We recently connected with Michelle Loyd and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Michelle, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I found my purpose through service long before I found it through business. Helping people has always been at the center of who I am. My grandmother was a nurse and a mother of seven children, and her example showed me what strength, sacrifice, and caring for others looked like in real life. That mindset stayed with me. It led me into health, fitness, and nutrition early on through personal training, gym management, and later working with Marines through physical training and nutrition seminars. Eventually, I became a clinical and family dietitian because I wanted to help people improve their health in meaningful and practical ways.
When I became a mother myself, my purpose deepened. Motherhood changes the way you see everything. It made me think more intentionally about what I was building, what I was putting into the world, and what kind of example I wanted to set for my children. That’s when entrepreneurship became more than simply selling products. I realized I didn’t want to build something just to make money or follow trends. It had to mean something. It had to reflect my values—health, culture, discipline, opportunity, and community. It had to be something I would genuinely want my own children to be part of.
That mindset helped shape Dope Coffee into more than a coffee company. It became a platform for energy, representation, wellness, and ownership. For me, purpose has never been confined to one title or role. It has been the common thread connecting every chapter of my life: helping people, building legacy, and creating something that serves others.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Dope Coffee is more than a coffee company—it’s a culture-driven brand built at the intersection of coffee, culture, and hip-hop. We created Dope Coffee to bring fresh energy to an industry that has often lacked representation, creativity, and authentic connection to the communities that shape culture every day. What makes the brand exciting is that we are building something bigger than products—we’re creating an experience. From premium coffee and ready-to-drink beverages to cafés, catering, events, and retail partnerships, Dope Coffee has become a brand people can wear, drink, support, and genuinely identify with.
We’ve grown from a bold startup idea into a business with an expanding presence throughout Atlanta and growing visibility around the world through our partnership with the Marine Corps Exchange. Seeing customers connect with both the quality of our products and the mission behind the brand has been one of the most rewarding parts of the journey. Right now, we are focused on growth and impact—expanding our café footprint, developing new beverage concepts, strengthening strategic partnerships, and continuing to position Dope Coffee as one of Atlanta’s most exciting homegrown brands.
For anyone discovering us for the first time, Dope Coffee stands for bold flavor, bold culture, and bold ownership. We’re building something special, and we’re just getting started.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, three of the most important qualities and skills in my journey have been discipline, adaptability, and people skills.
Discipline has been the foundation of everything. Motivation comes and goes, but discipline keeps you moving when things are hard, uncertain, or unglamorous. Building a business, raising a family, and growing personally all require consistency. My advice is to focus less on constant inspiration and more on building strong, repeatable habits.
Adaptability has also been critical. Entrepreneurship rarely goes exactly as planned. Markets change, opportunities shift, challenges appear unexpectedly, and sometimes you have to pivot quickly. The people who last are usually the ones who can adjust without losing their vision or their drive. Staying flexible allows you to keep learning and evolving without becoming too attached to one version of success.
People skills are a major part of entrepreneurship. Relationships open doors, create trust, and sustain long-term growth. Whether it’s customers, employees, mentors, partners, or community members, how you treat people matters. Learn how to communicate effectively, listen well, and bring value to every interaction.
For anyone early in their entrepreneurial journey, I’d say this: master your habits, stay coachable, and stay sharp. Talent matters, but those qualities will take you further than most people realize because entrepreneurship is a long game.
What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?
My biggest area of growth in the past 12 months has been learning to delegate in order to lead at a higher level. As an entrepreneur, especially in the early stages, you wear every hat. You solve every problem, touch every detail, and often believe that being involved in everything is what keeps the business moving. Over time, I realized that mindset can help you start a business, but it can also limit your ability to truly grow one.
This past year has been about becoming more strategic with my time, building stronger systems, delegating more effectively, and focusing on the areas where I create the most value. That has required trust, clearer communication, and a willingness to shift from constantly operating the business to leading it. Personally, I’ve also grown in protecting my energy and becoming more intentional about where I invest it. Growth is not only about doing more—it’s often about focusing on what matters most. Taking care of yourself is essential if you want to sustain success for the long game.
For anyone in a season of growth, I’d say this: every new level requires a new version of you. Sometimes success comes from adding more, but often it comes from releasing what no longer fits.
Stay Dope.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.realdope.coffee
- Instagram: @realdopecoffee
- Facebook: Dope Coffee Company
- Linkedin: Dope Coffee Company
- Twitter: Dope Coffee
- Youtube: @DopeCoffeeTV
- Other: Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/DopeCoffee/page/BB92B26D-FB36-45C3-99DA-1D5A3BF9FDD9
Image Credits
Dope Coffee
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