We had the good fortune of connecting with Chuma Hicks-Reese and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chuma, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
Over time, my idea of balance has evolved from trying to do everything at once to understanding that balance is more about being fully present in each role, not perfectly dividing time between them. As a business owner working in both real estate and life insurance, I used to think I had to be “on” constantly in both careers to succeed. That led to burnout and made it harder to show up fully for my husband, our three dogs, and my family.

Recently, I also learned that I have ADHD, which helped me make sense of some of the struggles I faced with focus, organization, and time management. In the past, it worked against me, pulling me in a hundred directions and leaving me overwhelmed. But now, I’ve begun to harness it as a superpower. My ADHD allows me to think creatively, connect ideas quickly, and stay energized in high-demand environments. I’ve developed tools, routines, and support systems that help me manage the challenges while capitalizing on the strengths. It’s helped me create balance not by doing less, but by doing things more intentionally.

Now, I view balance as something fluid, not fixed. I’ve learned to create intentional boundaries by setting priorities for the day, communicating clearly with clients, and carving out sacred time for personal life. I also lean on systems and support when possible, recognizing I don’t have to do it all alone. What grounds me is remembering why I do this work: to build a life of abundance, service, and freedom, and not to be consumed by it.

Balance isn’t always perfect, but now I give myself grace. I lead with purpose, stay present, and adjust as life shifts. That mindset—and embracing the way my mind uniquely works—has brought more peace and productivity than any rigid schedule ever could.  Like any human being, I still have my challenges with it.  But my win-the-day mindset keeps me grounded.  Each day is a new adventure.  I am ready for whatever comes my way as long as I remember that you only fail when you give up and that every day is an opportunity to learn a lesson.  .

What should our readers know about your business?
My business is built at the intersection of service, strategy, and spirit. I lead The 80ChumaSpirit Real Estate Group with Keller Williams West Atlanta, where I specialize in residential, commercial, and investment real estate, working with first-time buyers, motivated sellers, seasoned investors, and distressed property owners. I’m a certified international sales agent through The Real Estate House Academy with intention to expand my business globally.  I’m also a licensed life insurance agent, helping families protect their legacies through various insurance products.

The goal is to bring a client-first approach to every deal and to do my best to connect with their needs. On the residential side, I help buyers and sellers navigate life-changing transitions with clarity, strategy, and care. On the commercial side, I partner with my husband Roger, who brings over 40 years of finance and accounting experience to my business. He serves as our CFO, providing detailed proformas, ROI breakdowns, and investment projections for clients acquiring multi-family and income-generating properties.

But beyond the services I provide, what truly sets me apart is that I bring my full journey into every client relationship. I don’t just help people build wealth, I help them transform their lives, just as I’ve had to transform mine.  Anyone close to me always says that I have a testimonial.
Years ago, before real estate and entrepreneurship, I had a thriving career in the legal field as a legal secretary and a word processor for 27 years in Big Law. I did cross-career paralegal work at a boutique law firm for a short time, earning me the title of paralegal and legal administrative assistant. I was ambitious, stable, and on a path I thought was secure. But life shifted dramatically when I underwent multiple spinal fusion surgeries to correct scoliosis (six to be exact). Today, I live with titanium rods running from the base of my spine to the top.

The recovery was long, painful, and humbling. I lost more than just physical strength, I lost my financial stability, my independence, and my sense of identity. I drained my savings just to survive, and at one point, I nearly lost everything.

To escape the pain—both physical and emotional—I turned to unhealthy coping mechanisms, which were introduced to me by an ex-spouse who attempted to control me during our 10-year relationship. I chased dopamine highs through substance abuse and distractions, desperate to forget what felt like a series of losses I couldn’t stop. My self-esteem plummeted. I didn’t recognize myself.

But that wasn’t the end of my story—it was the beginning of a new one.

Through therapy, prayer, and the unwavering support of my family, I slowly started to value myself again. I began to heal, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. I learned that my scars were not symbols of weakness, but of survival. That my pain could become my purpose.

