CityBox Diary. A Quick Glimpse of Mini Business Stories Of Corporate Professionals, Business Owners, and Entrepreneurs In Atlanta
Interviewed By Maryan Aiken
ABOUT CITYBOX DIARY
The CityBox Diary is a quick glimpse of business stories direct from business owners, corporate professionals, and entrepreneurs. It’s a place where they collectively share their business journey, exciting projects and collabs, experiences that sometime brought hard lessons & setbacks but loaded with electrifying & exhilarating aha moments & of course, those memorable game changers that catapulted them to a whole new height of dizzying triumphs. Welcome to the CityBox Diary!
Silvia Saey
Dior Mavens Alumni
Founder
Good Tidings
Tiegem, Belgium
Financial Law, Vrije Universiteit Brussels
Fashion Management and Merchandising
Institut Francais de la Mode, Paris, France.
Social Media
@good.tidings
International Charities Supporting Autism
ABOUT GOOD TIDINGS
Passionate about life and authentic beauty, we want to free the Wanderlust in you. By creating one of a kind accessories, we take your style and outfit to a different dimension. We offer a unique collection of items handmade of exclusive and authentic materials in limited quantities. We continuously reinvent ourselves by creating a small amount of pièces uniques that bring you sustainable fashion.
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DIOR
Welcome the New Year with Dior
CALL DIOR. SAKS FIFTH AVENUE. PHIPPS PLAZA (404) 812-7287 TO HELP YOU SHOP WITH EASE OR CALL MACY’S LENOX SQUARE (404) 834 9817
Q: What are the lessons you’ve gained that have profoundly shifted your professional path?
Invest in good people. If you want to grow your business, you need the advice of experts. I hesitated to invest in a consultant, but once I took that step it brought my business to another level. We all have our talents. My mind is creative, so I needed help to structure my dreams into a vision that is now sent to me on slides with timelines. We schedule a weekly meeting and that keeps me on a steady path to growth.
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JIMMY CHOO
Say hello to 2022 with Jimmy Choo
BUCKHEAD VILLAGE DISTRICT 120 BUCKHEAD. NE, ATLANTA, GA 30305, USA 404 475 2800
Q: What is one thing you know now about women and work you wish you had known earlier in your career.
I now know women are perfectly capable to combine a family with a career. It might take some organizing skills and you might need to outsource a few chores, but I believe more than ever, women have a need for identity, that desire to contribute and be independent. I see so much talent in women that is not fully expressed in my opinion, this is because we are still raised with the idea that raising our children is fully our responsibility. I am hoping my own two girls will find the balance of raising a family and growing in their own purpose.
Read more of her interview here
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DIOR
Rediscover the iconic Gris Dior. A subtle and sophisticated perfume inspired by the House of Dior's emblematic color. Available only at Saks Fifth Avenue Phipps Plaza.
CALL DIOR. SAKS FIFTH AVENUE. PHIPPS PLAZA (404) 812-7287 TO HELP YOU SHOP WITH EASE
LaCrisha Burton Saba
DiorMavens Alumni
Founder
Global Continental Pageants
Founder
With Love Global
Mrs. Georgia America 2017
Center Neurology . Director of Marketing
Henderson, Tennessee. University of West Georgia. MBA: Business Management
ABOUT LACRISHA BURTON SABA
LaCrisha Burton Saba is no stranger to pageantry, having served as Mrs. Georgia America and Mrs. Georgia United States. She and her husband Joseph reside in Jonesboro, Georgia with their yorkie, Coco. She is a graduate of the University of West Georgia, where she obtained her Master of Business Administration with a concentration in Management. LaCrisha is an advocate for volunteerism and participates regularly at various community service events. She is immensely dedicated to her community, locally and internationally. LaCrisha's servant heart was the driving force behind her dedication to bringing her "With Love Global" 501c3 non-profit organization to life. Love meaning: Let Our Voices Echo. With the support of amazing donors and loyal volunteers throughout the state of Georgia, LaCrisha continues to successfully plan and execute monthly feedings for the homeless (preparing the meals and serving 200+ people each month), back to school supply drives for students all around the globe, summer lunch programs, food drives, blanket drives, adopt-a-senior events, and many more projects throughout her community. In her free time, LaCrisha enjoys working out, traveling the world (she and Joseph have visited over 50 countries together), baking, and spoiling her niece and nephews.
