Meet Latisha Springer of Designed By L in Alpharetta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Latisha Springer.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Latisha. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I am an Army brat and product of a broken home whose roots lead to a small, migrant-worker town in South Florida. By high school, I could be summed up in three words: homeless, reckless, and soulless. Five days before my 21st birthday, I further solidified my place as a national statistic by becoming a single mother and, inevitably, getting on welfare. I didn’t know exactly what Baby Zoe needed or how I was going to provide it, but I knew the life that I didn’t want for my child.

By the time Zoe was in middle school, I had earned two Bachelor’s degrees in Business, bought a home in Alpharetta, Georgia, and was well-positioned in my career at a Fortune 50 company. It was also during this time that I acknowledged that I was living THE DREAM… someone else’s dream. I was incredibly unhappy and deeply unfulfilled. I began dreaming the impossible. I started asking myself, “What if…”.

In 2015, I earned a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) degree debt-free and with honors from the University of Georgia. I declined multiple 6-figure job offers. I resigned from my near two-decade corporate career. And, I relocated to Santiago, Chile with my teenage daughter – all within a three-week period. I had nowhere to live, no solid contacts, and no real plan to speak of… only the burning belief that I was being called to do MORE. This began my obsession with designing a life I loved – beyond borders and other perceived barriers. I longed for the excitement of the unknown, the unpredictability of the foreign, and the challenges associated with conquering it all. To date, my daughter and I have explored more than 70 cities in 15 countries across four continents. We’ve spent the past three years enthralled by the unmistakable and intoxicating rhythm of life in North Africa.

Now, back in the U.S., we’re focused on our next big adventures. Zoe started at Georgia State University in the Fall in pursuit of a career in medicine. She plans to study neurology and contribute to the cure for epilepsy. And, I am in the midst of redesigning my life to proliferate my mission to promote empathy and audacity by sharing perspective. When I’m not busy upsetting the status quo, I enjoy singing off-key, random acts of goofiness, and all forms of adventure with the people who matter most to me.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
I escaped my unhealthy home as a teenager. Though they weren’t a constant in my life, my maternal grandparents, Grams and Pops, took every chance they got to school me on the importance of education, service, and believing in something bigger than myself. In 2013, I experienced a series of deaths that included Pops. This was a terribly painful year of loss. I became consumed by the notion of impermanence and dove deep into examining life and loss. I’m forever grateful for gaining a deep awareness of my own mortality. As a result, my greatest fear is being average – to live a life of playing it small and finding myself on my deathbed consumed by regret. I don’t want to look back and think, “I could’ve been magnificent, but I was afraid.”

When I quit my corporate job, it came as a surprise to most people around me. They thought that something had happened and I’d made a rash decision to resign. In reality, I’d been crafting my escape for more than 5 years. After much self-reflection, I determined that what I valued most were freedom and impact. My corporate job wasn’t going to provide either of those. So, despite the fact that I had an amazing life by all accounts, I had to leave that life behind to create a life on my terms… while I still had time. It’s been nearly 5 years since I left corporate America and there are still moments when my bank account begs me to reconsider. Life on your own terms is full of uncertainty and criticism but, I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery. I’m meant to work in the world – not in a cubicle – and I must utilize my talents and gifts to impact the world.

So, as you know, we’re impressed with Designed By L – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of and what sets you apart from others.
I’m best known for being “crazy”. I’m the single mom who quit her “good job” to travel the world with teenager in tow. Though I’ve accomplished much in my young life, I consider this to be my crowning achievement. It was nearly 4 years ago when I accepted that I AM CRAZY. I am empowered by fantasy, living within my own illusions, and striving to make them real.

My work, no matter the platform, supports my mission to promote empathy and audacity by sharing perspective. This year, I’m proud to have curated my first international group trip to Marrekesh, Morocco. It was an opportunity for a small group of American women of diverse backgrounds to connect with each other and with a country as distinct and uniquely beautiful as they are. This trip also positively impacted Morocco and its people through the support of locally owned and operated businesses and the creation of the American Cultural Exchange Program. In this program, a young Moroccan woman was empowered to act as a group leader and provided a practical platform for practicing English and authentic cultural exchange. This project inspired women worldwide and I’m excited to do it again!

So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I’m thrilled to be heading into a new year! 2020 is sure to be an awesome year full of “I can’t believe I did that” moments. I plan to double down on efforts to achieve my mission by curating small group trips to foreign lands, being a conduit for knowledge, and candidly sharing my journey.

TRIPPIN’
Travel has changed the way I view the world and myself. So, of course, I think that everyone should travel! 2020 Vision Of Africa is an intimate introduction to the continent. This exclusive international experience in Marrakesh, Morocco will give travelers a unique opportunity to get a glimpse of Africa as it is – not as it is depicted in the media. We’ll explore spots, not on tourist maps, hang with locals, relax on the beach, wander the mountains, and sleep in the desert. And, BONUS: the entire experience is led by yours truly! I’ll be there every step of the way taking care of everything from touchdown in the Motherland till takeoff. Okaaay, VIP!!

2020 Vision Of Africa Highlights:
– Experience the infamous Jemaa el-Fnaa square
– Ride a camel across the desert oasis
– Dazzle your senses while shopping the maze-like alleys of the Marrakesh medina
– Learn about Moroccan food, culture, and history
– Soak up the sun, sand, and hippie vibes of the coast
– Cruise the windy roads of the Atlas Mountains
– Visit a traditional village
– Rest under the stars of the Sahara Desert

TRIBE
Travel instilled in me a keen awareness and strong desire for community that has fueled my drive to actively seek my tribe. I’m launching a private group membership to establish a gang of women aggressively supporting each other. We will connect regularly to share our individual dreams and strategize how to achieve them as a collective. To further support my goal of being a conduit for knowledge, I’m launching an online course to help more people design lives they love beyond borders and other perceived barriers.

#TMI
Candidly sharing the story of my journey is going to continue to be a vital part of proliferating my mission. I am very active on Instagram and use the platform for visual storytelling to inspire others to live intentional lives. I’m obsessed with creating content that’s pure and positive. My hope is that my tendency to overshare might impact the lives of others. I will openly share my message to anyone who will listen on all platforms made available to me. I recognize and accept that this position leaves me largely vulnerable to criticism and negativity. But, when I die, I want to be remembered for all the little things I left behind, the art I made while I was being myself, and the way I inspired people to pursue the impossible.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.DesignedByL.com
• Email: HelloDesignedByL@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/designedbyl/

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