isley Brothers artists who didn’t just perform, but created joy and connection through music. That planted the seed early: I wanted to move people the way they did. Read more>>
Mike Parker
We’re raising pastured poultry in the self-proclaimed poultry capital of the country—and we’re the odd ones out. Georgia is full of chicken houses, but most of those birds never see a blade of grass. We thought that was worth changing. P&K Family Farms is two families—myself and Hannah, and the Kennedys, Allie and Ivey— in Clermont, Georgia. Read more>>
Jordan Gulbranson
I found a passion for helping others when I was a child, and decided early on that I wanted to be a social worker without knowing what that truly meant. I started my career in child welfare before transitioning into the criminal justice system. Read more>>
Johari Davis
I did not start with a master plan. I started with curiosity and a camera. Photography became my way of slowing the world down and truly seeing people. What began as casual shoots for friends and family quickly turned into a deeper passion for storytelling and connection. I realized I was not just taking pictures. I was preserving moments, confidence, milestones, and legacy. Read more>>
Katie Redmon
Before I ever picked up a camera, I spent eight years as an elementary school teacher. I loved every minute of working with curious, energetic little ones in my fourth grade classroom and my STEM specials class. The classroom taught me patience, empathy, and how to create magic and fun through simple moments. Read more>>
Zohaib Haque
I was always fascinated by people and their stories. I recall loving mysteries novels, books about heroes and the journeys with their friends, and most of all listening to the people around me talk about life. Read more>>
Dr. Vivian Otabor
My journey has been shaped by reinvention, curiosity, and intention. I immigrated to the United States with strong academic credentials and global experience, and over time built nearly two decades of leadership across organizations like McKinsey, NVIDIA, and JPMorgan Chase. Read more>>
Dr. Miriam Graham
I began my journey in the music industry in the early 1990s, working with youth on a television show called Friends International. That experience sparked my passion for creating platforms for emerging talent, which led me to develop my own show, Talent Conspiracy long before shows like American Idol existed. Read more>>
Stephanie Mays
When I graduated high school, I was not sure what I wanted to do. I believed that college was the next step since that was the societal norm, but even then, I was uncertain as to what I would go to college for. I assessed some of the things that I enjoyed and decided to focus on writing. Read more>>
Laura Bell
I am a visual artist. I grew up in Seattle and attended The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, where I studied art and art history. At Evergreen, I was introduced to new mediums, new ideas, and found a love for printmaking and process oriented art. Read more>>
Maggie Lipham
Before I was ever a therapist, I was a long term mental health patient in Atlanta systems. I learned early what it feels like to be misunderstood, dismissed, mislabeled, and expected to adapt to care that was never designed for someone like me. My path into this work came through lived experience first, and credentials second. Read more>>
Deon Tucker
My name is Deon Tucker, and I am the Owner and CEO of Tucker Veterans Disability Services, LLC. I proudly served in the United States Army for eight years as an aircraft mechanic, during which I was deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. I am Airborne qualified and was honorably discharged after completing my service. Read more>>
Noor Abbady
I grew up in Jordan, and from a young age I was drawn to geometry and to anything that involved working with my hands. I experimented with paint, textiles, and drawing, but never wood, as it wasn’t accessible to me then. What I did know early on was that patterns and making things felt intuitive. Read more>>
Shelby Freshwater
For as long as I can remember I’ve been a performer. As a kid I would make my parents wait in the living room so I could make an entrance in my moms oversized heels and a ridiculously vibrant boa. Whether it was fashion or putting on plays or photoshoots with friends, I’ve always had a love for creative expression. Read more>>
Rena Walker
I moved to Atlanta at just 18 years old, straight out of high school, with plans that had nothing to do with the beauty industry. I enrolled at Clayton State University with the intention of becoming a registered nurse. At the time, cosmetology wasn’t even on my radar—even though I had been doing hair since I was 13 and came from a third-generation hairstyling family. Read more>>
Kaneisha Edwards
