Today we’d like to introduce you to Toi Powell.

Hi Toi, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
The Art of Becoming: A Journey of Creativity, Resilience & Illumination

I have always been an artist, a storyteller, a seeker. Long before I had the words to claim it, creativity was my first language—spoken in the margins of my notebooks, sung in the harmonies of my grandparents’ Pentecostal church in Jamaica, NY, and painted in the strokes that earned my artwork a place in the Hall of Congress. But more than that, I have always been a philosopher at heart, drawn to the deep, unshakable questions of existence. Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose in this vast, ever-expanding universe?

Creativity, to me, is not just about making art—it is about knowing thyself, the most sacred and lifelong journey of all. It is about excavating truth, uncovering the divine within, and reflecting that truth back to the world in ways that inspire, heal, and awaken. That mission—to learn, to be aware, and to illuminate the way for others—drives everything I do.

The Journey That Shaped Me

From an early age, I knew I was meant to create, to question, to push boundaries. I pursued a degree in Visual Communications, bridging artistry with strategy. For 20 years, I navigated the corporate world as a Project Management Leader in digital advertising—building brands, managing creative teams, and ensuring that visions were executed with precision and impact. But corporate was never the goal—it was the training ground, the place where I learned how to bring ideas to life in ways that mattered.
Yet, as a Black woman with strong ideas and an unwavering voice, I quickly realized that corporate spaces were not built to embrace people like me—those who dare to speak truth to power. My confidence in meetings, my ability to lead with clarity, my refusal to shrink in the face of intimidation—these things made me a threat to those who wished to silence me. I’ve been excluded from discussions, my ideas overlooked, my presence dismissed—not because I lacked knowledge or skill, but because I refused to dim my light to make others more comfortable.

The Weight of Resilience

Being a Black woman in these spaces means constantly fighting for a seat at the table, even when I am overqualified to be there. It means enduring microaggressions that chip away at my spirit, the constant, exhausting need to prove my worth. It means advocating for my team—fiercely protecting the creatives I manage, ensuring their time, talent, and expertise are valued and respected. I am their shield, their strategist, their voice when they cannot speak.
But resilience, while necessary, is not a badge of honor I wear proudly. It is a defense mechanism. I call myself the Bounce Back Queen, not because I enjoy the battle, but because I have had no choice but to keep getting back up. Being resilient feels like being trapped in a never-ending sparring match—gasping for air between blows, bracing for the next hit, knowing that even when I am exhausted beyond measure, I cannot afford to fall. Being Black is being resilient. Constantly fighting. Constantly proving. Constantly pushing toward the right to simply exist in peace.

The Creative Path as a Spiritual Calling

But I do not just fight for survival—I fight for something greater. I fight for the right to dream. To create freely, to tell stories that have never been told, to expand the limits of imagination. My art is my sanctuary, my rebellion, my sacred ritual. Every book I write, every song I create, every project I pour my soul into is an offering—a light for those who are seeking, just as I am.
I see this journey reflected in Dreama, the main character of my upcoming fantasy picture book, A Tale of Impossible Possibilities. Like me, she dreams big. Like me, she shares her vision, only to be met with doubt and dismissal. And like me, she must ask herself:

“Are these things too impossible? Or are they just too impossible for me?”

This is the question we all must face. The battle between fear and faith, between limitation and possibility. And my mission—through my stories, my art, my journey—is to show others that the impossible is only impossible until we make it real.

Building a Legacy of Light

Right now, I am channeling everything I’ve learned into the creation of a legacy-building fantasy universe—one that will transport readers to unseen worlds, introduce them to unheard tribes, and weave philosophy, mythology, and spirituality into the fabric of storytelling. I am creating a collection of pink rose-infused products—journals, fragrances, personal care items—designed to inspire self-discovery and healing.

Why pink roses? Because they symbolize everything I believe in—love, transformation, divine connection, and the unbreakable beauty of the soul’s journey. They are a constant reminder that even in struggle, there is grace. Even in darkness, there is light.