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The Global Continental Pageant System was created to give young girls and women a platform to make a difference and to also give them the tools and support to achieve their dreams. This pageant also wants to remind them of the inner and outer beauty that they possess and to never forget their self-worth!
www.globalcontinentalpageants.com
Instagram @gaglobalcontinentalpageants
Q: What exciting projects are you working on?
I am currently working on partnerships for With Love Global’s monthly Feed the Homeless gatherings in downtown Atlanta. We are gearing up for our annual Operation: Fill-A-BackPack campaign. I will be working with Clayton State University on their Stock-the-Bus campaign as well. I am planning to launch Brunch with Friends ATL this fall, focusing on women empowerment and real-life experiences through the eyes of women. I am currently researching and obtaining licensure to launch an international women’s travel group.
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MERCEDES-BENZ EXPERIENCE CENTER BY RBM OF ALPHARETTA HALCYON
The first Mercedes-Benz Experience Center in the country. Come visit today at Halcyon Forsyth to experience the Mercedes-Benz lineup in person.
This experience center is the first of its kind in the U.S. It will echo the layout of successful Mercedes-Benz pop-up stores like the one that debuted in Atlanta in 2017, and will allow customers to interact with Mercedes-Benz technology and vehicle features for the ultimate user experience. What to look forward to at the RBM Mercedes-Benz HALCYON store.
Experiential interactive digital displays
New vehicle showcases and product launches
Product specialists available to guide customers through product discovery
6345 HALCYON WAY SUITE 835 ALPHARETTA, GA 30005 PHONE (678) 726-6726
Q: What legacy do you want to leave behind?
I hope to be remembered as someone who made a difference in this world and for the love I have for my family, friends, and everyone around me. My love for fashion! My appreciation of a good handwritten note – I send them out regularly. My old soul. I live by the old saying “Give me my flowers while I am living.” Whether it is a birthday, anniversary, holiday, or “just because” - I love sending a beautiful bouquet to my family and friends. My dedication, locally and internationally, to philanthropy. I am immensely dedicated to improving the life of others through my nonprofit, With Love Global, and by volunteering with many other nonprofits around the world. I truly believe in leaving people better than I found them. Most importantly, my love for life!
Q: What is your favorite mantra?
“If you can dream it, you can do it!” & “Follow your instincts and never let other’s opinion of you become your opinion of yourself.”
Read more of the interview here
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A place to celebrate, to unwind, to step away from the noise of life. An unexpected escape from the routine. Lush florals and innovative cocktails filled with whimsies warmly welcome you, while the sense of community and euphoria captivate one’s sense of belongingness. Welcome to The Garden Room.
88 West Paces Ferry Road NW, Atlanta, GA 30305
Located at Buckhead Plaza (404)600-6471
gardenroom@thegardenroomatlanta.com
Doll Avant
Dior Mavens Alumni
Data Scientist, Founder & CEO
Aquagenuity
Harvard University
Afro-American History with Focus in Economics
Charity Involvement:
Member of the Harvard Club of Georgia Race Council,
Member of the Women's Leadership Council for the Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and
Vice Chair of the Atlanta Chapter SCORE, a division of the United States Small Business Administration.
ABOUT DOLL AVANT
Featured by ForbesWomen and The New York Times, Doll Avant is an award-winning tech entrepreneur, a cum laude graduate of Harvard University, and a TEDx speaker. As a data scientist and social impact strategist, Doll was honored with the global designation of “Google's Woman of Water” and featured on Google's home page for creating the “world’s largest water database.” Doll is the Founder & CEO of Aquagenuity ("Where Water Meets Ingenuity"), which has been recognized by Forbes, Google, Singularity University @ NASA Research Park, Coca-Cola, and WIRED Magazine as the first in the world to use big data, blockchain, and artificial intelligence to help consumers, corporations and smart cities answer the question: “What’s In Your Water?” in real-time, in order to predict and prevent water-related public health crises. This award-winning data analytics platform helps users track local water quality in real time and monitor water’s impact on health & sustainability, all the way to the tap. The platform launched globally at the Smart City Expo World Congress in Barcelona, Spain.
