Story & Lesson Highlights with Kelley Smith of Atlanta, GA

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Kelley Smith. Check out our conversation below.

Kelley , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
A recent moment that made me both laugh and feel proud was while homeschooling my son. He decided he wanted to launch his own small business, and the way he presented his ideas and even started mapping out how he would market it cracked me up. At the same time, I felt so proud because I could see his entrepreneurial spirit shining through. It reminded me that what I am building with BaristaSource is also inspiring him to think bigger about what is possible.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Kelley Smith and I am the founder of BaristaSource, a specialty coffee training and workforce development company. Since 2019, we have been creating new pathways into the coffee industry by training baristas, helping people open coffee shops, and connecting graduates with employment opportunities. What makes BaristaSource unique is that we are not just teaching coffee skills, we are removing barriers to entry in an industry that has traditionally been difficult to break into. Our programs serve everyone from individuals who are unemployed or underemployed, to schools and workforce agencies, to entrepreneurs who want to own their own coffee shop. Right now, I am working on expanding our impact by building a state of the art training facility in Atlanta that will combine education, a roastery, and space for coffee professionals to collaborate. For me, coffee is not just about drinks, it is about opportunity, ownership, and creating access where none existed before.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A defining moment for me was working inside one of the world’s largest coffee companies. I trained leaders, hosted top executives, and led teams at different levels, yet I was never seen as enough. Leadership was never straightforward about why, I heard various reasons over the years, but what I came to realize is that being different was my superpower. It helped me see that everyone is different, yet specialty coffee often wanted us all to be the same. That realization is what pushed me to build a workforce of unique people and give them real pathways to ownership.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that strength is built in silence, when no one is clapping for you and you still keep going. For years I gave everything I had and still heard no, or worse, nothing at all. Success never forced me to sit with myself the way suffering did. It showed me how to keep showing up when I felt unseen, how to trust my own voice when others tried to quiet it, and how to turn pain into fuel. Those moments of being overlooked and dismissed shaped me far more than any win ever could, and they are the reason I built BaristaSource, because I know what it feels like to fight for a seat at the table, and I want others to have an open door instead.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The biggest lie the coffee industry tells itself is that it is inclusive and fair. The reality is there is a lack of equity, especially in pay and opportunity. Baristas are often treated as disposable, underpaid while carrying the weight of the craft, and ownership remains locked behind gatekeeping. The industry hides behind words like passion and community, but too often it rewards the few while exploiting the many. That is why I created BaristaSource, to break that cycle and build real pathways to ownership for people who have been shut out.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I understand deeply that most people do not is that the things we chase the hardest are often not the things that matter most. I used to give all of myself to work, chasing recognition and results, while my partner, my son, my family, and even my own well being often came second. Life taught me that success without presence is empty. Now I take the vacations, I take afternoons off, I say yes to random ice cream dates, and I make space for joy. Pouring into them and into myself is what gives me the strength and perspective to keep building BaristaSource with purpose.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Black Coffee Atlanta
Mood Cafe
The Network

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than