Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Dejia Felicity Swindell- Smith of Southwest Atlanta

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dejia Felicity Swindell- Smith. Check out our conversation below.

Dejia Felicity, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What is a normal day like for you right now?
Normal? What is normal these days? My days tend to flow between purpose, people, and a little bit of beautiful chaos. A “normal” day for me is a blend of purpose, people, and preparation. I usually start my mornings early before the world wakes up grounding myself in prayer and gratitude, then getting my daughter Denim ready for her day. She keeps me laughing, balanced, and reminded of why I do what I do.
Once the day officially starts, it’s full steam ahead. Between leading projects through my marketing and PR agency, Felicitea Digital Lab, and being out in the community as a candidate for Fulton County Commissioner, no two days are ever the same. Some days, I’m strategizing campaigns and mentoring young professionals. Other days, I’m walking neighborhoods, listening to residents share their hopes for change, or connecting with local organizations to collaborate on solutions that make a real impact.
What’s consistent, though, is the heart behind it all: service, integrity, and the desire to create opportunities for others. Every task, meeting, or conversation is rooted in that mission. So, while my days are often long and sometimes chaotic, they’re also deeply fulfilling. I get to build, lead, and serve and that’s exactly where I’m supposed to be right now.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Felicity Swindell, a strategist, storyteller, and community advocate at heart. I’m the Founder and Principal Strategist of Felicitea Digital Lab, a marketing and PR agency built to help entrepreneurs, creatives, and organizations amplify their stories and grow with intention. What started nearly a decade ago as a small idea to help local businesses build visibility has evolved into a boutique agency serving clients nationwide, including corporate partners, nonprofits, and emerging founders.
Our signature service focuses on public relations and press visibility helping brands get seen, celebrated, and strategically positioned in media outlets that align with their mission. Over the years, we’ve helped dozens of clients secure magazine features, national interviews, and brand partnerships that have completely elevated their credibility and reach. What makes our approach special is that it’s deeply personalized every story we craft is rooted in authenticity and designed to convert visibility into real opportunity.
That same belief in the power of storytelling extends beyond business for me. Today, I’m also stepping into a new chapter as a candidate for Fulton County Commissioner, District 5. This campaign is an extension of everything I’ve built. It’s about amplifying voices, bridging resources, and helping communities rise together. From brand strategy to public service, my mission has always been the same: to create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and capable of more.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. 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 curious, creative girl who believed she could do anything. I was always hosting community fashion shows, dance competitions, art showcases you name it, I was organizing it. I’ve always been a natural creator, bringing people together and turning ideas into experiences. Even then, I understood the power of voice not just speaking, but inspiring others to express themselves, too.
As I got older, life started layering expectations on top of that creative freedom. There were moments I was told to tone it down or make myself smaller, but my voice never truly disappeared it evolved. It became more focused, more intentional, and rooted in purpose. What began as a way to create fun and connection in my community grew into a calling to amplify stories, advocate for others, and spark change on a larger scale.
That evolution is what shaped me into who I am now a mother, an entrepreneur, and a candidate for Fulton County Commissioner. The same voice that once introduced dance teams and community shows now speaks for access, opportunity, and equity. It’s been refined by experience, strengthened by faith, and grounded in service.
I’ve learned that my voice has value at every stage: the imaginative child, the ambitious creative, and now, the woman using that same gift to help others be heard. In many ways, I haven’t changed, I’ve just grown louder, clearer, and more intentional about what my voice is meant to build.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Absolutely. There have been a few seasons where I questioned everything about my direction, my capacity, even my calling. Running a business while raising a family and showing up for a community you deeply care about can feel overwhelming at times. There were moments when doors I prayed for didn’t open, when projects fell through, and when the weight of leadership felt heavier than I could carry.
I remember one particular moment sitting at my desk late one night, exhausted from pouring into everyone and everything around me, wondering if what I was building even mattered. But even in that stillness, I heard something quiet but clear: “Keep going.” It wasn’t just about business; it was about purpose. God reminded me that I wasn’t meant to quit, I was meant to grow through it.
That moment shifted everything. I stopped looking at challenges as signs to stop and started seeing them as preparation for what was next. Every setback built my endurance. Every “no” refined my vision. Every hard day shaped the woman, mother, and leader I am today.
Now, when things get tough, I remind myself that the same grace that carried me through those early days is still with me. I’ve learned that you can bend, cry, rest but you don’t break. Because purpose doesn’t let you quit.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief you used to hold tightly but now think was naive or wrong?
For a long time, I believed that strength meant doing everything on my own. I thought that in order to prove myself as a young woman in business, as a mother, as a leader I had to carry it all, perfectly and quietly. I wore independence like armor, thinking it made me strong, when in reality it was keeping me isolated and exhausted.
Over time, and through both success and stillness, I learned that real strength doesn’t come from doing everything alone, it comes from allowing others in. It’s in building community, trusting your team, leaning on faith, and learning to rest without guilt. I realized that asking for help doesn’t make you less capable, it makes you human.
Now, I move with a different kind of confidence, one rooted in grace instead of grind. Collaboration, vulnerability, and faith have taken me further than perfection ever could. I’ve learned that the goal isn’t to do it all; it’s to do it well, and to do it together.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I think people may misunderstand that my drive has never been about recognition, it’s always been about responsibility. When you lead with vision, especially as a young Black woman in spaces not built for you, people sometimes misread your confidence as being cocky or overly ambitious. I’ve even seen how the way I look, dress, or carry myself can lead people to make assumptions before they’ve ever heard me speak. But what I’ve learned is that presentation doesn’t determine the purpose your character does.
I love what I do, and I love people. I show up fully with style, passion, and heart because I believe representation matters. The spotlight has never been my goal, but I’ve learned that it’s part of the process. Visibility brings awareness, and awareness brings resources. You can’t inspire or empower people if they can’t see you.
Every initiative I’ve built from Felicitea Digital Lab to my campaign for Fulton County Commissioner has been rooted in service and strategy, not self-promotion. But I also understand that how you show up can open doors for others to feel they belong, too. I’ve learned that being visionary can sometimes look like being misunderstood. You move differently, you dream bigger, and that can make people question your motives before they understand your mission.
And that’s okay. Because the truth is, legacy isn’t about being understood in real time, it’s about being remembered for the right reasons later. I just hope people see that everything I’ve done came from a place of faith, love, and a deep belief that one person can make a difference and that showing up boldly, beautifully, and authentically is part of how I lead and love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.felicityforfulton.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felicity.swindell/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/felicity-swindell/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Dfelicityswindell/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@felicityswindell
• Other: https://www.felicitea.net/