I started Afterglo Candle Co. during quarantine when I was looking for small ways to feel calm and grounded. Candles became part of my daily routine, but I quickly realized I could not enjoy most store-bought ones for long because of my scent sensitivities. They would start to irritate me, so I got curious and began researching what was actually in them. Read more>>
Delaney Williams
I consider my creative career to be a legacy one- my dad is a graphic designer, my grandfather was an illustrator at heart, and I’ve heard more stories about the innovators in my ancestry than I can count. Read more>>
Rachel Smith
My story is rooted in faith, creativity, and divine alignment. I’m R. Nicole—an African American Minister, Creative, and Entrepreneur based in Birmingham, standing boldly at the intersection of ‘faith and fly.’ Every gift I walk in flows from the same Source: God. My personal brand doesn’t just power my businesses—it anoints them. Read more>>
Tabitha Todle
My journey into advocacy and inclusive leadership began long before I understood what those words truly meant. It began with my mother, who served as the lead teacher for an after-school special education program. As a child accompanying her, I was immersed in an environment where labels, diagnoses, and stigmas did not exist. Read more>>
Martene Nadeau
I started in retail banking over 30 years ago because I needed a job and my Dad had friends that sat on the board of a small community bank. Never dreaming I would enjoy being a banker. Quickly realizing, I have the natural ability to help people and help people understand money. Read more>>
Laylah Vital
My journey has never been about doing just one thing—it’s been about honoring the many ways I’m meant to build. From a young age I had a strong sense that my voice would be central to my work, particularly in empowering women. While the path wasn’t always clear, the calling was always there. Read more>>
clement romain
I was introduced to comic books as a child when my mother came from overseas and gave me a Captain America comic. Prior to that I’d always love to draw and color. But my soul was elated when she gave me that comic. I copied every page, including the commercials. Read more>>
Alliayah Ottley
Hiiii, my name is Alliayah Ottley, and my story began when I was a little girl growing up in Trinidad and Tobago. My grandparents love to tell the story of coming home from work to find piles of clothes scattered across the house—outfits I’d tried on over and over throughout the day. Even then, fashion was always present. Read more>>
Jessica Agustin
My story starts back in my small home town Show Low high school photography class where I learned everything about my camera and my love for capturing moments grew! Huge shout out to Mr. Lofgreen for teaching me all about Lightroom and my camera! Read more>>
Emily Pinto
My journey with photography began unexpectedly in 2020, when I was confined to bed with severe, undiagnosed stomach pain. To pass the time, I taught myself Photoshop, and creating images quickly became an escape—one that helped me endure the pain until surgery revealed and removed a non-functioning gallbladder. Read more>>
Whitney Pannell
I started Fearless & Free from a very personal place. What began as a season of deep internal work; healing, renewing my mindset, and learning how to walk by faith instead of fear—became the foundation for everything I’m building today. Read more>>
Martin Altman
I frequently remind my clients that we aren’t fully developed until about age 26, meaning that it is usually wise to wait a while before determining what we want to do in our careers. Read more>>
Justin Malone
I was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee in a single-parent household. Growing up without a clear blueprint taught me how to be resourceful, ambitious, and self-directed. What shaped me most was media. It was one of the first places I saw what was possible. Purpose-driven careers. Real influence. Stories that made people feel seen and helped them imagine a bigger life. Read more>>
Samantha Arano
Ever since I was a little girl, I’ve been creative. My creative side sparked a deep sense of curiosity, and it wasn’t until I started painting that I was able to channel that energy into something I knew I wanted to do for the rest of my life. What really pushed me to where I am today was my acceptance into SCAD. Read more>>
Mackenzie Wilson
Heart’s itself was founded 30 years ago in Clayton county by two sisters, Mrs. Deborah (Debbie) Anglin and Mrs. Patrice Wuerth. They wanted to be involved with the youth of the community because they noticed a high rate of teens that were hooked on drugs, in jail, or dying due to the negative pathways that had fallen into. Read more>>
Kaityre Pinder
I moved to Atlanta with plans to pursue Physical Therapy school, rooted in a lifelong interest in health, movement, and the body. Along the way, I realized my deeper passion wasn’t just rehabilitation—it was people, especially young people. I felt called to serve, mentor, and create spaces where youth could feel supported, confident, and seen. That realization shifted the course of my career. Read more>>
