Meet Kora Franco

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

Hi Kora, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

I get my resilience from having to grow through life’s hardest moments at an early age. When I was 11, I lost my mom to cancer. A year later, I discovered that my dad wasn’t my biological father — essentially becoming an orphan. That loss left me without the traditional foundation most people start with, and I had to learn early on to turn every setback into motivation.

During my first year of college, I became a young mom. Balancing motherhood, school, and two jobs wasn’t easy, but it pushed me to find another level of strength. I was determined to build a future my child could be proud of, and that drive helped me earn my bachelor’s in finance and later my MBA. It’s the same drive that fuels me today as the founder of Aesthetic Wines — a brand that embodies being bold, ambitious, confident, and resilient, especially as one of the few Black women in the U.S. to own a wine brand.

My resilience comes from transforming pain into purpose and turning challenges into fuel to create something meaningful — not just for myself, but for others who need to see what’s possible. My hope is that my journey becomes a blueprint for perseverance, purpose, and possibility.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

I’m the founder of Aesthetic Wines, a brand rooted in being bold, ambitious, and resilient – qualities that have shaped every part of my journey.

My love for wine started naturally. After each milestone — earning my bachelor’s in finance, completing my MBA, getting married, and even the emotional moment of finding my biological father, I would celebrate with close friends and family over wine tastings. Over time, those moments became a way to pause, reflect, and appreciate the growth that came from every challenge.

That tradition inspired me to create Aesthetic Wines, a brand that embodies the beauty of resilience and the power of self-belief. As one of the few Black women in wine ownership within the U.S., I wanted to build something that represents strength, elegance, and ambition for people who chase their dreams fearlessly.

For me, Aesthetic Wines isn’t just about what’s in the glass; it’s about honoring your journey, embracing your growth, and toasting to the life you’ve built — boldly and unapologetically.

Looking ahead, we’re expanding our offerings with a candle line designed to enhance the sensory experience of wine, as well as new varietals and exciting collaborations that align with our bold, elevated brand vision. And once Aesthetic Wines reaches a certain level of profitability, we plan to launch a scholarship fund for students aspiring entrepreneurship — empowering the next generation to build equity, create opportunities, and chase their dreams with confidence.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three qualities that have most defined my journey are: relentless vision, resilience, and unshakable self-belief.

Resilience came from navigating loss, uncertainty, and the realities of being a young mom while pursuing my education. Life tested me early, and I learned that every setback could either hold me back or help me rise higher — I chose to rise.

Vision became my compass. Even when the path ahead wasn’t clear, I stayed focused on where I wanted to go. From earning my MBA to creating Aesthetic Wines, I’ve always chosen to see possibility where others might see limitation. That same vision guided me through a 10+ year search for my biological father — a journey that required unwavering faith and persistence when I had no idea who or where he could be. Finding him after all those years was proof that clarity and determination can turn even the most uncertain paths into purpose.

And self-belief — that deep, quiet knowing that says, “I can do this” — has been my foundation. Coming from humble beginnings, I realized that believing in myself wasn’t optional; it was essential to transforming my life.

For anyone just starting out, my advice is simple: trust your process and do not listen to the naysayers — people will try to project their fears and insecurities onto you. Take calculated risks. Build resilience by standing strong through challenges, sharpen your vision by dreaming beyond your comfort zone, and protect your self-belief like it’s your greatest asset — because it is. Every challenge is shaping you for the greatness you’re meant to step into.

If you knew you only had a decade of life left, how would you spend that decade?

If I knew I only had a decade left, I’d live it with purpose, intention, and impact. I would spend my time creating, building, and pouring into others — making sure that everything I touch leaves a lasting imprint.

I’d continue growing Aesthetic Wines, expanding it into a brand that not only celebrates resilience and ambition but also inspires people to honor their own journeys. But most importantly, I’d focus on giving back — creating our scholarship fund for students pursuing business and entrepreneurship, so they can build equity and opportunity for themselves. Having to struggle to put myself through college, I know how life-changing that support can be.

If I had ten years left, I’d live every day boldly, fearlessly, and with gratitude — building legacy, empowering others, and reminding people that even through challenge, there’s beauty in resilience and purpose in the journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://aestheticwines.com
• Instagram: @AestheticWines
• Linkedin: Aesthetic Wines
• Other: TikTok: @aestheticwines

Image Credits

Nicole Mondestin Photography (desk photo)