Going Global: How a Chance Friendship Changed One Atlanta Entrepreneur’s Trajectory

As Jamine Moton stepped off the Atlanta pitch stage, a hand gently grabbed her elbow. 

“Congratulations, Jasmine; you’ve earned this,” said Koosje de Vries, deputy consul general of the Netherlands at the time and a member of the Women Entrepreneurs Initiative selection committee. 

While Ms. Moton was still processing the excitement of winning, Ms. de Vries was less shocked; she’d recognized in Ms. Moton the same entrepreneurial fire that had been ignited early in her own career. 

In that instant, two women from completely different worlds forged a lasting bond showing the enduring value of cross-cultural relationships – and that the most meaningful connections aren’t built on a similar background, but on shared humanity.  

Ms. de Vries had arrived in Atlanta in 2019 with a clear mission to strengthen the bond between her home country and the Southeast U.S. Her passion for supporting women in business was personal: Having served in the Royal Netherlands Airforce, she knew what it felt like to be an outsider in a male-dominated world. 

When she connected with WEI Atlanta, the Dutch diplomat was galvanized by the energy of this new breed of female executives, but getting to know women like Ms. Moton would offer an authentic understanding of the local context that no briefing could offer.  

“She helped me grasp the real-life pulse of Atlanta,” said Ms. de Vries. 

Ms. Moton, founder and CEO of Skylar Security, had already faced her fair share of obstacles as a Black woman trying to find her footing first in law enforcement and then in the security sector. Time and time again, she was told that her presence in the industry was unwelcome.

“I knew there was no way Ms. Moton wouldn’t win the WEI competition,” Ms. de Vries reflected. “She had too much drive, too much passion.”

But it wasn’t just about winning the competition. Their connection was about something much deeper. Despite never having met before, the women immediately shared what they describe as a “sister soul,” a synergy and focus on community that transcended cultural boundaries.

The pair’s relationship blossomed when Ms. Moton traveled to the Netherlands for the Global Conference Series (GCS); it was a life-changing experience. 

“Seeing technology on a world scale made me realize I was thinking too small,” Ms. Moton said. “I needed to start doing things locally that made sense globally.”

The trip sparked an idea that would transform the future of her company. 

Traditionally, security providers were dependent on manpower, but Ms. Moton realized that by integrating technology, she could make her services all the more efficient and help others do the same. It was this insight that led to the creation of the Skylar App, a proprietary solution that merges technology with personal support in a way that empowers other entrepreneurs to optimize their own security services.

Ms. de Vries, who had worked around the world—from China to Nicaragua to Senegal—helped Ms. Moton see the global potential of her ideas. But the exchange was mutual. 

“It’s not just about what you know—it’s about how willing you are to learn,” added Ms. de Vries. “Humility and curiosity open doors that force can’t. Being intentional about building relationships allows you to form connections that can last a lifetime and lead to deeper, more meaningful success.”

Their relationship provides a challenge to all Atlantans that may be hesitant to admit their ignorance or embrace the unfamiliar: Are you ready to step outside your comfort zone? 

As Ms. Moton and Ms. de Vries’s journeys show, true growth doesn’t happen in isolation, but in community. When we seek out those who challenge our thinking and open ourselves to different perspectives, we discover that the most important lessons come not from deals or strategies but from the people who help us see the world in a new light.

Claire Angelle is the founder and CEO of Angelle Consulting, a mission-driven PR and consulting firm in Atlanta helping brands fuel positive change. The firm counts Skylar Security as a longtime client.