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

Hi Samaria, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Consistency is by far the value that matters most to me. I’ve learned that in order to become great at whatever I do, I must be willing to consistently work at it. It is not enough to put in effort for a few days, weeks, or months. If I want to see true progress, I must consistently work toward that progress. Even with the best ideas or the most talent, you can still fail if you don’t move toward your goals with consistency.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
While I’m currently in a PhD program, four years ago, I was rejected by every single PhD program that I applied to (six in total). After finally getting accepted the next year, I realized that life neither begins nor ends with a PhD program. This freed me to explore more of my creative side outside of academia. The Girlfriends and Goals Podcast is one of the products that has come from this freedom. I’ve learned that I do not have to limit myself to just one thing—that life can be an expression of various talents and interests. Even though everything does not need to be explored at once, there’s no need to restrict yourself to JUST one thing. I would want people to see this brand as an extension of me—it is a journey into womanhood with a community of girlfriends who are on their own journeys as well. It covers adult friendship, professional and personal life, ambitions, societal pressures, and pop culture topics. It’s essentially everything that girlfriends might discuss when they catch up, except in a podcast format. This brand is designed for the woman who has a career/ambition (in my case, a tasking PhD life) but still enjoys the other aspects that make life more full.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I love to visit black owned restaurants so I’d definitely take a friend to one place I’ve tried (Ike’s Cafe and Grill in Norcross) and another I haven’t (Ms. Icey’s Kitchen in Decatur). Mangos Caribbean Restaurant on Auburn Ave is another favorite!

A few places to visit would be Ponce City Market (love the rooftop there!), Emory Lullwater Trail for a nice, serene walk, and Puttshack

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I am blessed to have a village that always embraces me and supports my endeavors. This shoutout is dedicated to them.

Instagram: @theafricanphd

Youtube: The African PhD

Other: Podcast Instagram: @girlfriendsandgoalspodcast Podcast YouTube: Girlfriends and Goals Podcast

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.