The Road Ahead

Creativity is more than a profession—it is a spiritual practice, a revolutionary act, a path toward self-actualization. I create for the seekers, the dreamers, the warriors. For those who dare to question, to imagine, to reclaim their power.

I create because it is my purpose.
I fight because I must.
And I will not stop until my mission is fulfilled—until the worlds I dream of exist, until the stories I tell awaken something deep in the hearts of others, until I have left behind something greater than myself.

I am an artist.
I am a philosopher.
I am a storyteller.
I am here to illuminate the way.

And I will keep going until my final breath—until the moment I cross into the ancestral realm, leaving behind a legacy that whispers to those who come after me:

“Nothing is impossible.”

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The Road of Fire & Blooming Roses

Smooth? No. The road has never been smooth. It has been jagged, winding, paved with fire and the echoes of every no I have ever received. It has been a battlefield—one where I have fought not just for my dreams, but for the simple right to exist in spaces that were never built for me.

I have walked this road with bruised knees and a weary spirit, carrying the weight of resilience not as a choice, but as a necessity. Because when you are a Black woman with vision, with voice, with truth—the world does not simply let you pass. It tests you. It dares you to shrink, to soften, to surrender. And when you refuse? When you stand tall, unwavering? The world retaliates.

I have faced doors slammed in my face, ideas stolen, my presence overlooked in rooms where my expertise should have made me undeniable. I have watched less experienced, less qualified voices be elevated while I was forced to fight for scraps of acknowledgment. I have felt the sting of microaggressions that chip away at your spirit—the way colleagues tighten when you speak with confidence, the way your brilliance is called “intimidating,” the way your passion is mislabeled as aggression.

And yet, I keep walking.

Because I am more than the struggle. I am more than the battles I have fought. I am the fire that refuses to be extinguished.

The Weight of Resilience

But let me tell the truth—resilience is heavy. It is not a glorious thing; it is not the badge of honor people romanticize. It is exhaustion wrapped in expectation, a constant state of being on guard, bracing for the next blow.

Imagine stepping into every meeting like a fighter entering the ring. Knowing that no matter how much you prepare, how skilled you are, the match will always be rigged against you. You throw your punches—your ideas, your strategies, your brilliance—and yet, the referee turns away. You take the hits—dismissal, exclusion, erasure—and yet, you keep standing. You have to. Because if you fall, you know they will not help you up.

That is the reality of being a Black woman in corporate spaces. That is the weight I carry as a leader of creatives—as someone who protects my team with the same ferocity I wish I was protected with. I shield them from the politics, from the undervaluing of their genius, from the system that sees artists as expendable instead of as the soul of every great creation.

The Price of Being a Dreamer

But the road has not only been hard because of external forces. It is difficult to be a dreamer in a world that worships the predictable.
To be an artist is to walk the tightrope between vision and doubt—to see a future that does not yet exist and have the audacity to believe you can bring it to life. And that, in itself, is a lonely path.

There have been nights where the weight of my own dreams felt suffocating. Where I questioned if the things I envisioned were too impossible, if I was foolish for chasing them. There have been moments where the fear of failure, of falling short, of being forgotten, almost swallowed me whole.

But I remind myself: I do not create because it is easy. I create because I must.

Because storytelling is my weapon.
Because art is my sanctuary.
Because philosophy and spirituality are my guiding stars.

And because, no matter how treacherous the road, I know that I was born to illuminate the way—not just for myself, but for others.

Blooming Through the Fire

So no, the road has not been smooth. It has been cruel, exhausting, relentless. But it has also been beautiful. Because despite the fire, I bloom.

Every battle has made me sharper, every rejection has made me stronger, every moment of doubt has deepened my faith in myself. And though I am weary, though I am scarred, I am still standing, still creating, still pushing forward.

Because I am not just surviving—I am building something that will outlive me.
And that, to me, makes every struggle worth it.

The road has not been smooth. But it is mine. And I will walk it until I become an ancestor, leaving behind a path of light for others to follow.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The Art of War & The Art of Creation

At my core, I am a storyteller, a visionary, a creator of worlds. My work is a fusion of literature, music, visual art, and creative strategy—all woven together with the fire of purpose and the depth of philosophy. I specialize in crafting immersive narratives that blend mythology, fantasy, and spirituality, drawing from both personal experience and ancestral wisdom.

