aria

GUEST SPEAKER & ENTREPRENEUR

meet aria

meet aria

After years of a tumultuous and unstable childhood, I moved out at the age 15 to focus on creating a better life for myself. I spent the following decade learning from the best in New York, navigating my way through the entertainment and fashion industry. By the age of 20, I found myself working for everyone from Jay Z to Versace and a few years later, I started my own photography company which took me around the world. I spent the next 14 years living in seven countries and traveling to 23, photographing the most beautiful places on earth while documenting exotic excursions and high-profile events. 

It wasn’t until my mid-30s while on vacation that I discovered a family secret. Having attended seven different schools, I found it odd that we were continuously moving. I always assumed it was due to neighbors picking up on signs of abuse and my mother’s embarrassment from the police showing up to our home. While on a trip to New Orleans in 2021, I bumped into a relative who hadn’t seen me since I was a baby. It was then that I discovered my mother kidnapped my siblings and I 30 years prior from our father out of spite.

In 2023, I decided to speak on a podcast after years of being told I should share my life story. I figured a podcast was a safe space to start and considering I have no social media, no one will ever see it. I was wrong! Each podcast I’ve spoken on accumulated no less than a million views within a day, some reaching 6 million views, and one episode taking the number one spot on Apple Podcasts in their category.

It’s taken me about a year to realize the importance of my story, the importance of representation, and to truly process the response I received from thousands of people. If my story causes an educator to think twice and question the safety of a student, or inspires someone to realize that their circumstances hold them back only if they let them, then going through all of this was worth it.

As someone who feels as though they’ve accomplished everything they ever wanted, I’m now in a place where I’m ready to hang up my camera and prioritize helping others. My hope is to show those who grew up as I did that regardless of your current circumstances, your wildest dream is easier to achieve than you think.

the works

MY ENTREPRENEURIAL JOURNEY

1

I was 10 years old when I received my first camera and spent my free time as a kid photographing the city.

When starting my own business, I landed a lot of high profile clients such as Dr. Fauci, Johnson & Johnson, the King of Spain and more. Over the past three years, I somehow got into destination photography, photographing exotic excursions around the world.

www.planesandpixels.com

PLANES & PIXELS

2

MY SWEET NANA

Due to the pandemic in 2020, I was forced to put my photography business on pause. Just weeks before the lockdown, my Nana had also passed away.

Trapped in my tiny apartment in Harlem, grieving the loss of the most important person in my life, I found myself in the kitchen baking. It was one of the many things my Nana taught me as a child, and by mixing my creative skills with her culinary skills, I was able to create edible art. These stunning sugar cookies grabbed the attention of Central Park, the World Trade Center, and other landmarks in the city. I also sold wholesale to small businesses throughout the US, as well as created custom pieces for events.

I eventually closed due to the high demand and wanting to get back on the road once the lockdown was over, but I still get requests every year to reopen.

I’m thinking about it…

3

ARIA’S ADVENTURES

“You should write a book!” is something I hear at least every other week, but I have absolutely no desire to write an autobiography or tell-all book. A children’s book, however, has always been a dream of mine and is currently in the works. I’ve completed the writing for most of the series, and I’m currently working with an illustrator to bring the first three books to life!

let’s talk

GUEST SPEAKING STATS

Previous Podcasts:

speaking  topics

    • Discussing family trauma

    • Understanding the importance of breaking generational cycles

    • Learning how to achieve your goals despite your upbringing

    • The creation of two successful businesses

    • Creating a global business at the age of 25

    • Managing high-profile clients

    • Achieving all of this with zero social media presence

    • Navigating male-dominated industries and managing my own international business.

    • Drawing inspiration from the countless female business owners I interned for or worked with at a young age.