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Featured by ForbesWomen and The New York Times, Doll Avant is an award-winning tech entrepreneur, a cum laude graduate of Harvard University, and a TEDx speaker. As a data scientist and social impact strategist, Doll was honored with the global designation of “Google's Woman of Water” and featured on Google's home page for creating the “world’s largest water database.” Doll is the Founder & CEO of Aquagenuity ("Where Water Meets Ingenuity"), which has been recognized by Forbes, Google, Singularity University @ NASA Research Park, Coca-Cola, and WIRED Magazine as the first in the world to use big data, blockchain, and artificial intelligence to help consumers, corporations and smart cities answer the question: “What’s In Your Water?” in real-time, in order to predict and prevent water-related public health crises.
Q: Who are your biggest influencers and mentors personally & professionally and explain why?
Jane Fonda was my mentor in high school. I grew up as a triple threat (singer, dancer, actress) in our performing arts program (where Jane Fonda noticed me and took me under her wing) but I was also a scholar. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to pursue opportunities as a performer or accept the full scholarship I received to attend Harvard University. And Jane Fonda looked me in my eyes and asked: "Who said you had to choose?" Now, when a two-time Oscar winner tells you that you can do anything, you tend to believe her. Being mentored by Jane Fonda completely took the limits off of my thinking, and that has allowed me to have a multi-faceted career and achieve groundbreaking success in multiple arenas, from entertainment to corporate finance to technology.
Q: What legacy do you want to leave behind?
I believe that entrepreneurship is 21st century activism. I believe that the answers to the biggest challenges in society are locked on the inside of aspiring female entrepreneurs all over the world. So, I am on a mission to create one billion dollars in new wealth by helping to create 1,000 new millionaires. This means that for every success and every new barrier I break in business, I have a responsibility to impart that same knowledge into the lives of other aspiring female entrepreneurs. And I believe that together, empowered female entrepreneurs can change our families . . . change our communities . . . change our cities . . . change our nation . . . and ultimately change the world.
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At Chai Yo Modern Thai, award-winning Chef/Owner DeeDee Niyomkul constructs imaginative classical Thai dishes using modern techniques that carry the breath and soul of Thailand in every bite. Niyomkul's menu is carefully focused on delivering an inventive interplay of Thai flavors and textures, guiding the diner on a culinary exploration of provincial Thai dishes.
3050 PEACHTREE RD NW
ATLANTA, GA 30305
SUITE R-8 404-464-7980
Q: What are the lessons you've gained that have profoundly shifted your direction in business?
Sometimes when you’re a female CEO, people don’t equate “cute” with “competence” or “pretty” with “powerful” technology. We are judged by our appearance much more than our male counterparts are. So as female entrepreneurs, we must never downplay who we are, but instead walk into every room leading with confidence, sharing our brilliance and vision with authority, and leading with love.
Q: What exciting project are you working on?
I am the Founder & CEO of Aquagenuity, an award-winning data analytics platform that helps consumers, corporations and smart cities understand what's in their water in real time instead of waiting until the next public health or economic crisis. Honored by Google for creating the "world's largest water database," Aquagenuity has been featured by WIRED Magazine, selected for technology implementation by Fortune 100s like Coca-Cola.
Q: 3 things that we should know about you?
I am a Harvard-trained historian and economist, a serial entrepreneur-turned-data scientist, and a TEDx speaker.
Read more of the interview here
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Le Bilboquet is open daily for lunch and dinner. The bistro and bar offers a vibrant atmosphere paired with classic French cooking, bringing a slice of Parisian café culture to the neighborhood at the Buckhead Village District.
www.lebilboquetatlanta.com
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Passionate about life and authentic beauty, we want to free the Wanderlust in you. By creating one of a kind accessories, we take your style and outfit to a different dimension. We offer a unique collection of items handmade of exclusive and authentic materials in limited quantities. We continuously reinvent ourselves by creating a small amount of pièces uniques that bring you sustainable fashion.
Instagram @good.tidings
Tammie Darymple
Founder
Health Coach
Yoga Instructor
Blissfully Soulful
www.blissfullysoulful.com
Instagram @tammiedalrymple
ABOUT TAMMIE DALRYMPLE
Tammie is a certified health coach practitioner and certified yoga instructor, 500RYT. She has been involved in the the health and fitness arena for over 14 1/2 years as a certified group fitness instructor, personal trainer, and spin instructor. She attended the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, studied with Athletic and Fitness Association of America, Mad Dogg Athletics, YogaFit World Wide Training, as well as Dorje Yoga for Advanced Yoga Teacher Training. Tammie is an ambassador for Rescuing Hope www.rescuinghope.com to help bring awareness into our communities on the pandemic of sex trafficking.