I am known for storytelling that does more than entertain—it awakens. My books, such as the Blood of a Queen trilogy and my upcoming A Tale of Impossible Possibilities, are infused with themes of resilience, transformation, and self-discovery. My art carries the symbolism of pink roses, a reflection of healing and divine connection. My music, created alongside my husband, is an extension of my soul, a sonic expression of love and legacy.

But I do not just tell stories—I build them. As a seasoned project manager in the world of digital advertising, I understand both the fluidity of creativity and the discipline required to bring ideas to life. I mentor and consult with artists, helping them refine their craft and step into their artistic power. Creativity is not just about expression—it is about execution. It is about taking the raw fire of inspiration and forging it into something tangible, something lasting.

The Warrior’s Path – Bridging Martial Arts & Creativity

Beyond art, I walk the path of the warrior. In 2024, I immersed myself in Kenpo Martial Arts, earning my Green Belt—a symbol of growth, perseverance, and the transition from foundational knowledge to deeper mastery. In Kenpo, the Green Belt represents the flourishing of technique, the moment when a martial artist moves from understanding the basics to truly embodying the art. It is the bridge between discipline and instinct, strategy and fluidity.

I began this journey because I wanted to write combat scenes with authenticity, to craft characters who fight not just with their fists but with their souls. But what I found was something far greater—the philosophy of martial arts, the balance between power and peace, the understanding that true strength is not about domination, but control.

Martial arts, much like creativity, is an endless pursuit of self-mastery. It teaches resilience, adaptability, and the art of being fully present. It mirrors life itself—where battles are not always fought with fists but with the mind, where patience and precision often triumph over brute force.

What Sets Me Apart

I am not just an artist. I am not just a strategist. I am not just a fighter. I am all of these things, woven together, existing in the liminal space between fire and peace, imagination and discipline.

What sets me apart is my ability to see the unseen, to breathe life into ideas that others might dismiss as impossible. It is my relentless pursuit of knowledge, my commitment to knowing myself deeply so that I may help others do the same.

I do not fit into a box—I shatter them.

And if the world tries to burn me down?

Like the Firebird, like the Phoenix—I will rise, again and again, until my story is eternal.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The Most Important Lesson: Know Thyself & Honor the Fire Within

If there is one truth I have come to understand on this journey, it is this: The world will try to define you—if you do not know yourself, you will be shaped by hands that were never meant to hold your destiny.

I have learned that self-awareness is the foundation of everything—of creativity, of resilience, of freedom. To know oneself is to stand unshaken in the face of doubt, to trust your instincts even when the world tells you otherwise. It is to walk into rooms where you are underestimated and still carry the presence of a giant.

This lesson was not given to me—it was forged through fire. Through rejection. Through having my voice dismissed, my ideas stolen, my presence questioned. It was learned in moments where I had to choose between shrinking to make others comfortable or standing firm in my truth. And every time, I chose myself.

In my journey as a storyteller, artist, and martial artist, I have come to see that the fire within us is both our weapon and our sanctuary. It fuels us, but it must also be tended with care. Balance is everything. There is power in knowing when to fight and when to flow, when to stand your ground and when to rise above.

Kenpo Martial Arts has reinforced this wisdom. As a Green Belt, I have learned that true strength is not just in force, but in control. That the greatest warriors are not those who seek conflict, but those who master themselves first. The same is true in life—those who are grounded in who they are cannot be easily broken.

I have also learned that the journey is never just about me. My purpose is not only to create but to illuminate—to help others see their own fire, to guide them in knowing themselves so they can walk their own paths with certainty.

So if I could leave behind one lesson, it would be this:

Know yourself. Honor your fire. And no matter how many times the world tries to put it out—rise again.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.toipowell.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toipowell
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/latoya-powell-pm/
• Twitter: https://x.com/TheToiHouse
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ToiPowell
• Other: https://linktr.ee/toipowell , https://www.instagram.com/nexuscreativelab

Image Credits
Toi Powell Image Credits