Akili Atkinson of Duluth on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Akili Atkinson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Akili, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I wake up grateful to start another day. Instead of thinking about the morning with dread, I embrace the 5:00am start time. The silence allows for meditation. I am able to watch the world wake up most mornings.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am Akili Atkinson, the founder of Akili’s Corner LLC, a coaching and consulting company where communication is not just taught, it is transformed. At Akili’s Corner, I specialize in helping individuals and organizations overcome communication challenges rooted in neurodiversity, cultural differences, and workplace misalignment. Whether it is a misunderstood employee or a well-meaning team with a blind spot, I help people move from confusion to connection.
What makes this special? I bring over two decades of experience in workforce development, neurodiversity education, and public speaking.
Through coaching, corporate workshops, communication strategy, and speaking engagements I help change the conversation.
My tagline says it best: “Connecting Minds – Shaping Conversations.”
Right now, I am expanding my reach by developing customized programs for teams, supporting career confidence in people who feel unseen, and launching a framework that equips professionals to communicate with intention, clarity, and courage.

In short? I help people and organizations finally say what they mean, and be understood when they do.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Standing at the starting line on the track, right before the gun went off. I was not scared, I was ready. All the early mornings, the discipline, the training, it all came together in that quiet moment. That is when I learned that power comes from preparation, and that lesson still drives everything I do today.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Recently, when DEI was painted as a problem and contracts tied to disability inclusion were cancelled, I almost gave up. It felt like shouting into the wind, trying to explain what should already be understood: everyone deserves a fighting chance for employment. For a moment, I forgot who I was, then I remembered, I am not just a fighter for myself. I fight for those still finding the courage to use their voice. That is why I stayed.

Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
I used to believe making my bed every single morning was a non-negotiable sign of discipline. For over 30 years, I never missed a day, even in hotels. Then one morning, my stepmother casually mentioned she and my father skip it entirely because their sleep schedules are different. It shook me. For a moment, I questioned everything, was this rule not universal? Was I wrong all along? But the truth is, while I now know the world does not end if the bed is unmade, I still make mine every morning. Not because I have to, but because it grounds me. The belief shifted but the habit stayed, now with more grace and less rigidity.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
For a long time, I did what I was told to do. Be grateful. Stay quiet. Follow the rules. I was raised to blend in, not stand out, to survive, not question. But something inside me always pushed back. Track taught me discipline. Advocacy taught me purpose. And life taught me that silence can be more damaging than any word spoken out of turn. Now, I am doing what I was born to do helping others find their voice, especially those who have been overlooked or misunderstood. I was not born to follow the script. I was born to rewrite it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.akiliscorner.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/akiliscorner
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/akiliscorner/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Akiliscorner