Nigel Flynn
Slingshot Product Development Group is about to enter its 27th year of business during which time it has become one of the most significant new product development businesses in the South-East of the United States. The company started small but quickly grew in the early 2000’s. Read more>>
Shaylynn Takano
As a child, growing up in Hawaii I would watch cooking shows, like Rachel Ray’s 30 Minute meals and Iron Chef. I always thought it looked fun and creative. When I got older and started to cook for myself, I discovered the world of baking and pastries! I really like baking because of the science part of it. Read more>>
Dr. Nya Oglesby
I was never supposed to be here—but God had other plans for my life. I entered this world three months early, fighting for survival before I ever had a chance to live. As a premature infant, I developed necrotizing enterocolitis, a life-threatening condition that required surgery and left me with an ileostomy for several months. Read more>>
Trevin Fluker
– So, I’m a software developer working at a large financial corp in Atlanta. Since the beginning of my career (5 years ago), I’ve been taking on side projects to earn money. My approach had always been to find someone who had a problem and build software to solve it, but I had no luck scaling those software solutions to other customers. Read more>>
Taylor Warren
Growing up, I was always a helper and curious about why people think and behave in the ways that they do. My dad passed away when I was 13, and seeing how each member of my family grieved in their own way and had a very different set of needs intrigued me. Read more>>
Rachel Champion
I started dancing because I was looking for a competitive outlet after college cheerleading ended for me. Dancing was a great creative outlet and I was able to meet people from all over the country while working as an Environmental Health and Safety Program manager and traveling to compete.. Read more>>
Courtne’ Guinyard
I have always been in media and entertainment since was i was young. I was in choir. At 15 I modeled. At 17 I worked at the local radio station in Columbia South Carolina called 100.1 The Beat. I moved to Georgia back in 2012 to further my education in entertainment landing me at AIU. Read more>>
Pastor, Dr. Canzada Twyman
Raised in Washington, D.C. with eight brothers and one sister, my childhood was good, but challenging. I started my journey early, traveling through life alone for many years. Always had the desire, the dream of being a medical doctor, so I decided to go into the U.S. Army. I believed I was finally safe and that a long-term goal was within reach. Read more>>
Katrina Young
My story is grounded in faith, family, and service. I grew up in Rockdale County and, at seven years old, helped integrate my elementary school, which shaped my understanding of courage and perseverance early on. Read more>>
River ‘thiccsparklebutt’ Selby
I grew up in a high controlled religious family and after my separation from my ex-husband, the need for freedom consumed me. I started streaming just to let out the personality that I had been suppressing my whole life. Read more>>
Adreanne Wheeler
My name is Adreanne Wheeler, also known as Drea Nicole, and I’ve always known I was meant to be a businesswoman. Long before I had a brand, I had a vision. I remember playing “office” as a child, imagining myself in tailored pantsuits, making decisions, leading, and building something of my own. That dream never left me; it simply evolved. Read more>>
Patrick O’Shea
My love for fashion really started with my father. Not because he worked in the industry, but because of how he approached life — with care, pride, and attention to detail. When I was born, he treated himself to something meaningful: a personalized license plate. Read more>>
Landon McCollough
Definitely not, it was really hard at first going from a friend and a co worker to their boss, slowly the staff transitioned and it became easier but it’s still hard because of my age and wanting to be their friend but knowing I can’t because it makes work more challenging. Read more>>
Alexis Flowers
My name is Alexis Flowers. I am a two-time published children’s book author and the founder of Cre8tiv Action Flow Productions. I am new to the Atlanta, GA area, but my story began with a lifelong curiosity for visuals and storytelling and their ability to bring people together. Read more>>
Valecia Lokey
Inspire Your Dreams Foundation was born from my own journey of navigating life’s challenges while learning how powerful confidence and voice can be. Like many young people, I faced moments where self-doubt, fear, and life circumstances tried to limit how I saw myself and what I believed was possible. Read more>>
Vicky Wilkens
I started my career in consumer marketing across technology, media, and sports. I’ve always loved figuring out how to tell a story – either the story of a brand, a team, or an individual. Read more>>
