Alumni Spotlight: Ayanna Smith

Building Bridges Through Innovation and Purpose

From producing multimillion-dollar national fundraisers to leading tech equity initiatives and launching ventures that empower women, small businesses and underrepresented founders, Ayanna Smith (M.A., Organizational Communications ’01) has built a career rooted in impact, innovation and purpose. Her journey from the halls of Bowie State University to leadership roles in technology, health and entrepreneurship reflects the true Bulldog spirit: bold, resilient and deeply committed to helping others rise. 

Smith’s journey shows how one person’s creativity, compassion and determination can spark change that reaches far beyond their own success. Through her ventures and community work, she continues to open doors for others while proving that innovation can be deeply human. 

When Smith arrived at Bowie State in 1999 to pursue her graduate degree, she already had a clear voice and a strong sense of purpose. What she discovered at Bowie, however, was something deeper — a foundation that continues to shape her approach to leadership, creativity and service nearly 25 years later. 

“I briefly worked in the Office of Alumni Relations while I was a graduate student,” she recalled. “That experience revealed philanthropy as an act of humanity, sustained by trust, empathy and the quiet power of people choosing to care. It continues to shape how I move through the world, reminding me that lasting impact begins with relationships built with intention and heart.”

After earning her degree, Smith began a remarkable career that has woven together communication, innovation and social impact. Her first major milestone came when she joined the United Negro College Fund as a communications manager, where she helped produce “An Evening of Stars,” a nationally televised fundraiser honoring Stevie Wonder. The star-studded tribute earned an NAACP Image Award and became a career-defining moment, revealing the influence of storytelling and culture in advancing a mission. 

“In that role, I found a rare harmony between art and service,” she said. “It affirmed that being multi-hyphenate is a strength, and that I could bring every part of myself — the creative, the strategist and the storyteller — into my work.”

From there, Smith moved into public service, leading communications for Washington, D.C.’s Office of the Chief Technology Officer. The work immersed her in innovation at a time when questions of access and equity were coming into sharp focus. It was her first real view of how deeply the digital divide shapes opportunity and how much brilliance often goes unseen in communities that have had to build with limited resources. That experience sparked her connection to the tech ecosystem, where she began to see innovation not just as progress but as a possibility for everyone. 

That spirit of curiosity, courage and purpose has defined Smith’s path ever since. Over the past decade, she has combined her passion for technology and equity. She most recently lead a venture backed initiative focused on helping women get hired and promoted into leadership roles in tech in the Washington, DC region. She has also founded several ventures that blend entrepreneurship with social impact, including Journey Together, a care coordination app designed to centralize and simplify the organization and management of group care, and Celebrate! DC, a platform that amplifies small businesses and creators. In the coming weeks, Smith will officially launch Scout Together, a concierge service that curates group scouting tours for aspiring expats seeking to move to Portugal. 

“I am drawn to ideas that challenge limits and invite new ways of thinking,” Smith said. “When I encounter a problem, I feel compelled to solve it. My ventures are born from a strong desire to clear a path for others, to make systems work for more people and to prove that change is always possible.”

Her resilience has been tested and strengthened through personal challenges, including a battle with breast cancer that inspired the creation of Journey Together. October, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, remains a deeply personal reminder of the importance of care, community and compassion. 

As she looks ahead, Smith’s focus remains on purpose-driven innovation, and she credits Bowie State with helping her develop the voice and confidence to lead.  

“Bowie State challenged me to embrace the full range of who I am at my core,” she said. “It gave language and structure to the many parts of me that had always worked together beneath the surface. I came to understand that my ability to connect people, tell stories and build community was not a collection of side skills but the foundation of my purpose.” 

As Smith continues to shape new ventures and communities, her journey serves as a reminder of what’s possible when education, empathy and innovation come together.

“To those still trying to make sense of how all the pieces fit, remember this: Your journey may not follow a straight line, but that does not make it unclear,” she said. “Each skill, each experience and each pivot adds depth to what you bring. Trust that your range is not confusion but capacity — proof that you were never meant to fit into one box.”