We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Diontae Burden. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Diontae below.

Diontae, appreciate you joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.

One of the biggest risks I ever took was driving across the country alone from my hometown of Baltimore to California in just three days. It was mentally, emotionally, and physically challenging, especially doing it on my own. That journey taught me resilience, independence, and showed me that I was far stronger than I ever imagined. Looking back, it became one of the best decisions I ever made.

Since taking that leap of faith, I’ve accomplished goals I once only dreamed about. I graduated from college, became an entrepreneur, worked as a fashion marketing specialist, developed as an artist, and authored two books. I also had the opportunity to play college basketball and work with the Golden State Warriors youth basketball programs. Along the way, I’ve traveled internationally and attended major events such as the Grammy Awards, BET Awards, and the NAACP Image Awards.

That experience taught me that sometimes the greatest growth comes from taking risks, stepping into the unknown, and believing in yourself even when the path ahead is uncertain.

Diontae, 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?

My name is Diontae Burden, and I’m a creative, entrepreneur, former athlete, and community advocate from Baltimore City. My journey into fashion, branding, and creative storytelling came from both personal experience and purpose. Before anything else, I’m someone who believes in resilience, representation, and creating opportunities for people who come from environments where success often feels limited.

One of the biggest risks I ever took was leaving Baltimore and driving across the country alone to California in just three days. That experience changed my life. It taught me discipline, faith, and confidence in myself. Since then, I’ve graduated from college, played college basketball, worked with the Golden State Warriors youth basketball programs, traveled internationally, attended major cultural events like the Grammy Awards, BET Awards, and the NAACP Image Awards, and continued building my voice through fashion, music, writing, and mentorship.

My brand, K7D, stands for “King in Disguise.” The “7” represents my mother and my five siblings. Growing up in a single-mother household with six children, family became the center of everything for me. That’s why the number stays in the middle — because that’s where my heart has always been.

I created K7D about two years ago, but it was never meant to be just another clothing brand. I wanted it to have meaning. I always said I wanted the message to be on the back of the clothing because people often look behind you before they ever look in front of you. Every piece is designed to tell a story and spark thought. Whether it’s about Black excellence, Black love, Black culture, resilience, or empowerment, the goal is always bigger than fashion. The clothing becomes a conversation piece and a way to inspire pride, awareness, and unity within our communities.

What sets me apart is authenticity. Everything connected to my brand comes from real experiences, real struggles, and real growth. I’m not creating from trends — I’m creating from purpose. My work is deeply connected to culture, identity, leadership, and uplifting people who may not always feel seen or represented. I want people to understand that K7D is not just about looking good; it’s about standing for something.

Outside of fashion, I’ve also dedicated years to youth development, education, mentorship, and advocacy. I’ve worked with young people in schools and community programs, helping them build confidence, leadership skills, and vision for their futures. That same mission carries into my creative work. I want my brand and platform to remind people that where you come from does not determine where you can go.

What I’m most proud of is being able to turn my story into something that can inspire others. Coming from Baltimore City, overcoming challenges, and building opportunities through creativity, education, and entrepreneurship has shown me the importance of perseverance and community. At the core of everything I do is the desire to give back, represent my people with pride, and create a legacy that means something beyond myself.

Have you ever had to pivot?

One of the biggest pivots in my life was shifting away from the dream I originally had for myself through basketball and sports media. For a long time, I was focused on playing basketball overseas and eventually becoming a broadcaster for ESPN. As a former college athlete, sports had always been a major part of my identity and the vision I had for my future.

But as life evolved, I started realizing that my creativity, storytelling, and passion for culture could impact people in a different way. Instead of only seeing myself through athletics, I began exploring fashion, branding, marketing, music, event curation, and entrepreneurship. That transition was not easy because it meant redefining who I was outside of basketball.

I eventually built my brand K7D “King in Disguise” and started creating not just clothing, but meaningful experiences and creative spaces for people. I moved into fashion marketing, creative direction, and curating networking and creative events that bring together professionals, artists, entrepreneurs, and visionaries. I wanted to create environments where people could connect, feel inspired, and build opportunities together.

What made this pivot so powerful was realizing that many of the skills I developed through basketball still applied to business and creativity, discipline, leadership, teamwork, consistency, confidence, and resilience. Basketball taught me how to compete, but entrepreneurship taught me how to create.

Looking back, I no longer see it as “walking away” from one dream. I see it as evolving into a bigger purpose. Sports gave me the foundation, but creativity and entrepreneurship gave me a platform to tell stories, represent my culture, inspire others, and build something that reflects who I am.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

One of the most defining moments of resilience in my life came after a serious car accident that could have completely changed the direction of my future. I suffered multiple injuries, including a fractured nose, broken ribs, damage to my left shoulder, and an injury to my left knee. I had to undergo nose surgery, returned home in a wheelchair, and spent months in rehabilitation trying to rebuild my strength physically and mentally. What made it even more difficult was that this happened right before I planned to leave Baltimore and drive across the country to California. Most people would have probably seen the accident as a sign to stay where they were and play it safe, but deep down I still felt like I was meant to leave Baltimore and start a new chapter in my life.

Once I was medically cleared, I followed through with that vision and drove alone to California. That decision ended up changing my life for the better and positively impacted those around me as well. Moving across the country opened doors I never imagined possible, allowing me to grow as an entrepreneur, creative, and community leader.That experience taught me that resilience is not about avoiding hardship; it’s about continuing forward despite it and believing in yourself even during your hardest moments.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://k7duniversity.myshopify.com/
• Instagram: ___therealk7d

Image Credits

Lawanda Bryant

Kyla Pratt

Malik Parker

Ashley Barnes