Today we’d like to introduce you to Aziah Kamari.
Hi Aziah, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Thanks for asking! My story is really driven by a deep love for creativity, storytelling, and the art of creation itself.
For a large portion of my life, I was a full-time track athlete. I spent most of my time eating, sleeping, and breathing track. So when I attended Florida State University to study English and transitioned away from being an athlete, it was the first time I could truly dedicate space to all the creative avenues I’d been itching to pursue. I dabbled in modeling (IMDb certified), acting, styling, and, of course, writing. I dove headfirst into media and entertainment, taking on a series of remote internships, including a role at FMHipHop as a social media manager and writer. During that era, I was also representing and booking local talent, from rappers to producers, before eventually pivoting away from entertainment.
I was constantly building my editorial and leadership portfolio. I worked with Atlanta International Fashion Week to launch their premier blog, The Runway Report, where I hired and managed a team of writers to cover fashion and cultural trends. My passion for storytelling expanded globally when I studied abroad. I spent six weeks in Spain producing a piece called Black Beyond Borders, where I interviewed people across the African diaspora, from international athletes to immigrant entrepreneurs and business owners, about their experiences living abroad.
Right before graduating, I landed an internship at a public relations firm in Tallahassee, Florida, working on major campaigns with clients like Weyerhaeuser and Nestlé. That sharpened my core toolkit and gave me the momentum to transition back to D.C., where I joined another firm as an Account Executive. It was during this time that I really expanded my portfolio across sectors, navigating high-stakes political campaigns with Governor Gavin Newsom, Deloitte contracts, and work with ambassadors, alongside spearheading influencer management for major campaigns.
Navigating that diverse scope of work through the COVID era allowed me to build incredible relationships, and in 2023, I took a leap and went out on my own as an independent contractor. That was when I deeply embedded myself in the lifestyle, culture, and hospitality spaces while maintaining impact-driven work in the nonprofit, international development, and health communications sectors.
Things moved fast from there. Demand grew so quickly that I had to build a team, scaling from a solo contractor to a seven-plus-person consultancy almost overnight. We hit six figures in our very first year and haven’t stopped growing since.
Today, AKP Alliance is a fully remote, global agency, with a team working across the U.S., Europe, Africa, and Latin America. It’s a flexible structure rooted in the COVID era that allows me to build and scale the agency while staying true to my own innovative endeavors, like my work as a freelance journalist with bylines in ESSENCE, MadameNoire, and Sis2Sis. Whether it’s earned media, web dev, social management, or on-site creative production, we help purpose-led founders and brands show up bolder, smarter, and more holistically on a global stage.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Honestly, I don’t think anything about the process has been inherently ‘smooth’ other than the feeling of just being in alignment. It has definitely had its ups and downs. The true smoothness has come from consistently building, improving, and standing here today with this beautiful proof of concept.
Navigating the business side of entrepreneurship in my early 20s, like contracts ending, pitching for new ones, or managing team shifts, has been a massive learning curve. But I was really fortunate to have powerful examples of entrepreneurship around me. Neither of my parents went to college, so while I didn’t heavily claim the ‘first-gen’ label back then, being the first in my family and among my siblings to graduate meant a lot to me.
My stepdad built a very successful business in engineering, showing me the technical, operational side of entrepreneurship. On the flip side, my biological dad, who passed away when I was young, was a serial entrepreneur and artist – he ran a tattoo shop, did video production, and was a hustler at heart. Having them as my blueprint was the ultimate yin and yang: strategic discipline paired with raw creative drive.
Watching them made me realize that I didn’t just have to climb someone else’s corporate ladder. After leaving the agency world to do independent contracting, I saw how much more impact I could make by stepping off that path. I launched AKP Alliance out of burnout and necessity, needing to build something that supported my life as a creative rather than fitting into a rigid, traditional box.
