Meet Vanessa Adisah

We recently connected with Vanessa Adisah and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Vanessa , 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?

My resilience wasn’t something I consciously set out to build—it was something life required of me early on. Growing up, there wasn’t much room for choice when it came to being strong. I didn’t always have the language to name what I was experiencing, but those experiences shaped me all the same. What I did have was an inner voice – my intuition, my spirit, what I call “the whispers,” as Oprah describes them. That quiet guidance showed up in moments of uncertainty, nudging me forward through every challenge and every decision, including the imperfect ones. When I look back now, each choice fits together like a game of Tetris. Without question, I give glory to God for carrying me through seasons I didn’t yet understand.

Resilience was modeled for me long before I could name it. I watched my mother navigate divorce, grief, and the responsibility of maintaining a household after losing her life partner. Hardship and joy coexisted in our home, and over time, that became normal. I also witnessed my father’ and step mothers transformation – from alcoholism to nearly twenty years of sobriety. Strength in my family wasn’t taught; it was lived.

In 2012, after dropping out of college during my junior year, I enlisted in the Army. At the time, it felt like my last chance. I was living in my mother’s basement, driving an old 1987 Chevy Caprice Classic, unsure of my academic abilities but deeply hungry to learn. Learning felt like my way out. I trained at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, and later served as a Human Resources Specialist, working with people from every background imaginable. For the first time, I felt a sense of belonging and recognition. I was academically sharp and physically challenged—“high speed,” as they say – and I thrived in the structure and purpose the military gave me.

During my service, I supported pre- and post-deployment efforts, traveled internationally, including a Norwegian military exchange, and eventually deployed in 2018 to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, for eleven months as a personnel manager. That deployment was both a gift and a burden. I formed deep friendships, but unforeseen circumstances led to a medical evacuation two and a half months early. My mental health declined, and returning home became its own battle.

In December 2019, I enrolled in an intensive VA therapy program that quite literally saved my life. I moved in with my father, had no car, and endured a brutal Minnesota winter while finishing my undergraduate degree in psychology – an irony that wasn’t lost on me. I commuted by bus, worked as a server, and then the pandemic arrived, bringing another layer of uncertainty.

I divorced in April 2020, and that moment became a turning point. I realized my greatest setback wasn’t failure or hardship – it was not choosing myself. During the pandemic, I used stimulus money to buy a bike. That small decision changed everything. Riding gave me freedom, perspective, and joy. It reminded me that life could be expansive – not just survived.

By early 2021, I received an acceptance letter to a university in California. I went straight into planning mode – saving what I could, securing housing, and committing fully to the leap. In August, I packed my life into my car, said goodbye to my family, and drove across the country alone. I was terrified, but with every mile, old versions of myself began to fall away.

Shortly after arriving, my housing unexpectedly fell through. For a brief and humbling period, I experienced homelessness – living day to day, relying on my bike and my car but I had faith, persistence, and the conviction that I hadn’t come this far to turn back. Through a veteran housing support (US Vets) program in Long Beach, I found stability again and began rebuilding from the ground up.

I went on to graduate with my first master’s degree in 2022, secure a government role, and continue growing, gracefully. When I was later accepted to UC Irvine for a second master’s degree in Business Analytics, it felt like a full-circle moment – one I spoke about in my commencement speech. That acceptance wasn’t just academic validation; it was confirmation that every uncertain chapter had meaning. Moving to California wasn’t an escape, it was an arrival.

Today, my resilience comes not just from surviving, but from listening. I trust the whispers. I honor the lessons. And I move forward with faith, curiosity, and gratitude, knowing that resilience isn’t about enduring forever, but about becoming, again and again.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

Today, my creative focus lives at the intersection of writing, travel, and photography. I’ve been especially inspired by sharing short stories paired with travel imagery, capturing moments, places, and emotions that invite reflection rather than perfection. My work is less about chasing a destination and more about honoring the inner movement that happens along the way.

Photography and writing give me the same satisfaction as cycling. They offer healing, solitude, and clarity. When I’m behind the camera or lost in words, time slows down. It’s where I process, where I listen, and where I feel most connected to myself. Much of my work explores themes of identity, movement, belonging, and becoming, often shaped by travel and quiet observation rather than spectacle.

Right now, my work lives primarily through my website, Adisah.org, and my Instagram, @AdisahPhotography, which together document both my creative output and its evolution. I see them as living archives – spaces where growth is visible and where the journey is just as important as the result. Over time, I envision creating a photo book that brings my stories and images together in a more permanent, tactile way. It’s something I’m still building toward, but I know it’s a goal I’ll reach in due time.