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Yoga is a fabulous tool to cultivate awakening, healing and transformation. Through a yoga practice you get to know the true you. Yoga gets you to embrace acceptance while letting go, and allowing.... this brings a state of alignment with peace, love and joy.
Instagram @tammiedalrymple
Q: Tell us more details about your service offerings at Blissfully Soulful
Blissfully Soulful offers group sessions, private sessions, retreats, including corporate wellness seminars/coaching events. Tammie is passionate about inspiring others to heal from the outside in, to the inside out along their wellness journey. She encourages empowerment for the metamorphosis of transformation within the mind, body and spirit. “It is my soul’s mission to motivate others to get out of their own way, relinquishing what no longer serves them on their path, in order to open up to listen to their inner guidance.”
In this safe space they are able to heal, grow and learn finding tools that work best for them. It is the sweetness of the “aha” moment when the shift happens into the self realization of authenticity.
It is liberation into the peaceful awakening that sparks the enlightenment of living life to the fullest, blissfully soulful. We dive deep into thought provoking self reflection, while focusing on the main areas of our life that truly fuel us for personal development, including food, physical movement, relationships, purpose/career, spirituality. We utilize health coaching, meditation and yoga in our sessions.
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Ride In Style
Fortune Luxury Concierge is Atlanta’s premier luxury private car service. The ultimate in personal & corporate car service, Fortune Luxury Concierge offers clients a reliable and cost effective method for luxury travel around the Atlanta metropolitan area.
www.fortuneconcierge.com 404/618/0218 reservations@fortuneconcierge.com
Q: What inspired you to start your own business?
I have been teaching and training for over 14 years. Ever since social media began, I have been inspirational writing and sharing on social media. Every time I would share my thoughts I would receive private messages on how much my words inspired and resonated. I would also post random yoga poses and get a ton of positive feedback.
Then in July 2017, I attended Tony Robbin’s Unleash The Power Within Conference. It was there in deep self realization sharing my story with other’s that I was encouraged to bring my yoga poses and my writings together in a blog to gain a bigger audience to make a bigger impact. I shifted my instagram from family to my purpose and within 3 weeks, I had companies reaching out to me to be brand ambassadors. This sparked the bliss in my soul to travel and explore more of this beautiful world capture creative images supporting these companies while sharing divinely inspired messages. I have taught yoga, hosted yoga retreats, had amazing photo shoots and met the most genuine and unique people along the way.
Then the next piece was my YouTube channel to be brought to life. I have literally had 100’s of people request for me to make yoga videos over the past 12 years. I just had to get out of my own way of criticism to finally step into the fullness of my calling. During the summer of 2019, I let go of my own BS and bam, Blissfully Soulful YouTube was created.
Read more of the interview here
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Skynculture is where we treat every skin type, every skin tone, & every skin concern.
1610 Lavista Road Suite 10. Atlanta. GA 30329
Maria Morton
Faces by Dior Alumni
Maria Elizabeth’s Closet
Owner
University of Alabama-ROLL TIDE! Marketing
Charity Involvement Board Member of the Paulding Boys and Girls Club
Instagram: @MariaElizabethsCloset Facebook Maria Elizabeth’s Closet
ABOUT MARIA ELIZABETH’S CLOSET
Maria Elizabeth’s Closet Online Boutique is a blend of classic, trendy, and affordable fashion. With the best care taken into selecting each piece, the goal is to provide the everyday working and social woman the best selections for social gatherings, celebrations, brunch, and vacation.
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COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL SOURCE AND INSTALLATION OF ATLANTA’S FINEST FLOORS. HARDWOOD. LUXURY VINYL PLANK. CARPET. TILE
Q: What is unique about your company and its services?
What is unique about Maria Elizabeth’s Closet is the fact that I have a passion for fashion. Before I started on this journey, I would gladly assist friends and family regarding outfit choices for events or photoshoots. I am the friend that LOVES sitting for hours finding the PERFECT outfit! I would be remiss if I did not mention that there’s a group of women that also bask in the joy of taking photos. In order to get the best photos, you must look and feel your best. That joy in what I do translates over to the experience of the “Maria Elizabeth’s Closet” customer. We take great care of each customer and each package because we want you to be EXCITED from beginning to end. From navigating the website and choosing your items, to receiving and opening your package for the grand reveal.