Sarah Bentley
My path to entrepreneurship wasn’t a straight line, but every step prepared me for where I am today. I spent nearly 20 years in retail management, where I gained invaluable experience leading teams, developing people, and delivering strong customer experiences. While I loved mentoring and building teams, I always had a strong desire to be an entrepreneur and build something of my own. Read more>>
Crystal Moon
I am proud to call Athens, Georgia home—a place that shaped my values, my resilience, and my commitment to service. Growing up in Athens instilled in me a deep appreciation for community, perseverance, and the importance of giving back. The people, culture, and sense of responsibility I learned there became the foundation for both my personal identity and my professional journey. Read more>>
Nick Martin
I had an interest in the law beginning at some point in high school. I graduated from Duluth High School (Gwinnett County) and attended the University of Georgia. I hoped to go to law school, but if I did not, I wanted to teach and coach baseball. I majored in secondary education from UGA. I then taught at Collins Hill High School in Gwinnett County. Read more>>
Kai Simmons
I grew up as a child deeply curious about life and always felt connected to a higher power. As a child, that connection felt like an imaginary friend—an unseen presence that offered comfort, guidance, and quiet knowing. Read more>>
Mark Watson
VistaCraft started back in 1979 as a small screen-printing shop here in Columbus, Georgia. Like a lot of print businesses back then, we were focused on traditional methods and serving our local community. I don’t think anyone could have imagined how much the industry, or our company, would change over the next few decades. As technology evolved, so did we. Read more>>
Nayshondra Mercer
Born in Wuerzburg, Germany to two Army soldiers, raised in South Carolina with a rich Gullah Geechie heritage – Nayshondra Mercer, known as Coach Nay, is a leader helping Changemaking Women master their triggers to live their life unapologetically and untriggerable. She brings over a decade of expertise in behavioral modification, learning and development, and strategic planning. Read more>>
Ambriya Neal
After graduating from North Carolina A&T State University, I moved to Atlanta with big dreams of pursuing dancing, singing, and acting. Like many creatives, I was looking for a flexible job that would allow me to chase my passions while still paying the bills. Read more>>
Legacy
MTV’s DJ Legacy is an accomplished dj and digital designer with a deep love for music. Legacy ‘aka Winston Williams’ has made a name for himself as a respected Open Format DJ, Experience Creator and Digital Designer. Read more>>
Lauren Ladov
Gardening has saved my life. As someone who deals with mental and physical health issues, gardening was one of the first things I found that actually made me feel better and provided a directly therapeutic outlet. I pursued learning about agriculture and gardening, working in several diverse communities throughout New Jersey, Philadelphia and Atlanta. Read more>>
Kara Bowman
I initially entered this field before having my littles, having always been drawn to holistic healing and hands-on care. After having my children, I stepped away, but I feel like life brought me back with a deeper purpose. Becoming a single mother, navigating autism diagnoses within my family, and living through the COVID era shifted everything for me. Read more>>
Miguel Moss
My passion for fashion began in high school, but my professional journey first took me into collegiate basketball, where I spent over a decade coaching and developing athletes at a high level. Eventually, I felt called to step fully into my creative path and made the decision to pivot into the fashion industry. Read more>>
John Andrew Candelario
I began my career on Wall Street in New York, but hospitality was always my true passion. That led me to launch a vacation rental management company focused on helping guests find exceptional places to stay while helping owners turn their properties into profitable businesses. Today, I work with homeowners and Airbnb hosts to maximize their space through smart pricing, systems, and hands-on support. Read more>>
Arnaud Michel
At 18, I came to Atlanta in 1989 just for a visit, and that visit turned into my life. I enrolled in college here in Atlanta and began working in restaurants right away. In 1993, two friends and I decided to open our own place, and Anis was born, opening its doors in Feb 1994. Read more>>
Carrie Kerns
When we opened the Atlanta store in 2011, I had traveled the US visiting bridal stores as a sales rep, and I had already been the manager of a large store. Read more>>
Russ Thornton
I’m a financial advisor and began my career in the early 90s, fresh out of college. I went to Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, which is where I met my now wife, and we have lived in Atlanta since graduating from school. Read more>>
