Meet A Mom: Danielle Smith of i9Sports McDonough/Stockbridge

Here at South Atlanta Moms, we are on a mission to find and highlight some amazing women, moms, mother figures, etc.…in and around South Atlanta, Georgia. August is Black Business Month and we were looking to support a Black woman owned business so we connected with the owner of the newest sports league for kids ages 3-14, i9Sports McDonough/Stockbridge. Allow us to introduce you to this month’s Meet A Mom, Danielle Smith.

Hi Danielle, let’s begin by taking a moment to introduce yourself.

My name is Danielle Smith. I was born and raised in Macon, Georgia. I have lived in the Atlanta area since May 2006. I am the proud single mother of one son, Daniel Smith. He will turn seven this coming October. I can hardly believe it myself. Time is flying by.

What are some of your favorite things to do with your son, Daniel?

My favorite thing to do with my son is travel. My parents used to take my sisters and me on vacation each summer and exposed us to so much growing up. Since my son was a baby I have done my best to ensure I take him somewhere every six months. To name a few, Daniel has been to the White House, New Orleans, Sequoia National Park, New York City; Tulum, Mexico, and next summer we’ll spend two weeks in Japan.

What inspires you? What are you passionate about?

I’m inspired by self-discovery of ones’ own abilities. What I mean by that is when you realize you’re capable of doing something that you didn’t think you were capable of. Every time I set a goal and accomplish it, it inspires me to set a new goal. I’m passionate about pursing strategic long-term investments so that I can create generational wealth for my family. I try to learn something new every day.

One thing people would be surprised to know about you…

People would be surprised to know that I rarely watch television. Every second of the day is valuable to me and watching some fictitious story doesn’t help my bottom line. However, when I put rest and relaxation on my schedule, I will schedule a movie night with my son, a spa treatment at Spavia, or sneak away to my favorite retreat, Perspire Sauna Studio. Taking time for self care is not an option. It’s a must.

What do you love about living and raising a family in South Atlanta?

I love how South Atlanta is finally getting the attention it deserves. It’s a great place for families. That’s why it’s growing so fast. I had a friend who used to complain that popular businesses and chains never considered the Henry County area. Well, now that they are residents, they don’t have to travel to the city to patronize their favorite businesses.

Anyone special you’d like to thank for helping you through motherhood?

I do my best to never miss an opportunity to thank my family. I am so blessed because I have the best support system on earth. As a single mother I don’t have the support of a partner, so I have to depend on my family. My dad, his wife, my sisters, and niece and nephew help me with Daniel whenever possible. I couldn’t do anything without their support. The saying, “it takes a village to raise a child,” has never been truer. I want to thank my village.

Along with your job as a mom, what else do you do either in or outside of the home?

I serve as a Public Affairs Officer in the Georgia Army National Guard. I also am a partner with several investments groups that own and operate Perspire Sauna Studios in both Atlanta, Georgia and Charlotte, North Carolina. My most recent business venture has been with i9Sports, a youth sports league for kids ages 3-14.

How has your career and/or business changed during COVID-19?

When COVID hit, I got busier. My workload doubled and I started working around the clock on COVID-relief and civil unrest missions with the Georgia Guard. I had to make some major adjustments with our sauna business, my EMBA program, and how to be care for Daniel. Toward the end of 2020 I was completely overwhelmed with everything that was going on. I was stretched thin and declined the opportunity to work full-time for another year for the Guard. Stepping back to be a traditional Guardsman was a tough decision but I knew I had to do it in order to pursue starting i9Sports in South Atlanta. So the biggest change I had was taking a chance at starting a new business in an industry I had very little experience in.

Is there anything else that you would like to add about you professionally?

I truly enjoy sharing information and resources with others. I’ve become somewhat of a serial entrepreneur, and I don’t see myself stopping any time soon. I love networking and mentoring others when needed. If someone is ever interested in learning how to start a business, to get into franchising, improve their soft skills, or even shoot a motion picture. I can teach them how to do it. When I’m not knee deep in business endeavors, I enjoy working in the film industry. I don’t do it as much as I did years ago, but I try to work on a project at least once a year.