We had the good fortune of connecting with Edward Fultz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Edward, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I was born in the country of Panama, and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. After graduating from Morehouse college in 2015, I didn’t want to get a “regular job”. I knew I still wanted to pursue law school, but I needed a “classroom break.”

Fortunately, my mother taught me chess at the age of seven, and I loved it. I played throughout my early academic years. So when I thought about chess, it was a revelation like “Oh, I can teach other people chess”.

Thus, I started my own chess company called Fathers Are In The Home (F.A.I.T.H.) as an LLC. The mission was to mentor and instruct K-12 and young adults on the game of chess and how it relates to life. Like any entrepreneur, the beginning was rough, I would work on my chess company for 8-12 hours a day trying to secure my first client. In the meantime, I would be a tutor for various school subjects and Uber/Lyft on the side. I drove to different schools, clinics, day-cares, and pre-schools advocating for my business, but everyone said “no”.

After hearing “no” 75 times, the 76th time, a school, M. Agnus Jones Elementary School, ironically in front of Morehouse, said “yes, we would like to hire you.” After a few weeks working there, M. Agnus Jones told other schools in their district, and that’s how my company grew. I started in after-school programs, but expanded to summer camps, winter camps, in-home tutoring, STEM enrichment programs, and other academic programs that involved chess and the arts. This was the start of my chess empire.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a multi-hyphenate attorney with a practice focusing on the intersection of privacy, advertising, and intellectual poetry. I monetize talent, ideas, and brands in relation to sports, music, movies, video games, influencers, and businesses. Through my legal practice, I am most proud of being apart of a company or an individual success story.

In addition, I am involved in many aspects of my community. I am a devoted chess instructor and share my love for the game with K-12 students. I am the Co-Founder and President of FAITH (Fathers Are In The Home), now a 501(c)(3) non-profit chess organization. The organization is dedicated to fostering personal growth, facilitating meaningful communication, and equipping all individuals with essential skills and resources needed to thrive. The organization is committed to guiding each individual toward their full potential, helping them build a future defined by purpose and fulfillment. Chess has taught me a lot about thinking before I move, the long game, and how a decision can impact those around me.

The Hierarchy Global LLC is an organization I created with my close friends from Morehouse (and one close friend since middle school!). The organization curates luxury networking experiences for professionals seeking to enhance their knowledge and network across all fields and disciplines.

I’m a co-host of “The Common Nomad Podcast”, where I explore the nuances and social dynamics of friendships. Beyond the podcasting world, I am a talented DJ (DJ Esq.) who lights up professional events in Washington D.C.

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?
In Atlanta, the Red Phone Booth is a speakeasy lounge delivering an upscale, immersive experience. This is where I catch up with old friends and host meetings with potential clients. I also enjoy lunch at the Buckhead Club.

I am a huge sports fan so I love attending live sporting events such as the Atlanta Falcons, Hawks, and Braves.

I’m a fan of visiting the Miguel Wilson Collections in Phipps Plaza either to buy a new suit or to get my suit tailored. I love going to the movies. My mother, brother, and I are a big movie family. Lastly, I recently became a member of Change Church.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The first person who deserves all the credit is my mother, Nadja Fultz. My father passed away when I was 9 years old so I was raised by my mother.

She taught me to always trust God, through the good, the bad, the ugly, and the great. She taught me about being independent and handling your business. I learned the “hustle” from my mother. She also taught me about being kind to others by being a positive spirit to everyone you meet (even if they are having a bad day). Being kind was the mantra. Among her many lessons, she taught me to give my best effort for that day, extend grace, and change the world little by little.

Besides my mother, I would say my younger brother, George Fultz, is another person I would like to shout out. He was the inspiration for me to keep going everyday. I am not sure if he knows this but I kept pushing forward because of him. He is always my number 1 best friend (no matter what). I always try my best to look out for him, even as we both navigate our adult years. That’s my guy!

I would say professionally, Morehouse College taught me how to make an impact when you do anything professionally. And the cliché quote of “You can always tell a Morehouse man, but you can’t tell him much”. We are confident. We are proud. We are Black. It was a remarkable experience being surrounded by Morehouse Brothers trying to make something of themselves, whether it was to pursue law, medicine, finance, or business. Morehouse was a magical place and I will never forget it.

My time at Howard University School of Law taught me more about how to be a social engineer. What impact are you making to not only make money, but also be a helping hand to those in need?

I would say, besides my mother, brother, and both institutions, another person who has had a great impact on me is my mentor who has become a true friend over the years, Mason Ashe. He was my sports law professor at Howard University School of Law, and we built a friendship through our common love of cigars, chess, and sports. When we get together, our conversations range from lived experiences to client development We both believe in the power of helping and positivity through God.

Website: https://www.reedsmith.com/en/professionals/f/fultz-edward-a

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edward-fultz-reedsmith/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Other: 1.https://www.thecommonnomad.co/ (The Common Nomad Podcast)

2.https://www.instagram.com/thehierarchyglobal/ (IG Page for the Hierarchy Global)

3.https://faithchess.org/ (Website for F.A.I.T.H.)

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