Life & Work with Kelsey-Marie Pitse of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kelsey-Marie Pitse.

Hi Kelsey-Marie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
After graduating college, I moved back to New York City in 2013 with dreams of becoming a news anchor. Instead, I found myself working behind the scenes in television production. Over the next several years, I worked on productions including The Mysteries of Laura, Royal Pains, Power, and She’s Gotta Have It, gaining experience on projects that aired across major networks and streaming platforms, including Netflix.

In 2018, I moved to Johannesburg, South Africa, and that move ended up changing the trajectory of my career. While living there, I started a blog and began writing more seriously. What started as a creative outlet eventually opened the door to editorial opportunities, including writing for publications such as Travel Noire and Travel + Leisure. From there, I continued building a career in journalism and storytelling, covering travel, lifestyle, culture, and design.

In 2020, I launched a social media agency, combining my editorial background with content strategy and brand storytelling. Then, in 2026, I launched The Sectional, a women’s publication covering style, travel, wellness, shopping, and culture, where I currently serve as Senior Editor.

Looking back, the common thread through every chapter has been storytelling. Whether I was working in television, writing articles, building brands, or launching a publication, I’ve always been interested in the stories people tell, the lives they build, and the experiences that connect us.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
One of the biggest challenges has been navigating multiple career pivots. I started in television production, transitioned into editorial writing while living in South Africa, launched a social media agency, and eventually moved into publishing. Every time I changed directions, I was essentially starting over and proving myself in a new industry.

I’ve also learned that creative careers rarely follow a straight path. There have been periods of uncertainty, projects that didn’t work out, opportunities I didn’t get, and moments where I questioned whether I was making the right decisions. Most recently, the publication where I was an editor was shut down, which was disappointing and unexpected. At the same time, it pushed me to think more seriously about what I wanted to build for myself.

Another challenge has been balancing ambition with real life. Over the years, I’ve built a business, changed careers, moved internationally, become a mother, and launched a publication. Those things don’t happen in neat, separate chapters. Most of the time, they’re happening all at once.

What I’ve learned is that resilience matters more than having a perfect plan. Some of the opportunities I’m most grateful for today came from moments that initially felt like setbacks.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a writer, journalist, editor, creator, and entrepreneur whose work sits at the intersection of lifestyle, travel, culture, and storytelling.

Today, I serve as Senior Editor of The Sectional, a women’s publication covering style, travel, wellness, shopping, and culture. I also create content, write a personal newsletter called Dash of Life, and work with brands to tell stories through both written and visual media.

Throughout my career, I’ve covered everything from travel destinations and design trends to artists, entrepreneurs, and cultural experiences. I’ve written for publications including Travel Noire and Travel + Leisure, worked in television production, launched a social media agency, and built a career that spans editorial, content creation, and publishing.

What I’m most proud of is launching The Sectional. Building a publication from the ground up has challenged me in ways I never expected, but it’s also given me the opportunity to create the kind of media space I wanted to see in the world.

I think what sets me apart is that I approach everything through the lens of a storyteller. Whether I’m writing a feature, creating content for a brand, interviewing someone, or covering a destination, I’m always looking for the bigger story and the human experience behind it. My work isn’t just about documenting what’s happening—it’s about helping people understand why it matters.

I’ve also never fit neatly into one category. I’ve worked in television, journalism, marketing, publishing, and entrepreneurship, and I think that mix of experiences allows me to bring a unique perspective to the stories I tell and the projects I take on.

Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
I think the biggest piece of advice I would give is to stop worrying so much about having a perfectly mapped-out career.

When I was younger, I thought success meant having a clear plan and following it. The reality is that some of the most important opportunities in my life came from paths I never could have predicted. I thought I was going to become a news anchor. Instead, I worked in television production. A move to South Africa led me to start a blog, which led to writing. Writing led to journalism. Journalism led to entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship eventually led to launching a publication.

None of that was part of the original plan.

I also wish I had understood earlier that your career doesn’t have to fit neatly into one box. For a long time, I felt pressure to choose one thing and stick with it. Today, I’m grateful that I didn’t. Some of my greatest strengths come from having experience across television, journalism, content creation, marketing, and publishing.

The other thing I’d tell anyone starting out is to create your own opportunities. Don’t wait for someone to give you permission. Start the blog. Launch the newsletter. Share your work. Reach out to people you admire. So much of my career has been built through taking initiative before I felt completely ready.

Most importantly, remember that careers are much longer than they seem when you’re first starting out. You don’t have to have everything figured out in your twenties. Stay curious, keep learning, and trust that the dots will connect in ways you can’t see yet.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thesectional.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kelseydashmarie/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kelseydashmarie2
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelseydashmarie/
• Other: https://dashoflife.substack.com