I discovered my new superpowers: resilience and reinvention.  I reactivated the superpowers I was already aware of: empathy, creativity, and the ability to connect deeply with others. I realized that I didn’t need the approval of Corporate America to thrive, and that I could build something of my own. And so, I did.

I rebuilt my life from scratch—physically, financially, and emotionally. Real estate became my new lane. It gave me a platform to serve others, to use my voice, and to create generational impact.

I’m not the person I used to be, and I thank God for that.

There is a quote I live by from a book entitled Conversations With God by Neale Donald Walsch: “Sometimes you have to be who you are not in order to know who you truly are.”  That quote is the story of my life.  I had to be who I was not in order to find out who I was meant to be.   My scars didn’t steal my power—they revealed it.

What helped me find myself again?  Actually, the answer comes in the form of a “who.”  Truly, my husband, Roger, saved my life. He financially supported me without hesitation and gave me the space, time, and unconditional love to heal, grieve, and rebuild. He never made me feel like a burden. He never asked for anything in return. He just stood beside me, quietly and consistently, while I found my way back to my purpose. Without Roger, none of this would have been possible.

Starting over wasn’t easy. I made a lot of mistakes early in real estate, not because I didn’t care, but because I didn’t yet understand how my undiagnosed ADHD was affecting how I processed information, managed time, and made decisions. That internal chaos began to trigger old patterns, and I almost slipped back into addiction. But by the grace of God, I caught myself before the spiral began. I got help. I got clarity. I started learning how to work with my mind, not against it, and it changed everything.

For example: I’ve learned that in this business, your word is everything. I’m known for keeping mine and I take pride in that. But the one time I didn’t deliver, it cost me. I over-promised during a time I was struggling personally and didn’t stay consistent. I got in my own way.  As a result, I missed out on being part of a major commercial project, one that could’ve taken my business to the next level.
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That moment taught me more than any win ever could: you can’t pour from an empty cup, and accountability doesn’t take a day off. Since then, I’ve committed to never letting ambition outpace alignment. I move with discipline, clarity, and intention because keeping your word isn’t just about business, it’s about character.

Today, I operate with systems, purpose, and boundaries that help me serve others from a place of clarity and strength. My greatest pain became my greatest power. My clients don’t just get an agent, they get an advocate, a problem solver, and a partner who knows what it means to fight for a new beginning.  And they get the best of me because I glean from my own personal losses that I turned into wins.

What sets me apart? I built my business from the ground up. In my rookie year, I leaned into social media, marketed myself relentlessly, and closed $2.2 million in volume, proof that consistency, authenticity, and hustle make all the difference. What I’m most proud of is that I built this business with integrity and heart, and that I get to serve others in a real, tangible way. Whether I’m helping someone secure their first home, sell a property, or protect their loved ones with life insurance, I show up with excellence, authenticity, and a deep respect for the journey each client is on.

What I want the world to know is this: I didn’t just stumble into success. I fought for it. I prayed for it. I worked for it.  And now, I pour it forward. My brand isn’t just about sales, it’s about service, spirit, and transformation. I believe in creating generational change, building community wealth, and helping people rise, not just survive.

That is The 80ChumaSpirit Real Estate Group brokered through Keller Williams West Atlanta. And we’re just getting started.

