Ahndea May, Cover Winner
Storyteller. Community Champion. Heirloom Artist.
Ahndea May wears more than her heart on her sleeve. In her mother’s vintage suit, adorned with her grandmother’s jewels and her late father’s ring, she carries her family’s stories while writing a remarkable one of her own. Having navigated loss, cancer during pregnancy and divorce at 40, she helps other women find purpose through life’s upheavals. Whether transforming heirlooms or helping nonprofits find their support squad, the busy mom of five sees possibility in what others might overlook, including themselves.
You describe yourself as “multi-passionate.” What connects your interests?
My passion has always been people. At first, I just didn’t understand how to turn that into something. One of my first businesses was taking family heirlooms and turning them into beautiful floral pieces to help us remember our families’ stories. Now, through my company Elevate Branding Agency, I help people identify who they are, what their value is and how to tell that story. My oldest daughter works with me as a photographer and creative, which is an absolute joy. And lately, I’m also passionate about making sourdough! The list is long.
What has starting over taught you about navigating life’s transitions?
After over 20 years of marriage, I made the difficult decision to divorce my husband who was struggling with addiction. I had five children, no family nearby and needed to provide financially. I became CEO of a real estate brokerage and rebuilt our lives. I’m grateful my children saw me lead through that.
We’re all going to go through transitions. We’re going to have loss. We’re going to have grief. We can either let these things weigh us down, or we can learn to turn that into something that can make an impact for other people. Last year, I stepped away from the brokerage to figure out where I could lead next. My mission through Reset and Rise is to help women recognize their value, harness the power of transitions and ultimately lift up other women.
How do you use your talents to give back?
Nonprofits have incredible stories but often don’t have the resources to tell them. For Ministries of Grace, a food pantry in North Georgia, we went in while they were serving families and documented the work. We met with the founders and volunteers and then turned those conversations into social videos and testimonials for their annual gala. We are proud to have had a small role in amplifying their message and helping them have their most successful gala yet.
How do you help someone see potential in themselves?
Sometimes people need to borrow your belief for a little while. I ask questions and help them recognize, ‘This is who you are. This is what you offer.’ Suddenly, they’re saying, ‘I knew that, but I didn’t know how to say it.’ When they can express it, their confidence rises. Fabulous looks like finding your gifts and using them to give back.
“Ahndea reminds us that true leadership is about making an impact on the lives of those around you.” —Victoria Myers, Hairstylist & Over 40 Partner
