Story & Lesson Highlights with Tory Keit of Cobb County

We recently had the chance to connect with Tory Keit and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Tory, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are all about setting the tone for both my family and my work. I start by getting my son ready for school, which usually includes a quick breakfast together—something simple, but essential for us to share before the day picks up pace. Our two dogs are part of the routine too, reminding me to step outside, breathe, and ground myself before diving into work. Once my son is off to school, I settle in front of my laptop with a cup of coffee. That quiet moment, when the house has shifted from the morning rush to focus mode, is where I mentally transition from parent to professional. It’s not elaborate or ceremonial, but it balances the personal and professional parts of my life in a way that gives me energy for the day ahead.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Tory Keit, and I see myself as someone who sits at the intersection of technology, creativity, and community. By profession, I’m an IT architect, but over the years, my work has expanded beyond just designing systems. I’m also a published author and the founder of the Keit Foundation, where we focus on empowering people to use technology—especially AI—in ways that are practical, responsible, and accessible. One of our most exciting projects is the GreenTech Academy, which helps students and communities learn how AI and data can address real-world challenges, such as sustainability and business growth.
What makes my journey unique is that I don’t just see technology as code or hardware—I view it as a tool for storytelling, problem-solving, and community building. Whether it’s developing AI tools that help entrepreneurs launch their businesses, writing to share ideas and inspire change, or even exploring creative outlets like photography and game design, my goal is to connect innovation with human impact.
Currently, I am focusing on creating solutions that make AI more accessible and helpful for both organizations and everyday people. I believe the future of technology needs to be not only powerful but also ethical and inclusive—and that balance between innovation and accessibility motivates my work every day.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I grew up in a time and environment where the saying “children should be seen and not heard” was very real. Listening was the priority, and speaking up wasn’t encouraged. For a long time, I internalized that and genuinely believed my voice didn’t matter—that what I thought or felt wasn’t important to anyone. In many ways, I carried that silence with me, almost as if I were voiceless.

Life, however, has a way of reshaping those beliefs. Through experience, writing, growth, and community, I discovered that my voice does matter—and more than that, it can have a real impact on people’s lives. Today, I not only use my voice in my work and writing, but I also encourage others to use theirs too. That transformation—from silence to recognizing the power of speaking up—has been one of the most important shifts in my journey.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that held me back the most was the fear of failure. For a long time, I carried this heavy sense that I wasn’t going to succeed in life. That fear wasn’t something I created on my own — it was reinforced by outside influences, environments I was in, and the opinions and judgments of others. I was told more than once that I wouldn’t amount to much, and for a period of time, I actually believed it.

Looking back, that fear influenced how I moved through life. It caused me to second-guess myself and hesitate when opportunities arose. But over time, I understood that failure isn’t the end—it’s part of growing. Learning to ignore those voices, both external and internal, has been one of the toughest but most rewarding lessons I’ve learned.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
One belief I am deeply committed to—no matter how long it takes—is restoring the positive image and efforts of fathers. Too often, the narrative around fatherhood is reduced to stereotypes or overlooks the countless men who are actively present, supportive, and shaping the lives of their children and communities. I believe fathers deserve recognition for the vital role they play, and society benefits when we highlight and strengthen that presence.

That’s why, through the Keit Foundation, we established the Dad Vibes Crew program. It aims to celebrate, uplift, and equip fathers with the tools and community they need to succeed in their role. To me, this isn’t just a project—it’s a lifelong commitment to changing the conversation about fatherhood and ensuring that positive examples of dads are visible, respected, and multiplied.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I can honestly say I’m doing what I was born to do. From a very young age, I felt drawn to words and storytelling. I wanted to be a literary figure like my idols—Langston Hughes, Zora Neale Hurston, Maya Angelou, Countee Cullen, Nikki Giovanni, and James Baldwin. Their voices shaped how I saw the world and sparked a fire in me that I’ve never let go of.

Even as a child, I believed that one day I would be an author. I signed everything—homework, artwork, class notes, even my friends’ yearbooks—because deep down, I thought those signatures would matter someday. What seemed like childlike playfulness was really a statement of faith in my own future.

Today, as a published author, I see how those early beliefs weren’t just imagination—they were seeds of purpose. Holding onto that conviction, even through doubt and obstacles, taught me that the passions we hold as children often show us who we’re truly meant to become. My story proves that when you nurture those early sparks, they can grow into something that not only fulfills you but also inspires others.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.keitfoundation.org
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thekeitfoundation
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/keit-foundation
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheKeitFoundation
• Other: https://bio.site/thetorykeit