Black and white portrait of Joi Donaldson with a messy top bun and bangs and large earrings looking at the camera.
Joi Donaldson with braided hair and glasses leaning on a white vinyl "1" light fixture with illuminated globe-shaped light bulbs on the ground in an outdoor setting.

Joi Donaldson

Lorraine Hansberry quote on white background that reads, "All which I feel I must write has become obsessive. So many truths seem to be rushing at me as the result of things felt and seen and lived through. Oh, what I think I must tell this world."

Author. Filmmaker. Creative.

Founder & Chief Strategy Officer of The Joi Element.

I create worlds outside of myself.

Not unspeakable anymore—loud, bold and sovereign.

Joi Donaldson with curly hair wearing a sleeveless sequined bodysuit and a black blazer, lying on a white surface with her eyes closed, her left hand resting on her stomach, and her right arm bent with her hand behind her head.
Zora Neale Hurston quote that reads, "I love myself when I am laughing, and then again when I am looking mean and impressive."
Joi Donaldson with curly hair and glasses holding a bouquet of flowers outside a restaurant at night, dressed in a black dress and heels for her birthday.

Bylines include XONecole, Raising Mothers, Midnight & Indigo, Temple Indigo and Richmond Magazine.

My most personal work resides here and on Substack.

  • I'm a keynote speaker, voice sovereignty advocate and Founder & Chief Strategy Officer of The Joi Element. I'm a writer, filmmaker, entrepreneur, and mom—a multi-hyphenate to my core.

  • The Joi Element is where strategy meets storytelling, authenticity becomes armor. We help Black women leaders document, protect and amplify their authentic voices through programs, strategic partnerships, and community. We refuse to let AI speaks for us. Legacy over likes. Always.

  • @youvereachedjoi is where the toggle is off. Across platforms - specifically Twitch, YouTube, TikTok (for now) and Substack - this is where I show up unfiltered. No scripts, no heavy edits, no chasing virality. This is the human behind Joi Donaldson the speaker and The Joi Element the company.

Contact me.