Today we’d like to introduce you to Aketa Shine.
Aketa, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
My story began on the Westside of Jacksonville, Florida. I graduated from Nathan B. Forrest High School, but my journey into adulthood began long before I had everything figured out.
During my senior year of high school, I fell in love, became pregnant with my son, and got engaged to his father. Eventually, our relationship ended after he joined the Marine Corps. Although we were no longer together, we made the decision to co-parent and focus on doing what was best for our son.
As a young mother, I was determined to build a better life for us. At 23 years old, I got my own apartment through Section 8 and enrolled in school to become a hairstylist. My son was about six years old at the time. I didn’t have a roadmap, but I had determination, faith, and the desire to create something better.
I spent 12 years working in the hair industry. That experience taught me valuable lessons about entrepreneurship, customer service, confidence, and connecting with people. Eventually, I felt the desire to grow professionally and stepped into the pharmaceutical industry, where I worked as both a retail and inpatient hospital pharmacy technician. I spent approximately 20 years in that field.
But entrepreneurship continued to call me.
In 2019, I became a real estate agent, adding another career to my growing list of experiences. Then, in 2021, I took another major leap of faith and opened a trucking company. I had two semi-trucks, two drivers, and faith. It was a major learning experience that taught me even more about business, leadership, responsibility, and perseverance.
People have often called me a “Jack of all trades,” but I’ve learned to embrace the term multi-hyphenate instead.
I believe I’m not meant to be defined by one title.
My journey has included motherhood, entrepreneurship, real estate, pharmaceuticals, trucking, media, podcasting, and now acting. Each chapter has shaped me and prepared me for the next.
My life has also included difficult chapters. I experienced childhood trauma and went through many challenges growing up. Those experiences affected me deeply, but they also became part of the story that shaped the woman I am today.
My faith has always been an important part of my life. I am a Christian, and I stand firmly on God’s Word. There have been many moments when I didn’t understand what God was doing, but I learned that faith sometimes means moving before you have all the answers.
That became especially real in 2023.
I felt God telling me to sell my townhouse and move to Atlanta, Georgia. I didn’t completely understand why. I simply knew I needed to obey the direction I felt I was being given.
So I did.
About a year after moving to Atlanta, things began to make more sense. New opportunities started unfolding, including two areas I never expected to become such an important part of my life: podcasting and acting.
I launched my podcast, Your Voice Your Business, as a platform to highlight the stories, businesses, careers, experiences, and successes of other people. What started as an idea has continued to grow, and the podcast is still going strong today. I love giving people a platform to use their voices and tell their stories.
Then acting entered the picture.
I began pursuing acting and started booking opportunities that allowed me to step into another creative side of myself. I’ve had the opportunity to be part of multiple projects, including The Replacement Killers, directed by Reggie Gaskins; Tyler Perry’s Give Me Sugah, where I worked in the background; I’d Kill to Be You; Swipe Right for Murder; and the independent film Where We Meet.
Every acting opportunity has taught me something new and has reminded me that it is never too late to pursue another dream.
When I look back at the young woman from the Westside of Jacksonville who became a mother while still in high school, I realize that she had no idea how many different lives she would live within one lifetime.
The hairstylist.
The pharmacy technician.
The real estate agent.
The trucking company owner.
The entrepreneur.
The podcast host.
The actress.
The creator.
They aren’t separate versions of me. They are all pieces of me.
I’ve learned that life doesn’t always follow a straight line. Sometimes you have to pivot. Sometimes you have to start over. Sometimes you have to walk away from what is familiar. And sometimes you have to trust God before you understand the assignment.
Today, I embrace being a multi-hyphenate. I don’t feel the need to choose just one thing anymore. I believe there is room for every gift, every passion, and every experience that God has placed inside of me.
I’m still building. I’m still learning. I’m still creating. I’m still using my voice. And I’m still discovering what is next.
If my journey has taught me anything, it’s that you are never too old, too late, or too far into one chapter of your life to turn the page.
I’m Aketa Shine—a mother, entrepreneur, real estate professional, podcast host, actress, creator, and woman of faith.
And honestly, I believe I’m just getting started.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
No, my journey has definitely not been a smooth road. I became a mother while still in high school, experienced childhood trauma, navigated single motherhood and co-parenting, and faced financial and personal challenges along the way.
I’ve also had to reinvent myself many times—from hairstyling to pharmaceuticals, real estate, trucking, podcasting, and now acting. Every transition came with uncertainty, risks, and moments when I questioned whether I was on the right path.
Through it all, my faith has carried me. Moving to Atlanta in 2023 was a major leap of faith, and although I didn’t understand the reason at first, I trusted God and took the step.
I’ve learned that setbacks don’t mean the story is over. Sometimes they are preparation for the next chapter. My struggles taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of trusting God even when I can’t see the whole picture.
My road hasn’t been perfect, but I wouldn’t change my story. Every challenge has helped shape the woman I am today.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
At this stage of my life, I’m primarily focused on acting and podcasting, two creative spaces that allow me to use my voice, personality, and life experiences in completely different ways.
I’m the host of Your Voice Your Business, a podcast that highlights entrepreneurs, entertainers, creatives, professionals, and everyday people with stories worth hearing. The podcast is still going strong, and I’m passionate about creating a platform where people can share their journeys, businesses, experiences, and successes.
I’m also building my career as an actress. I’ve had the opportunity to work on multiple projects, including The Replacement Killers, directed by Reggie Gaskins; Tyler Perry’s Give Me Sugah as a background actor; I’d Kill to Be You; Swipe Right for Murder; and Where We Meet. Every project has been an opportunity to learn, grow, and step further into a creative space that I’m truly passionate about.
Although I’ve had careers in real estate, pharmaceuticals, hair, and entrepreneurship, I don’t see those experiences as separate from who I am today. They have given me life experience, business knowledge, confidence, and the ability to connect with people from all walks of life.
What I’m most proud of is my willingness to reinvent myself. I’ve never allowed one chapter of my life to determine what the next one could look like.
What sets me apart is that I’m authentic. I bring my real-life experiences, personality, faith, and perspective into everything I do. I’m not trying to fit myself into one category. I’m a multi-hyphenate, and I believe there is room for all of my gifts.
Right now, I’m focused on growing Your Voice Your Business, continuing to develop as an actress, and creating opportunities that allow me to tell stories, connect with people, and use my voice in meaningful ways.
I’m proud of where I’ve been, but I’m even more excited about where I’m going.
Any big plans?
I’m excited about this next chapter and the possibilities ahead. One of my biggest goals is to open my own podcast studio, creating a space where entrepreneurs, entertainers, creatives, and everyday people can come together to share their stories and use their voices.
I also envision taking Your Voice Your Business on the road and conducting interviews in cities all across the United States. I want the podcast to become more than a show—I want it to become an experience and a platform that connects people from different communities and backgrounds.
On the acting side, I’m looking forward to continuing to grow, taking on more challenging roles, and expanding my presence in film and television.
Ultimately, I’m building a life that gives me the freedom to create, travel, tell stories, and open doors for other people. I’m excited about what God has next for me, and I truly believe this is only the beginning.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: Officialaketashine
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@yourvoiceyourbusiness?si=F4MXvHiYvQhjxgmE