Because I let the business flex to fit my vision, I now live and work bi-continentally between Washington D.C. and Cape Town, South Africa and lead global campaigns with international clients. Building an ambitious agency as a Black woman without a rigid blueprint can feel ambiguous and challenging. But watching the company grow right alongside my own personal development has been one of the most fulfilling parts of this entire journey.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
AKP Alliance is a D.C.-founded, globally rooted strategic communications agency. At our core, we merge bold ideas with sharp strategy to redefine how brands show up, digitally, culturally, and creatively. We offer a full suite of marketing services, branding, strategic communications, PR, and earned media. What we’re really known for is bringing deep intention and cultural relevance to every touchpoint, whether that’s launching digital campaigns, developing websites, managing social ecosystems, or producing on-site creative direction and photography across the world. Through the agency, we’ve had the privilege of leading influencer management, securing brand partnerships, and driving digital marketing and production for powerhouse names.
In a world that constantly tells agencies to ‘niche down,’ we tried that and realized it just wasn’t sustainable for us. What sets us apart is that we partner with independent visionaries and specialists who have their own thriving projects, businesses, and lives. We bring them into the loop specifically for their distinct expertise. We intentionally built a remote, multi-lingual team with deep, lived experiences across sectors like AI, policy, luxury, and wellness. When our team is out in the world living fully, creating, and learning, they bring those raw insights directly back to our clients. That agility allows us to stay sharp and adapt quickly in a fluid market.
Brand-wise, I’m incredibly proud of the tangible impact we deliver. We’ve secured features for clients in major tier-one outlets like Forbes, POLITICO, The Washington Post, and the LA Times. But even more than the headlines, I’m proud of our proof of concept, scaling to a multi-six-figure agency powered by an incredible network of talent, all while working with culture-shaping organizations across the digital diaspora.
What I want your readers to know is that AKP Alliance is built for founders and brands who want to do things differently. I want to walk into rooms and express every dimension of who I am, and I want our agency to do the same. We take your vision, layer it with real-world cultural fluency and specialized talent, and turn it into lasting global influence.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
If I look back at a distinct childhood memory, maybe not a typical ‘favorite,’ but one that really speaks to who I am today—it’s flying as an unaccompanied minor.
Because my immediate family was split between Atlanta, Florida, and the DMV, I was constantly living between worlds. From the time I was seven, I was on planes by myself all the time, flying to spend weekends in Atlanta or summers in Maryland. I don’t even know if airlines still handle it the same way today, but I was just always in transit, constantly adapting to new environments and feeling at home in multiple places at once.
Looking back, that experience built the elasticity that defines how I operate today. It’s the exact reason why transitioning into living bi-continentally felt so natural to me, and why building a borderless, globally rooted agency like AKP Alliance makes total sense. Moving between spaces taught me early on how to navigate change, connect across cultures, and find your footing anywhere. That adaptability is the backbone of how I build, think, and lead.
Pricing:
- When it comes to pricing, we pride ourselves on being deeply collaborative and tailored. Because every brand, project, and campaign has unique goals, we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all model. Instead, we love connecting directly with founders and leadership teams to understand their specific vision, scope, and budget, and then building custom packages that deliver maximum impact.
- Monthly Retainer Model: Designed for brands looking for ongoing, long-term strategic partnership across PR, communications, social ecosystem management, and brand strategy.
- Per-Service & Project-Based Model: Ideal for specialized deliverables, including website development, brand identity suites, campaign launches, and on-site creative direction or photography.
- Custom Enterprise & Campaign Packages: Tailored, full-scope solutions built around specific organizational goals, global activations, and multi-market rollouts.
- Pro Bono & Impact Partnerships: Selectively accepted on a case-by-case basis, depending on team bandwidth and the community or cultural impact of the mission.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://akpalliance.com
- Instagram: aziahkamari
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aziahkamaripless/
- Other: https://muckrack.com/aziah-kamari-akp
Image Credits
Photos Courtesy of Aziah Kamari, Corey Gray, Nneka Onyima