Q: As we grow and evolve, what is one decision you wish you didn’t make and why?
As we grow and evolve and navigate this thing called life, it’s easy to say we wouldn’t have made the decisions that didn’t turn out in our favor, if we were presented that very same opportunity a 2nd time. Although we must absolutely learn from our mistakes or past hurts, I do believe that without disappointment or painful circumstances, our faith would not be as strong as it is. Growing up, I got teased so much for how I spoke and my height. We ALL can relate to some cruel moments in Middle School/High years! I got teased mostly in Middle school, surprise surprise! But consequently, those years really can shape us and how we view ourselves based of the insecure voices that project onto you! I carried that complex into adulthood, and I would tell myself the same story “I am too tall”, “My hips are too wide”, “I speak too proper”. Hence, my anxiety when came to public speaking. I would have others tell me how they LOVED my voice and how I spoke but internally I didn’t understand why because I believed the narrative that was projected onto me. I eventually made the decision to embrace all that I am, flaws and all! Even though I can say that I am still not 100% comfortable with public speaking, I tell myself to “DO IT AFRAID!”
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We aim to bring you the forefront of fashion. With the best care taken into selecting each piece, the goal is to provide the everyday working and social woman the best selections for social gatherings, everyday wear, celebrations, brunch and vacation. Our mission is simple - provide stunning and affordable fashion accessible to clients everywhere!
Instagram @mariaelizabethscloset
Q: How do you keep your team motivated despite conflicts and obstacles?
In the corporate world, I work in a team environment as a Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant. Identifying top talent in our industry is no easy feat. We run into every obstacle that you can think of. But I focus on what we CAN control. I believe in positive affirmations! “We will find the right people”, “We will bless someone with an amazing opportunity”. It also helps that I work for one of the best Insurance Brokers with competitive resources and I truly believe that so when I speak with a potential candidate, that passion shines through. I stay focused on the end-goal and realize that the work leading up to presenting someone with a lucrative offer will pay off. My job also calls for difficult conversations. I often work best under pressure because I am determined NOT to fail. I understand that my job is essential to impacting our company’s success and growth, so I often use that as fuel to succeed!
Read more of the interview here
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The Woodruff Arts Center is home to three renowned artistic institutions: The Alliance Theatre, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and High Museum of Art. The Arts Center enriches the lives of more than 800,000 patrons annually, including more than 170,000 students and teachers, making the Woodruff Arts Center the largest arts educator in the state of Georgia.
With visual and performing arts as well as robust educational programming presented on a single campus, the Woodruff Arts Center brings together patrons of all ages, interest levels, and backgrounds
1280 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30309
Open ⋅ Closes 5:30PM ⋅ Reopens 9:30PM
HOTWORX is a virtually instructed exercise program created for users to experience the many benefits of infrared heat absorption, while completing a 30-minute Isometric workout or 15-minute High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) session. As the infrared heat penetrates your body causing you to sweat, the isometric postures further accelerate detoxification by physically removing the toxins from your organs through muscle contraction. Our patented sauna combines heat, infrared, and exercise– what we like to call “3D Training”– and makes HOTWORX a workout unlike any other fitness program available!
Get Your Body Bikini Ready
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LE COLONIAL
Le Colonial is a celebration of the seductive spirit and vivid flavors of 1920s French Colonial Southeast Asia, located in the heart of Atlanta, one of America’s fastest growing and most diverse cities. Designed to capture a bygone era of sophistication and opulence, celebrated restaurateurs Rick Wahlstedt and Joe King deliver on exquisite attention to detail in a luxurious escapist oasis at The BuckheadVillageDistrict.
www.lecolonialatlanta.com 3035 Peachtree Rd NE Ste A201, Atlanta, GA 30305 Phone (404) 341-0500
Executed on a grand scale the likes that Atlanta has never seen, Little Alley Steak Buckhead welcomes you to 9000-square-feet of understated, intimate opulence, boasting a seductive lounge and bar with over 400 bottles of the finest bourbon, whiskey and Scotch, multiple dining rooms, an outdoor climate-controlled bar and sprawling terrace as well as a secluded private dining room. Menu highlights include a wide variety of wet-aged, dry-aged and USDA prime steaks as well as the freshest hot and cold seafood in the southeast.