Meet the Founder
Joci is an american Entrepreneur, Non-Profit Founder and Podcast Personality. Raised in Tampa, Florida, Joci is a woman of many hats. To know her is to know a mother, renowned pastry chef, podcast host, business owner and ultimately a woman on a mission to
enhance the lives of others.
She is the owner of JociCakes Cakery, co-host on the popular Melanated N Business Podcast and most recently, the founder of Young Ladies of Vision, Inc–a Georgia based 501c3.
In 2008 she incorporated JociCakes Cakery and immediately went to work securing a commercial kitchen to create one-of-a-kind, signature cake flavors and icings. With momentum strong and demand high, Smith set out to identify privately owned and chain restaurants to exclusively carry her desserts. While building the brand, Joci pursued formal education at The Art Institute of Atlanta, and earned the degree that would further catapult her brand into Atlanta’s bustling food industry.
This organization is near and dear to my heart because I love to see young girls grow and become great. I believe that they need empowerment and support throughout their teenage years so that they don’t make the same mistakes that most women make and we break the cycle.”
Despite a global pandemic, 2020 was a prosperous year as she joined forces with Tawanda Gresham to launch the Melanated N Business weekly podcast that highlights local Black & Brown businesses to increase brand awareness.
Acting on a lifelong passion for her community, she founded Young Ladies of Vision, Inc–a non-profit dedicated to providing girls with a safe emotional place, skill development and self-esteem building that leads to better life choices and an opportunity to realize their full potential
Joci has appeared on iHeart Radio, AUMA Radio, Michael and Joi in the Morning radio show, The Recap Report and on Yandi Smith’s Everything Girls Love blog. On television, her products have been featured and praised on VH1’s Love & Hip-Hop. Bambi of the Love & Hip-Hop franchise exclusively featured JociCakes desserts at her Shimmer Elite Hair Line Launch.
Joci’s entrepreneurial and community ventures have made her one of Atlanta’s women to watch!
A family woman at heart, she cites her two daughters as her inspiration behind her hard work . When she’s not sitting behind her desk, she enjoys reading, traveling and attending sporting events. During her self-care time, she appreciates a calm environment to meditate and lets her imagination run wild through adult coloring books