Rising Stars: Meet Naomi Davis of Atlanta

Today we’d like to introduce you to Naomi Davis.

Naomi, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My journey has always been driven by the intersection of technology, culture, and community. I graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Business Administration and Information Technology, which laid the analytical and strategic foundation for everything I do. I had 7 internships across sports, media, entertainment, tech companies. Today, I work as a Digital Strategist at Google, blending my corporate career with a thriving footprint in the creator and gaming spaces as the founder of the personal brand “What Can’t You Do?”.

Getting to where I am today didn’t happen along a single straight line; it has been about leaning into the things I am deeply passionate about—gaming, basketball, and digital storytelling—and scaling them into platforms that connect people. Whether I am competing as a team captain and player for Grizz Gaming in the NBA 2K League or mentoring the next wave of talent, my focus has always been on breaking molds and opening doors for others.

Along the way, I’ve been honored to be recognized for that impact, including being selected as a fellow for the 2025 ADCOLOR Futures program and stepping onto stages as a keynote speaker to share insights on the future of creators in business. From leading community initiatives like youth basketball clinics with the Atlanta Hawks and Google to being scanned into NBA 2K as the first ever female MyPlayer, every chapter of this journey is about showing what is possible when you refuse to be put in a single box.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth, linear road—growth rarely happens in a straight line, especially when you are carving out a path where people who look like you haven’t traditionally been centered.

Navigating male-dominated spaces has been one of the defining challenges of my journey. Stepping into competitive gaming as a captain and player for Grizz Gaming in the NBA 2K League means frequently being the only female in the room or on the court. Breaking barriers in esports and sports entertainment requires a thick skin and a relentless commitment to your craft because you are constantly proving that you belong at the highest level of competition.

That same dynamic applies to the tech world. Walking into a major tech company as a young Black woman means dealing with the weight of being underrepresented, overcoming imposter syndrome, and constantly having to validate your expertise in spaces that weren’t always designed with you in mind. Balancing a rigorous corporate career as a Digital Strategist at Google while scaling a personal brand, competing at an elite gaming level, and showing up as a creator means late nights, high-stakes pressure, and relentless prioritization.

But those very struggles are what shaped the brand “What Can’t You Do?”. Every hurdle has been a reminder of why representation matters, and it fuels my drive to make sure the door is wide open for the next generation coming up behind me.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At my core, I sit at the intersection of technology, culture, gaming, and digital strategy. By day, I work as a Digital Strategist at Google, focusing on high-impact digital marketing strategy. Outside of the corporate sphere, I operate as a multi-hyphenate creator, competitive gamer, and community leader under my personal brand, “What Can’t You Do?”.

People primarily know me for breaking barriers in esports as a competitive player, team captain for Grizz Gaming in the NBA 2K League as well as for being a pioneering voice in gaming culture (including serving as the voice and likeness of the first female MyPLAYER in the official NBA 2K city trailer and being scanned into the game).

What I’m Most Proud Of:
I am most proud of building a career that refuses to choose between corporate excellence and creative passion. Being able to excel as a Digital Strategist at Google while simultaneously winning championships as a team captain in the NBA 2K League, speaking on stages proves that you don’t have to fit into a single box. More than any accolade or win, I am proudest of opening doors for others—whether through mentoring, leading youth basketball clinics with the Atlanta Hawks and Google, or showing young women and girls that they belong in tech, gaming, and sports.

What Sets Me Apart:
My competitive edge is my ability to translate across completely different worlds fluently. Not many people can transition seamlessly from designing digital strategies in a boardroom to competing at an elite, professional level in esports, and then turn around and host events. That hybrid background—rooted in my Business Administration and IT degree from Georgia Tech—allows me to view creator culture and tech innovation through both a strategic analytical lens and an authentic, grassroots creator perspective. I don’t just talk about the future of digital culture; I’m actively competing, building, and leading in it every single day.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
While people usually see me in high-energy, high-pressure environments—whether I’m competing in a championship gaming tournament, hosting a live broadcast, or deep in digital strategy at Google—most people would be surprised by how much I lean into quiet, detail-oriented creative problem-solving behind the scenes.

Outside of tech, gaming, and sports, I am a huge game show enthusiast at heart. I love things that test mental agility and lateral thinking, which is probably why competing on the television game show Flip Side was such an incredible behind-the-scenes thrill. Whether it’s strategy games or trivia, I love anything that exercises a completely different kind of competitive muscle away from the screen or the basketball court.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naeohmii/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/naomi-davis-nd/
• Twitter: https://x.com/naeohmii_2k
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@naeohmii