Ramon Camp
I initially started doing photography as a hobby just like everyone probably started. I traveled around with some pretty cool people doing some pretty cool things and thought, “nobody would believe I was doing this”. This thought prompted me to buy a camera. Not knowing anything about cameras.. that’s where the journey began. Read more>>
Sonja Gunter
Back when I was a teenage mother, my father, Aaron O. Seawood encouraged me to go into the healthcare field. His advice was simple, ‘If you get into healthcare, you will always have a job’. No truer words were spoken. But what my father didn’t even know was that not only would I always have a job, it spoke to my very purpose; ministry. Read more>>
Melanie Latrelle Williams
In college, I majored in Computer Information Systems which was a Bachelor of Business Administration degree. Back then I never thought about starting a business, I just knew I wanted to work with computers. After working 15 years in corporate America, I realized I wanted to shift to a career that allowed me to have more freedom of time and schedule. Read more>>
Kendall Robinson
I’ve always been a risk-taker, and that mindset has shaped every part of my journey. In college, I made the bold decision to leave a pre-med track and pursue an art degree, a choice that led me to begin working professionally as an artist while still in school. Read more>>
Alejandra Torres-Galindo
I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, in 1997. Growing up, stories of Colombia’s internal armed conflict were still very present — in conversations at home, in the news, and in the silences people carried. Even though Bogotá, as a capital city, could sometimes feel disconnected from the most visible forms of violence, those stories shaped how my generation understood fear, memory, and responsibility. Read more>>
Brandon Williams
Dr. Joseph Fowler became a chiropractor due to his personal experience with the benefits of chiropractic treatment. After witnessing his father’s improved health and extended lifespan as a result of chiropractic care administered by a cousin, Dr. Fowler developed an appreciation for the value of chiropractic treatments. Read more>>
Rick Saunders
What started as a career is now my passion and purpose. I have grown from being a number driven ‘mathlete’ at Duke University into a professional who uses numbers as a tool to help my clients reach their financial goals. What defines me as an advisor and sets me apart, is my genuine desire to be there when my clients need me most. Read more>>
Jenny Ko
Founded ten years ago in Atlanta, our restaurant was born from a desire to introduce something the city had never seen before: an authentic Korean pojangmacha (a.k.a Pocha) experience that is both approachable and deeply rooted in tradition. At the heart of Korean drinking culture is anju — thoughtfully crafted dishes designed to be shared and paired with alcohol. Read more>>
Eunice Chay
• My passion for working with immigrants and refugees stems from my own lived experience. I was born and raised in Raleigh, NC, with first-generation immigrant parents. My paternal grandparents fled China during the Cultural Revolution, so the refugee experience is one that is in my own family history. Read more>>
THEODORA MCQUEEN
My journey into healthcare began long before it became my career. When I was 12 years old, my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, and I saw early on how deeply illness affects not just individuals, but entire families. Years later, life tested me again when my 12-year-old daughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor. Read more>>
Thu Saunders
Coming from an immigrant family that defected from communism in Vietnam, hard work was always ingrained in our DNA. Growing up poor motivated my family to get educated and to help others when we had the opportunity. I originally went to college for medicine but after working a year in the hospital in college, I realized I wanted to help people in a different way. Read more>>
Ryan Treadwell
I grew up in Georgia and still very much claim being from ‘Atlanta’. The truth is I was raised in the suburbs, primarily Gwinnett County. I’m one of two brothers and was incredibly fortunate to grow up with two great parents who gave us both stability and encouragement while also letting us wrestle with big questions early on. Read more>>
Lasalle
I started creating as a way to process what I was feeling when I didn’t always have the words. Art became a tool for understanding myself and my relationships. I studied at Valdosta State University, where I began thinking more seriously about how my work could live outside of myself and in public spaces. Read more>>
Jacquelyn Glover
