Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Dr. Alonia Parks. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Dr. Alonia , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. The more we talk about good leadership the more we think good leadership practices will spread and so we’d love for you to tell us a story about the best boss you’ve had and what they were like or what they did that was so great?

My first job after graduating from college gave me the honor of having an amazing boss by the name of Carl Hartrampf. I worked for the Atlanta Chamber of Commerce in a capacity that I really thought was beneath me. My title was floater, and I was responsible for what I believed to be insignificant tasks like making copies, running errands between departments, and making note of people who were late for work.

Within three months, I was promoted to Executive Assistant in a department of the Chamber called the Housing Resource Center. While this was a step up from the floater position, I still felt like I was cut out for more than administrative work. My naive way of thinking had me saying to myself, “I’m a graduate of theeeee illustrious Spelman College. There’s got to be something bigger for me to do.” So, as humbly as I knew how, I told Carl that I was a really good writer and that I would love to have the opportunity to create a newsletter for our department. Without hesitation, he agreed to give it a try, and it was a big hit!

Looking back on this experience, I can’t help but laugh at myself. What audacity! Yet, Carl trusted me enough to give me a chance. I’ll always be grateful to him for that. And I’m not sure if he knows it or not, but that one kind gesture of his laid such a foundation for me. People began to notice my work, I gained greater confidence in myself and my abilities, and doors just continued to open for me.

Dr. Alonia , before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I have spent my life using the power of communication to help people discover, articulate, and amplify their purpose. I am the founder and CEO of Dream 2 Destiny Enterprises, an Atlanta-based corporate communications and human development firm that helps individuals and organizations clarify their message, chronicle their journeys, and celebrate their success.

Professionally known as Dr. Alonia: The Prolific Voice, I work at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and inspiration. Through writing, speaking, coaching, and music, I help clients move from vision to voice—transforming their ideas, experiences, and accomplishments into meaningful narratives that connect with audiences and open doors to greater opportunities.

My background in journalism, public relations, and corporate communications has allowed me to support a wide range of clients. At Dream 2 Destiny Enterprises, my team and I produce written materials such as executive and leadership bios, company histories, commemorative publications, and strategic messaging that helps organizations tell their stories with clarity and confidence. At the heart of our work is a simple but powerful mission: helping people get from where they are to where they want to be.

One of the things I’m most proud of is the opportunity to create meaningful experiences and platforms that honor people’s work and legacy. For example, I had the privilege of conceptualizing and producing a client’s first awards ceremony in celebration of their 40th anniversary. The event was such a success that many attendees remarked that it rivaled the quality and elegance of nationally televised awards programs. Moments like that remind me how powerful it can be when storytelling, celebration, and vision come together.

As a keynote speaker, I have found great satisfaction in delivering keynote messages that give the audience what they have asked for while sharing a message that resonates long after I’ve said my final word. Without question, presenting transformative messages as a keynote speaker is very fulfilling. My training as a journalist has equipped me to make certain that I understand the audience so that I may connect and deliver with unforgettable intentionality.

I am also honored to have written feature articles on numerous business executives, media personalities, and elected officials. Many leaders trust me as their writer of choice because they know I approach their stories with integrity, insight, and a genuine desire to capture the essence of who they are and what they stand for.

Above all, what sets my work apart is authenticity and purpose. I believe communication is more than words—it is the bridge between who we are and who we are called to become. Whether I am writing, speaking, coaching, or performing, my goal is always the same: to help people find their voice, own their story, and walk confidently in their destiny.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I once owned a magazine that received much acclaim to include the Alumnae Achievement award from my alma mater and a letter of commendation from the White House. But magazines (at that time) required lots of advertising dollars that I simply had not been able to amass. So, when I was no longer able to publish, I felt like a complete failure; I felt like I had let God down.

I was very brokenhearted and discouraged to the point where I almost fell into a depression. But something within me reminded me that I could not remain in a defeated state of mind. When I ended my pity party, I was given an opportunity to do some writing for a publication that quickly turned into an even greater opportunity. A publication had contracted with another journalist to do several feature articles. By the time of the deadline, she had not completed all the articles, so I was asked to complete the remaining six. Mind you, there was no time to personally interview the subjects; I had to write the articles based on the audio interviews conducted by the other journalist.

Long story short, when it was time for the next edition of the publication to be produced, I was asked to write ALL the feature articles. This time it was approximately 40. So, I went to writing six out of 30+ articles to 40 out of 39 articles. And the subject of the 40th article was me! That’s right…I was selected as one of the people to be interviewed. Of course, someone else interviewed me and wrote the article.

The bottom line of the story is if I had never ended my pity party, I do believe I would have missed the opportunity for this major milestone in my career. The best part of it all was that my writing for this publication caused me to be nominated for Most Outstanding Journalist by the Electronic Urban Report. I was nominated in the same category as Susan Taylor (then-Editor-in-Chief of ESSENCE Magazine and romance novelist Zane.) Susan Taylor won the award, but I was deeply honored just to be nominated in the category with her and Zane.

This turning point taught me the power of perseverance. I really wanted to give up because I felt like a failure. After this experience, I began to understand my fascination with butterflies. I grasped the fact that life is a series of metamorphoses. You have to know deep down within that better is possible and that it can, indeed, become manifest. But giving up is simply not an option. Even if you have to pivot or reinvent yourself, you can’t let go. If you let go, you’ll never know what could have been.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

It took me a long time to understand this concept, but I’m so glad I finally did. That concept is: I cannot do everything in the company, and trying to do so will quickly cause frustration and burnout. I had to learn that my responsibility is to cast the vision and identify people who are smarter than me who can bring the vision to life. Yes, my vision must be clear because I know no one will follow if there is no direction as to where we are going. But I have learned that people want to feel needed. And one of the best ways to meet that need and to maintain high morale is to respect what everyone brings to the table. Let them use their gifts, but also celebrate them genuinely and let them know that you value them.

For example, as a vocalist, I have been able to unify an amazing group of vocalists and musicians. We are The Groove Theory Collective…and in all humility, I must tell you that when I say we are good, good, we really are good, good! These outstanding artists came together after my team and I recognized their unique talents. And although the movement started with me, I have no problem sharing the microphone because I respect what each voice and instrument brings to the melody of our music. Every vocalist and every musician can stand on their own. There is no intimidation from me, and that comes from two things: (1) I have to be secure in who I am and (2) I respect and applaud their talents. As a result, it is easy for me to push them to keep going.

Another way to maintain high morale is to be fair across the board. I try to make everyone feel loved and accepted. I will not do something for one person that I would not do for another person. And you have to also sincerely care. I truly believe in the adage that people don’t care how much you know; they’d rather know how much you care. People don’t have to be kind, but life has taught me that it really does matter and it goes a long way.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.dralonia.com and www.aloniasings.com
• Instagram: @dralonia; @aloniasings; @dream2destinyent; @drmtodestinymin
• Facebook: @DrAloniaParks and @AloniaSings
• Linkedin: Dr. Alonia Parks
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@AloniaSings

Image Credits

Kori Williamson
Yolanda Nicholson-Shorthouse
Bleu McCall