P.S. This isn’t my first time walking the entrepreneurial path. From the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, I owned two independent publishing companies through which I released two books of poetry: The Third Eye of a Butterfly and The Affectation: Overcoming Shame and Removing the Mask. I also had the honor of publishing other emerging voices during that time. While both ventures are now defunct, the experience shaped me deeply, and writing remains one of my first and greatest passions.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have a few besties, so it would have to be catered to their personality and what I know about them. I always take my gay friends to The T Bar on Thursday and Sunday nights, however, I recently discovered that on Saturday nights the music there is amazing. If it’s the first Friday of the month, I would take them to The Atlanta Eagle. Now for all my besties, no matter male, female, straight, gay, etc., I would take them to Apt 4B, which is fine dining Caribbean cuisine. Other favorite places to hang are Ponce City Market and Atlanta Utility Works. My new hangout spot in East Point is a gritty, rustic, hip and bohemian spot called Chairs. The food is yummy, the people are creative, free spirits, with a non-conforming mindset, who remind me of myself from the 90’s when I was a spoken word artist living in Brooklyn, from which I am from. I would take them on a walkthrough of the MLK Historic District. Because of my association as a co-chairperson of the Bayard Rustin Society, I would take them to the National Center for Civil and Human Rights. One of my favorite spots is Jeju Sauna, so we definitely would have a spa day there. Now if that friend just happens to be into real estate, I would take them on home tours, or I would take them to my office at Keller Williams West Atlanta to meet my inspiring, motivated, and down-to-earth colleagues who work in the industry. It would be like introducing them to my family. If they are around during a Saturday where my life insurance team, The Cook Group, is having a career overview, I would take them there because it would be like meeting another set of extended family who love to laugh, teach, inspire, and feed us good food. LOL. For my dog loving besties, we would load the car up with my three dogs and go to a dog park, particularly Piedmont Park or a walk at The Beltline. Roger and I live in a lakehouse community with our own private gazebo backed up to the lake in our backyard. We would definitely do some relaxing and libation by the lake, and we would simply love on each other. These options are not static. I’m open to whatever my friends want to do, as well.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First and foremost, I give all honor to God who is the source of my strength, purpose, and healing. Every success, every opportunity, every comeback I’ve experienced is rooted in divine grace and alignment.

I want to give a special and heartfelt shoutout to my husband, Roger. He’s not only been my partner in life. He’s been my anchor, my protector, and my safe space. In my lowest moments when I faced financial hardship, battled addiction, and was navigating emotional chaos, Roger stood by me. He never gave up on me. He loved me back to life with patience, consistency, and truth. He provided not just material support, but emotional and spiritual covering. His belief in me reminded me of who I am, even when I forgot. Roger is my “why” because the life I’m building now is the one he helped save. I show up and succeed not just for myself, but to honor the man who held it all down when everything else was falling apart.

Ty Barnes also deserves deep recognition. She is the reason I ever considered a career in real estate. For three years, I shadowed her, learned from her, and was mentored under her guidance. Her willingness to teach me while I was still finding my footing helped shape the agent and the professional I am today.  She is not only a business partner, she is a trusted and devoted friend in oneness.

My best friend and sister from another mother, Fisiwe Zwana Freeman, has been with me since 1998. Through sickness, addiction, heartbreak, and healing, she has never wavered. Her loyalty is unmatched, her spirit is pure, and her love is one of the greatest blessings in my life. I believe everyone needs a Fisiwe in their life!

My circle of friends and family who have shaped, supported, and uplifted me over the years is far too large to name individually, but I would be remiss not to acknowledge them. I never want any of my closest and dearest loved ones to feel overlooked or unappreciated. I live in deep gratitude for every single person who has poured into my life, walked beside me, and helped me become who I am today.

With great importance, I want to honor my parents, Pauline Hicks and Lester Hicks, and my beloved aunt Audrey Wynder.  Along with a village of people, they raised me with faith, resilience, and values that have become the foundation of who I am today. I carry their lessons in every room I enter. Their influence continues to guide me.

Lastly, there are three books that transformed my thinking and realigned my life’s direction: Conversations with God by Neale Donald Walsch, The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz, and The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success by Deepak Chopra. These books helped me reconnect with my purpose, release limiting beliefs, and lead with truth, compassion, and power.

My success is not mine alone. It’s a reflection of every person, every prayer, every challenge, and every act of love that brought me here.  I live in absolute gratitude!

Website: https://linktr.ee/80chumaspiritgroup

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chumaspirit

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chumaspirit/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chumaspirit

Yelp: https://www.tiktok.com/@chumaspirit

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@80chumaspiritgroup

Other: My Keller Williams West Atlanta website: chuma.kw.com

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.