I began doing makeup for clients, but while researching makeup schools, I discovered esthetics, and I fell in love with skincare. In class, I realized I already had the makeup knowledge, but now I could assess skin’s needs and enhance natural beauty a perfect blend of art and education. As I focused more on skin, I found joy in building my clients’ confidence. Read more>>
Sarita Prasad
I trained in conventional medicine and spent years doing what I was taught to do: diagnose, prescribe, and move on to the next patient. Over time, something began to weigh on me. I kept seeing the same patients return exhausted, discouraged, and still searching for answers. Read more>>
Juanita Wright
Initially, I disliked cheesecake as a child. That is, until I tried authentic New York Style cheesecake. I started my baking journey with cheesecake as a teenager. The first cheesecake I made from scratch was lemon flavored, and though it wasn’t the greatest, I continued developing recipes. Years went by. Read more>>
Dr Shelia T.. Payton
I started my career more than two decades ago as a Chirooractic Physcian and anatomy and physiology professor, always fascinated by how the body adapts, heals, and communicates when something is out of balance. Read more>>
Gracie Krucke
Back in 2016, when I was a junior in high school, I went on a mission trip to San Juan de Lurigancho (SJL), Lima, Peru. I had been on a mission trip to Brazil a couple of years before, but I didn’t feel this urge that I just had to go back. My experience in Peru was completely different. Read more>>
Jasmine Tharpe
My path to entrepreneurship was shaped by more than 20 years in healthcare. Throughout my career, I worked closely with patients and clients, and those experiences taught me that quality care goes far beyond clinical services. It is about trust, communication, and making people feel valued every time they walk through the door. Read more>>
Naveen Thomas
My path into psychiatry began along a fairly traditional medical trajectory. I was drawn to the field because it sits at the intersection of science, the psyche, and the richness of lived human experience. My early training emphasized the biological foundations of mental illness and, like most conventional programs, relied heavily on medication-based treatment. Over time, I began noticing a pattern. Read more>>
Rocklyn Williams Jr
I started mobile detailing the summer of 2022. What got me started was my wife was already working full-time and she picked up a second job part-time overnight to make extra money. Reason for this was due to me becoming disabled and having to leave my job. She would be soo tired from working that she was barely alert going into her main job. Read more>>
Irmarilis Sanchez
My passion for serving the community began while working with a previous organization. Through that experience, I developed a deep desire to help others, which inspired me to start my own organization with the goal of making a meaningful impact in the community. In 2017, we launched Call to Serve Georgia. Read more>>
James B Kynes Jr
In 2016, I became aware of a program call REAP, Real Estate Associate Program. REAP”s intentional purpose is to expose minority professionals to all aspects and disciplines in commercial real estate to increase and diversify the talent pool of professionals seeking opportunities in the industry. Read more>>
Nadia Abdussalaam
My name is Nadia Abdussalaam, and I am a professional hairstylist with a passion for creating beautiful hair while prioritizing healthy hair care. My hair and life journey began in South Carolina and later transitioned to Atlanta, where I continued to grow both personally and professionally. I began my formal training at Paul Mitchell Hair School in 2010. Read more>>
Samin
After earning my Bachelor’s degree in Information Technology and Informatics from Mercer University, I discovered that while I loved technology, what I was truly passionate about was design, and more importantly, using design to help businesses grow. Read more>>
Bryan Ginsberg
My career has been built through a combination of leadership roles, operational experience, and a consistent focus on people. I spent more than a decade in leadership with Chick-fil-A, where I worked my way through multiple operational roles and learned how strong culture, accountability, and service can shape a successful organization. Read more>>
Nichole Woody
My path to business ownership wasn’t linear. I changed my major three times before graduating with a degree in Computer Information Systems, plus minors in Business and Graphic Design. After college, I spent time job searching and working in the service industry before becoming a mom — and that’s when everything really clicked. I realized I was meant to be a business owner all along. Read more>>
Kevin Patrick
Hello, My name is Kevin Patrick. I am a full time entrepreneur and I also serve on the city council in West Point, Georgia. I have been married to my beautiful wife Ranisha for 20 years and we have two sons Kenzavian and Braidyn. On the entrepreneur side, I have an insurance agency/investment firm with multiple licensed agents that I help mentor. Read more>>
