Influential Woman · Community Affairs and Nonprofit Management

Tracye Bryant

Flight Attendant, Southwest Airlines

South Fulton, GA

Certifications · Degrees · Memberships

Degree Undergraduate degree in Communications Degree Two Master's degrees Degree Doctorate in Public Policy and Public Administration from Walden University Degree Minneapolis Degree Minnesota Member National Association of Black Journalists Member Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated

Her Story

About Tracye

I wholeheartedly believe God put me on this earth to be of service to others, and I've been able to narrow that into a career path that is more of a passion, so it doesn't feel like work all the time. I've worked in community affairs and public service for over 20 years, and my first and true love is Community and Public Affairs, which I'm still heavily involved in through my board service work with United Way of Greater Atlanta and other nonprofits throughout metropolitan Atlanta. I fell into my role as a flight attendant with Southwest Airlines somewhat haphazardly 12 years ago, but it came naturally since I'm a public servant by nature and Southwest is a service-oriented company. My main area of expertise is community collaborations between small businesses and community nonprofits to ensure that communities that are blighted, like minority communities with some level of disparity, receive the resources and information they need to thrive and become successful. This includes helping single moms with children through Women United, education initiatives, economic development, summer jobs and internships for young people, and addressing housing and food insecurity. I'm also a policy professor at Brevard College in Brevard, North Carolina, where I teach public safety and public policy. I thoroughly enjoy being able to help small nonprofits within minority communities receive the assistance they need so they can further their work and programming initiatives. Just seeing people get the resources and help they need warms my heart and helps me know that those who don't have will have, and people like me who have the same passion and drive are working as hard as they possibly can to ensure that.

Quick Facts

IndustryCommunity Affairs and Nonprofit Management
Based inSouth Fulton, GA
Specialty Community collaborations between small businesses and nonprofits
- Economic development
- Housing initiatives
- Food insecurity programs
- Youth development and education
- Blood services and donation education
Volunteers with United Way of Greater Atlanta (15 years in various capacities)
- American Red Cross (blood services and donation education)
- College Clinic (youth development and college preparation)

Her Interview

Ten minutes with Tracye

01What do you attribute your success to?

My family is a tremendous part of my success. They have continued to support me and back me in anything that I have ever dreamed of doing. If I did not have the village around me that I have encouraging me, supporting me, and just giving me all of the love and support that I need, I don't know where I'd be. And of course, I give all honor to God for being able to be in the position that I am in and being able to help and give back the way that I have been.

02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?

The best career advice that I have ever received has been to just show up as me, be authentic in every aspect of each career that I have embarked upon, and be respectful. Lead with love, and be willing to learn along the way.

03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?

My greatest advice that I give to those that are interested in doing community affairs and nonprofit is that it's not for the meek or the weak, because you see some things along the way that touch your heart in ways, and you want to be able to help everybody. I would say, get in, do what you can, and work towards being able to help people wherever they are in their lives. You can't save everybody, you can't save everything, but you do your part, ensure that the people that you have contact with understand why it's important for them to play a part and play a role, and it'll all go from there.

04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?

The greatest challenges that continue to be, for any and all nonprofits, small and large, would be that of funding, ensuring that we have the right partnerships in place with entities and organizations that are able to continue to fund and donate to particular programming within certain communities to ensure that the people continue to receive the things that they need. We can't do it without funding. One of the greatest challenges is that everybody's going after the same people for the same money, and companies can only support but so many nonprofit organizations. But that's where relationships come in, and relationships are important. Ensuring that those entities that you're partnering with continue to believe in your mission, continue to believe in the work that you're doing, and continue to believe in the programming that's assisting them with lending their funds to help programming continue to move forward.

05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?

Values for me are extremely important. The main one is that of authenticity. I expect that I show up as the true me with everything that I do. I'm authentic in my efforts to ensure that people have all of the resources and things available to them that they need, and so I just want people to come as their true selves. Just be yourself in all aspects, and have integrity in everything that you do. And look to see that other people are taking care of you. That means a lot to me.

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