Life & Work with Ve’lesa Dunlap of City of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Ve’lesa Dunlap.

Ve’lesa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in Albany, Georgia and raised in a small town tucked into the quiet fields of Southwest Georgia. Ours was a home where cultures intertwined — my mother from the Philadelphia area, my father from Jamaica, and me, the lone Peach in the house. That blend created a childhood that was both grounding and horizon-expanding, even in a rural place where I often felt like I didn’t quite belong.

Even then, I sensed a calling that stretched far beyond the boundaries of the world around me. I knew I was meant to reach higher, go further, and carve out a life that didn’t mirror my surroundings. What anchored me, though, was the legacy beneath my feet. I come from a family whose land has endured world wars, the Great Depression, and a pandemic. Soon, I will be the fifth-generation landowner of property older than the very county it rests in. That legacy humbles me. It reminds me that generational strength is not accidental — it is built, protected, and passed forward with intention. One day, I intend to do the same for my own children and grandchildren.

As a proud alumna of Spelman College, I can say the road to that illustrious campus was not easy. There were years when my faith had to hold me together. There were seasons when joy felt far away. But I kept moving. The decision of not marrying yet taught me the power of choosing myself, choosing my future, and choosing the version of womanhood I was still growing into. I can honestly say I wasn’t ready at the time.

My parents molded me and prayed over my life with a devotion that shaped me. My mother sacrificed for my success in ways I will never forget. She made sure I had what I needed to become the highest version of myself. My father’s quiet strength and heritage gave me pride in where I come from and determination for where I’m going.

Today, I stand in a season of preparation and purpose. I am not married yet, and I do not have children yet — and I say “yet” with confidence, not longing. I trust that God will align my life with the husband and family meant for me, and when that time comes, I will be ready to pour every ounce of love, legacy, and leadership into them.

In my community, I serve as the Conference Corresponding Secretary in the 6th Episcopal District of the AME Church. I am an active member of the Urban League, Women’s Missionary Society, and the Order of Eastern Star. Service has always been a cornerstone of my life — a reminder that no matter how far I rise, I remain rooted in purpose.

My story is one of heritage, faith, ambition, and becoming. I am building a future that honors where I come from while unapologetically reaching for everything I am destined to be.

A bible verse that always echoes in my spirit:
Trust in the LORD with all you heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6

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?
The road to where I am today was never smooth. It felt more like an unpaved country path — gravel kicking up behind me, dust in the air, and no clear signs pointing the way. But every uneven stretch shaped me.

One of my earliest challenges came during my final semester at Spelman. I had to take 32 credit hours in order to graduate, which felt nearly impossible. I pushed through it with determination and prayer, but by the end of it, I knew I needed time to breathe before taking on any graduate studies. That season taught me endurance, discipline, and the importance of giving myself grace.

My transition into the insurance industry brought its own set of tests. I entered the field in my early twenties, brand new and eager, but the industry itself is traditionally conservative and can be intimidating for a young Black woman finding her voice. My first agency experience was difficult. I worked under someone whose leadership style was both toxic and discouraging, and I eventually had to make the courageous decision to leave and step into the unknown.

The next agency I joined dissolved within months of my arrival, which forced me to rebuild once again. It was disheartening, but it also pushed me to stand on my own two feet, trust my instincts, and keep going even when stability felt out of reach.

It took three years for me to truly find my footing in the industry. When I discovered my niche — helping federal employees navigate their retirement benefits — everything shifted. From that foundation, my clientele expanded to include municipalities, churches, colleges, nonprofits, small business owners, and individuals planning for generational wealth.

Today, I help clients build futures rooted in structure, protection, and legacy. I’ve even partnered with an estate-planning attorney so that families with significant assets can secure trusts, wills, and the tools necessary to pass wealth to the next generation. We will be hosting educational workshops, discussing wills, trusts, and tax-free income next year in the spring, so stay tuned for that!

None of this came easily. But every challenge refined me. Every setback prepared me. And every closed door redirected me toward the work I was truly meant to do.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work in insurance began during one of the most emotional seasons of my life. In October 2020, my grandmother became critically ill with cancer, and my mother and I drove through Tropical Storm Zeta to care for her. Sitting beside her hospital bed, I realized I needed a career that offered flexibility, purpose, and the ability to be present for the people I loved. That moment reshaped my entire direction.

I entered the insurance industry through Primerica, where many people begin, and it became my introduction to the culture and language of finance. When I transitioned into working with an agency focused on federal employees, something clicked. I found my stride helping federal workers understand the complexities of TSP, FERS, Social Security, and the hidden gaps that often leave people unprepared for retirement. I became the person who could transform confusion into clarity and offer a healthier, more secure future.

Today, my work has expanded far beyond that beginning. I specialize in helping individuals accumulate wealth, preserve wealth, and build comfortable retirements, no matter their income level. I believe deeply that wealth-building is not reserved for the wealthy. Middle-class families with commitment and the right strategy can create legacies that reach generations forward.

My clientele now includes institutions such as hospitals, municipalities, school districts, churches, nonprofits, and small businesses. I support clients with 403(b) and 457 plans, Indexed Universal Life policies, and comprehensive retirement strategies. I’ve also partnered with an estate-planning attorney to ensure those with significant assets have access to wills, trusts, and the tools necessary to protect what they’ve built.

At the heart of my work is comfort. People feel at home with me because I break down the intimidating walls that often surround finance, especially in Black and rural communities. I explain concepts in a way that brings relief instead of fear. My clients know that once you work with me, you’re treated like family — a V.I.P. member of my personal community.

What sets me apart is the combination of compassion, clarity, and culture. I bring a human touch to a field that often forgets its humanity. I make financial planning feel safe, accessible, and empowering.

And expanding on that mission even further, I also serve as a Deputy Field Director for a Georgia gubernatorial candidate, using my skills in strategy, communication, and community engagement to help shape the political future of my home state. It’s another avenue where purpose meets impact, and where I’m able to uplift the very communities that shaped me.

I am also proud that my passions extend beyond finance. I am a producer in the film industry, merging my love for storytelling — rooted in my Theatre major from Spelman — with my desire to create meaningful, impactful art. I have appeared in two films, produced one, and plan to bring more of my scripts to life. Storytelling and legacy-building are intertwined, and both allow me to serve communities in profound ways.

I am proud to say that I am both an insurance producer and a film producer — two worlds that reflect the same mission: helping people envision, create, and step into the futures they deserve.

Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
People can begin working with me by booking a consultation through my scheduling link: Calendly.com/veedunlap/client-consultation. Whether someone is looking to build a more comfortable retirement or begin their journey toward wealth accumulation, that consultation is the first step toward clarity and confidence.

The same link can be used for collaboration inquiries. I partner with organizations that want to bring financial education to their communities through workshops, seminars, conferences, and tailored speaking engagements.

My work extends across a wide range of institutions — CPAs, property and casualty agencies, churches, school districts, colleges, municipalities, nonprofits, small businesses, sororities, fraternities, and professional or civic organizations. Wherever there is a need for accessible, empowering financial guidance, I show up with solutions.

I welcome collaboration with anyone committed to helping individuals and families build stronger, healthier financial futures.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://myintegrity.com/?purl=Velesa-Dunlap
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/royalqueenvee/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/V.Dunlap7
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veedunlap/
• Other: https://myintegrity.com/?purl=Velesa-Dunlap