Tensley Almand
Tensley was born and raised in Atlanta. He and his wife Laurie are parents to four kids – Will, Jake, Eli and Hallie. Prior to Atlanta Mission, he had been in vocational ministry for almost 20 years and for the last 12, was the Lead Pastor of Decatur City Church, one of the eight Atlanta-area churches of North Point Ministries. Read more>>
Andrew Hanna
I have been in the financial industry since 2005 and have over 15 years of experience as a Private Wealth Advisor and Business Financial Advisor. My view of people shapes my philosophy as an advisor. Read more>>
Chandra Fussell
Thank you for the opportunity. My journey is defined by a 30-year ‘internal transformation’ fueled by both my professional work and my personal life. For over three decades, I served as a caregiver first for my grandmother and later for my mother. Those experiences gave me a profound clarity: my purpose is to serve vulnerable populations. Read more>>
Branden Green
I began this journey under the name M.E.V. Photographie, and in the beginning it was exactly what it sounds like, a photographer building the craft, learning through repetition, and earning trust one client at a time. I was focused on mastering the fundamentals: light, composition, emotion, and consistency. Those early seasons taught me how to lead with excellence even when the resources were limited. Read more>>
Jane Hollman
Studio Entourage was born from a simple belief: that a home should be both beautifully designed and thoughtfully planned around the people who live in it. Our founder and principal designer, Jane Hollman, has spent more than two decades in the Atlanta design industry. Read more>>
Arik Sparano
A Journey Through the Lens: My Photography Business Story It all began on a breezy Saturday evening at our annual family reunion. Laughter echoed through the park as family members caught up and shared memories over delicious potluck dishes. It was there, amidst the warmth of familiar faces, that I ran into my cousin Emma, who was always the adventurous spirit in our family. Read more>>
Andrew and Malaika Wells
We were married for six years before either of us knew Christ. In May of 2004, on the same night, the Gospel interrupted our lives—and everything changed. We found faith together, and with it, a new way of seeing marriage, purpose, and calling. Over the next six years, we served faithfully as ministers, armor-bearers, and elders across several ministries. Read more>>
Fayette Humane Society Fayette County, GA
Who is the Fayette Humane Society? • We are a 501c3 nonprofit animal rescue group, run entirely by volunteers (including our 9-member Board of Directors) supported by donations, grants, and fundraising activities. • We are not affiliated with the government-funded Fayette County Animal Shelter. Read more>>
Khaliah Johnson
I began life as a bright, curious, and creative girl in Brooklyn, NY. My African-American and Caribbean roots grounded me, as did the color, diversity, and energetic pulse of New York City. My family of origin had a strong orientation toward social justice and community connection, so I always have had a compass toward giving back and serving others. Read more>>
Mia G Castillo
There was a point in my life when I felt lost and unsure of my direction. I turned to my faith and prayed for guidance, asking God to place me exactly where I was meant to be. That’s when I discovered permanent makeup. One opportunity led to another, and over time I expanded my skills across multiple beauty services. Read more>>
Morgan Clare
My interest in this field began much earlier than my formal training. When my parents divorced when I was thirteen, my family spent time in counseling and I had an early experience of what it feels like to sit on the other side of the room, an experience that stayed with me over time. Read more>>
Derrick Kollie
I started with a small Sony RX100, not because I had a plan, but because I was curious and needed a way to tell the stories I saw around me. Growing up in Liberia, I understood early that our stories were rarely told the right way. Read more>>
Serious MAK
My journey as an entrepreneur in the entertainment world has been nothing but a movie, as an independent artists doing local shows, touring with other locals, underground and mainstream artists I’ve learned so much. My hustle is well known, my music is out there and my motivation is unmatched. If there was ever a business man to rap about his life, that would be me. Read more>>
Kadeem Theking
I’m a YouTuber that’s from Michigan check out my YouTube channel @ Kadeem Theking Read more>>
Johnece Smith
My story started at an early age. Around middle school, I began noticing that people naturally came to me to talk about their problems, their lives, and the things they were trying to make sense of. I would listen, reflect, and offer advice or intuitive insight, and it quickly became clear to me that this was something I was meant to do. Read more>>
