Dr. Nadine Duncan of East Atlanta on Life, Lessons & Legacy

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Nadine Duncan. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Nadine, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are intentionally slow. Since I work from home, I try to ease into the morning instead of rushing. I usually start with a sound bowl meditation to center myself, then I’ll make a good cup of coffee and just take a moment to enjoy it. I also like to check in with the people I love before diving into work. Those slower mornings really set the tone for how I show up the rest of the day.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hello, I’m Dr. Nadine C. Duncan, founder of the Traveling Black Women Network and creator of the Proof Project. At my core, I’m an educator turned global community builder. After nearly 20 years in the classroom, I realized both teachers and students needed more exposure to the world—and that’s where my work began to grow.

Through Traveling Black Women, I create travel guides, group trips, and storytelling that center Black women travelers. We’re building community, visibility, and confidence in an industry where we’ve often been underrepresented. With the Proof Project, I focus on educators—helping them gain real-world, cross-cultural experiences they can bring back into their classrooms to inspire their students.

What makes my work unique is that it’s not just about travel—it’s about transformation, access, and legacy. I’m most excited about expanding opportunities for both women and educators to see themselves as part of the global story, and to come home with experiences that ripple into their families, classrooms, and communities.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a kid who loved media and the arts. I was shy, and not always sure of myself or my abilities, but creativity was always where my heart lived. Because I was smart, I leaned into academics—it came easy, and it felt like the safe, expected thing to do. In college, I majored in communications and minored in dance because I wanted to work in media and the arts. But teaching was the clear and practical path, so I leaned into that directive.

Now, at 42, I’m circling back to that original love. Through my work, I’m finding ways to revive the parts of me that always lit me up—communications, writing, storytelling, and media. It feels like I’m reconnecting with the younger version of myself who wanted to create and share, but now I get to do it with the confidence and wisdom of everything I’ve learned along the way.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear that has held me back the most is the fear of embarrassment. A lot of people would say failure, but I don’t actually mind failing—I’ve always been willing to try again. What really frightens me is the idea of getting it wrong in public and being judged for it.

Most recently, that’s shown up in how I approach sponsorships. I’ve sometimes held back from pitching myself or my brand because I don’t want to get it “wrong” and have it reflected poorly. We live in a culture where people are quick to mock or dismiss those who don’t have it all figured out, and that little voice of embarrassment can get really loud.

People often say, “The worst they can say is no,” but I know the truth is sometimes they say no—and then they tell the world you were an idiot for even asking. That’s what I’ve had to work through. I’m learning that protecting myself from embarrassment also protects me from opportunity, and I don’t want that fear to define how far I can go.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
What I believe is true, but cannot prove, is that if your mother doesn’t support you in a way you can deeply feel, it becomes nearly impossible to truly believe in yourself. That early, foundational support is what shapes how we see our own worth and potential.

I say that from a place of deep gratitude, because I’ve been blessed with an exceptional mother who has always been supportive. Her belief in me has been a constant anchor, and I know it’s one of the biggest reasons I’ve had the courage to step into new spaces, take risks, and build the work I do today.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone is that I changed lives. That I brought out the best in people. I want women to say the Traveling Black Women Network gave them permission to see the world, to step into experiences they may never have imagined for themselves, and that it shifted the way they saw what was possible.

When it comes to my work in education, I hope the story is more complicated—but still necessary. I hope people will acknowledge, “We got it wrong.” That too often, instead of addressing the real issues, the system labeled me as aggressive when I was really just passionate. That there were times when my character was attacked for naming problems that needed solving, and because of that, opportunities for real change were missed.

If my story is told honestly, I want it to be one of impact, courage, and legacy—a reminder that I stood in the gap for others, and that even when it was uncomfortable, I pushed for transformation.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.travelingblackwomen.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/travelingblackwomen
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/NadineCDuncan
• Twitter: https://www.x.com/travelingblackwomen
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/travelingblackwomen
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/@ travelingblackwomen