Beyond my personal creative practice, I feel deeply called to service, particularly supporting women, mothers, and female veterans. Much of my work is rooted in the belief that storytelling can be a form of advocacy, healing, and connection. Whether through art, writing, or future community-centered projects, I want my work to remind others especially women navigating transitions, that their stories matter, even in the in-between seasons.

At this stage, I’m less focused on rushing toward a finished product and more focused on creating honestly and intentionally. What excites me most is allowing my work to unfold naturally—guided by curiosity, faith, and a deep respect for the process.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

First and foremost, faith has been my foundation. When I reflect on the sacrifices I’ve made and the path that led me here, I know none of it would have been possible without prayer and trust in God. Time and time again, I’ve witnessed divine timing at work—through family, friends, and even strangers who showed up in ways I could never have planned. Support arrived exactly when I needed it most, often in moments when I had nothing left but faith. That grounding gave me the courage to keep going, even when the road ahead felt unclear.

The second is grit. I’ve faced challenges that tested me mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally—experiences that are difficult to fully put into words, but that many people can deeply relate to. Grit, for me, has meant staying present through discomfort, refusing to numb or bypass the hard moments, and continuing forward even when progress felt slow or invisible. It wasn’t about being fearless—it was about being willing.

The third is resilience. Life has knocked me down more than once, but I’ve learned how to recover, recalibrate, and move forward again. Resilience has become a cycle – leaning in when things get hard, allowing myself to heal, and then rising with more clarity than before. It’s not about avoiding struggle; it’s about trusting your ability to come back stronger each time.

For those who are early in their journey, my advice is to seek alignment in all that you do. Take life one day at a time and allow yourself to evolve. Your purpose doesn’t have to be one singular thing, it can shift and expand as you move through different seasons and experiences. Each chapter, whether difficult or joyful, is shaping you and opening doors you may not yet see. Stay open to that growth.

And finally, never convince yourself that you don’t belong in a room or don’t deserve a seat at the table. Lean into those moments of discomfort. You are there for a reason, and you have something unique to offer, something no one else can replicate. I’m still learning and practicing this myself, but I’ve come to believe that when you trust who you are and walk in alignment, your purpose naturally begins to meet you where you stand.

One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?

Absolutely! I’m open to collaboration, both in the immediate sense and in the “why not dream boldly” sense.

At the highest level, I’m inspired by storytellers and cultural architects who create space for truth, reflection, and human connection. Someone like Oprah Winfrey embodies that for me. I grew up watching her—on television, in films, and now through her podcast—and I’m continually moved by how she uses her platform to elevate stories from every walk of life. Authors, creatives, and everyday people are all given room to be seen and heard. Her life is a testimony to growth, purpose, and walking fully in one’s light, and that kind of storytelling is something I deeply admire and aspire to be part of.

I’m also inspired by Melody Hobson. Her career trajectory, leadership, and clarity around money, generational wealth, and meaningful professional relationships have shaped how I think about long-term impact. I’ve learned so much from the conversations she’s participated in over the years. Knowing that she and her husband, George Lucas, are collectors and supporters of photography makes the idea of a future collaboration, rooted in storytelling, visual art, or legacy, especially exciting to imagine.

If my short stories were ever to take on a visual or cinematic life, Ava DuVernay would be the person I’d dream of working with. Her journey has inspired me to believe that creativity and purpose don’t have an expiration date. She’s shown what’s possible when you step boldly into your calling and tell stories with intention, depth, and cultural care.

At the same time, I want to honor the collaborations that already ground and sustain me. I’m incredibly grateful for the community of women who currently walk alongside me, friends and mentors who have elevated me, challenged me, and created space for my creativity to grow. Women like Nikita Hamilton, Jodine Gordon, and Kiana Garner (Write On Writing Group) have played a meaningful role in my journey. Their mentorship, encouragement, and willingness to build community have introduced me to remarkable, talented, and fearless women, and I’m deeply grateful for the spaces they’ve created where I can tap into my creative spirit.

For anyone reading this who feels aligned with my work whether through writing, photography, storytelling, or community-centered projects, I’m always open to conversation. The best way to connect with me is through my website, Adisah.org, or on Instagram at @AdisahPhotography. I believe the most meaningful collaborations grow organically, rooted in shared values, curiosity, and a genuine desire to create something purposeful, together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://adisah.org
• Instagram: @AdisahPhotography
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vanessaadisah
• Other: https://www.youtube.com/live/ZLDy1J7gsfI?si=LtNiSNik848fN20B&t=1172

Image Credits

Aaron Jay Young (professional headshots)