Poverty has long been holding back people from a lot of things. Lack of resources, which lead to a lack of crucial opportunities, has been the downfall of many for generations. Among those who rose from it, however, is award-winning entrepreneur Dr. Velma Trayham.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Velma came from a situation of extreme poverty. Through hard work and following God’s voice, though, she overcame the odds and became one of today’s thought leaders in entrepreneurship.
She is the CEO and founder of her own company—Thinkzilla Consulting Group, which specializes in marketing automation, digital transformation, and overall brand development for small to medium-sized enterprises, government agencies, and several Fortune 500 companies. With offices in Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Houston, the company has spearheaded significant growth for many businesses, including NASCAR, Atlanta Airlines Terminal Company, Atlanta Business League, and the University of Phoenix. Among Thinkzilla Consulting Group’s services are public relations, email marketing, cultural branding, digital marketing, partnership management, marketing automation, and corporate events management.
As one of the most sought-after revolutionary thinkers, empowerment specialists, and transformational leaders of today, Velma has earned a distinguished reputation and following as a catalyst for change in the United States. She wishes to continue being the voice of hope for people worldwide, especially for women in minority communities. “The world needs practical insights and wisdom to help them get through these tough times and this is what my platform is all about,” she shares.
Through her non-profit, economic empowerment program—Millionaire Mastermind Academy, Velma has mentored more than 5,000 women to become successful in various industries. She did so through monthly in-person economic empowerment events and conferences, where women would gather to learn about entrepreneurship.
Recently, Velma has launched her own talk show based in Atlanta, Georgia, called “Millionaire Mindset with Dr. Velma Trayham,” a show she started in her hopes to reach more people with her insights. The said show airs every Friday on the AIB TV Network, which serves Metro Atlanta and North Georgia via the cable systems of Comcast Channel 295 and AT&T U-verse Channel 6. This platform enables the show to reach over two million households. The network also has an AIB Everywhere platform, which allows live streaming for programs on its cable systems. Streaming is available through iOS and Android phones, as well as notebooks, laptops, and personal computers.
Velma shares, “The reason I launched this show is to empower and inspire African American and minority women to rise above poverty through entrepreneurship. The talk show is educational—sharing tools and insights for successful entrepreneurship and business empowerment.” The award-winning entrepreneur takes pride in being able to share her story and work through the platform, enabling her to be instrumental in others doing and achieving the same.
Aside from her remarkable work in business, Velma is also a highly sought-after motivational speaker, authoring several books, including “When God Says Go,”—a self-help guide to thrive and survive in the business world. With over 400,000 copies sold since 2017, the book offers life-changing advice for personal and professional growth based on proven practices and actual experiences. Moreover, Velma is a social media influencer with over 100,000 combined followers on her various social media platforms—a number which she continues to grow.
To know more about Velma, visit her website and LinkedIn page.
Opinions expressed by NY Weekly contributors are their own.
