Phaedra Parks is a woman of many layers. From her roots in law and entrepreneurship to her role as a cultural and social advocate, she has crafted a career as multifaceted as her personality. With a blend of unapologetic confidence, cutting-edge professionalism, and a heart full of compassion, Phaedra has built an empire that stretches from intellectual property law to funeral homes and even includes a reign on reality TV, starring on Bravo’s Real Housewives of Atlanta. Behind the cameras and the headlines is a woman who is deeply committed to her family, her passions, and her mission to create lasting change.
In our candid conversation, Phaedra opens up about the hard-won lessons that have shaped her journey, the fine balance between ambition and self-care, and her hopes for the future. From breaking boundaries in the courtroom to redefining what success looks like, Phaedra’s wisdom is as bold and inspiring as her path.
You’ve built a successful career as a lawyer and entrepreneur. What inspired you to pursue these fields, and how have they shaped your journey?
“My specialty is in intellectual property and entertainment law and I saw a place where there were unrepresented people that the larger firms saw as ‘untouchable.’ I wanted to take the people that nobody wants. Entertainers who needed representation but didn’t quite present themselves well or truly did struggle in a professional setting – people who weren’t considered ‘fancy’ or ‘moral’ enough. These people need representation, too. I will take the people who are considered ‘the bottom of the barrel’ and make them multimillionaires and that’s what I did.
My law firm was never solely about the contract, it was about lifestyle management, too. Not only would I oversee the contract, but I would also set my clients up with a banker. Let’s set some goals. What does life look like after your career? My businesses have always been built on relationships and I deem those relationships as valuable… You have to surround yourself with people who have more, want more and are doing more than you. Relationships inspire you to be more and do more.”
You’ve ventured into multiple business endeavors, including a funeral home business. What motivated you to expand your professional portfolio beyond law?
“I’ve always been a person who would do the work for free if I was passionate enough about it. If you do something for free, then you learn how to master it for pay. Anything that I’ve fallen in love with, I figured out how to make it profitable for me. Before I moved to Atlanta to attend law school, I started researching the best cities to live in, cities where women could thrive, where people of color could thrive; Atlanta was one of those places. I came to Atlanta and I was willing to work hard and people gave me the opportunities.”
How do you balance your career with your personal life? Has this balance evolved over the years?
“I don’t know if there’s such a thing as truly having a balance. I think it is more so prioritizing what has to be done on that particular day. Being a mom has to be the first position… Rome wasn’t built in a day. If you prioritize what has to be done that day, then that eliminates the stress. You have to be realistic and humanistic about not getting everything done in one day. I’ve got to sleep. Wellness, self-care, and self-love are so important to me because I see so many people who have sacrificed so much for a career. When you die, companies are going to continue to figure it out. You can’t figure out being a mother, you can’t figure out quality time with your parents. You have to recognize what is important. You can always make money. But you can’t always be present for a piano recital or an important event for people that you love. A job serves its purpose but it won’t be able to fulfill you to a full extent. The true meaning of life is not to collect things; it’s to have moments, it’s to have experiences. Things come and go, but moments are forever.”
How do you prioritize your well-being? What does a day of rest look like for you?
“I live in gratitude. I believe that the only things that don’t change are seasons. I’ve definitely had seasons in my life where I had to toil, plant, and sow. Then, there were seasons where I was harvesting a bountiful harvest. You’re not going to always be the new, hot kid on the block, so when opportunities come, you have to be prepared. It is my ‘yes’ season. When you say ‘yes,’ the universe says ‘yes’ back. God has allowed the universe to say yes to me. The more I say yes, then the more things come to me. I have the ability to really work right now. I’m in work mode, so when I do have the opportunity to have free time, it is me and my kids. We love Japan. My youngest son likes to travel, so he’ll find things for us to do. I don’t believe in buying toys. I believe in experiences. You will remember going to another country and experiencing the food, and the culture, versus another toy that kills your ability to think independently. Let’s go to a different country or ride a train to another country. The sky’s the limit.”
Reality TV can sometimes blur the line between reality and performance. How do you manage the public’s perception of you versus who you really are?
“Television is for entertainment. If you’re not entertaining, then you have no value to your audience. Your character on TV is a personified part of you. I’ve always been over-the-top and I’ve always loved lavish things even as a child. The misperception is that people always assume that I’m not as nice as I am and so they’re thrown off when they find out that I’m very endearing. On TV, I can be portrayed as a person who can read you for filth, but if you look closely, I don’t bother anyone who doesn’t bother me. I’m not out here being shady. I’m usually saying what’s pretty obvious and truthful. I like to make comical remarks. On Housewives, my biggest ‘reads’ have been comical; they’re not mean-spirited.”
You’ve been a strong advocate for criminal justice reform and other social issues. What changes would you like to see in the system, and how can everyday people contribute to those efforts?
“We have to really advocate in the justice system to make sure people aren’t being charged for minor offenses that ultimately affect their entire life. They can’t get into school, they can’t get a job, and they can’t get ahead because they’ve got this offense that is so minute but it keeps them from doing the things that they want to do because it stays with them for a lifetime. The decisions you make as a teenager shouldn’t always follow you forever… It shouldn’t put you in a category that allows people to discriminate because you had less than an ounce of marijuana charged against you, therefore, you are deemed untouchable or a drug addict. We have to talk about those things because people should be able to be redeemed and have a second chance. At 25, you are not the same person that you were at 15. At 30, you are not the same person you were at 20. If you see someone who is the same person, then that’s a problem because people should be evolving at all times and should be maturing. A bad choice as a teenager shouldn’t be held over your head. We need to talk about mandatory sentencing. The penal system has evolved with the culture. The educational system can be so focused on being politically correct that it does not address the needs of the community.”
You’ve always had a bold and confident persona. Where do you find inspiration for staying strong and true to yourself?
“Everyone is on their own journey. If God brings someone into my presence, I’ve got to be humble enough to recognize that person’s purpose because I don’t think anything is by accident. Everyone has their purpose and it can be seasonal. Some people come into your life to show you about yourself, show you something about them, teach you a new skill, and they might not be there forever, but you’ve got to recognize the purpose at that moment. We entertain angels every day. Angels show up in all forms. People should always be humble enough to be open to receive. I’m a vessel. If you’re always in the same room and the same bubble, then you’ll always stay the same. You’ll never have an experience that can change the trajectory of your life. I thank God that I have always been open to new experiences because when you’re not open to new experiences then you will not evolve into anything different. If you tell me I’m the same person you knew from high school, that’s a problem with me. I should be very different, a changed woman.”
PHAEDRA’S “ PHAVS”
Top 3 Fragrances
- Initio’s Atomic Rose
- Parfums de Marly’s Perseus
- Initio’s Psychedelic Love
Top 3 Restaurants
- LowCountry Steak
- Le Colonial
- Nobu Atlanta
Top 3 Vacation Destinations
- Amalfi Coast, Italy
- Tokyo, Japan
- Paris, France
Top 3 Spas/Places of Rejuvenation
- Enlighten Wellness (Park City, Utah)
- SLM Medspa (Atlanta)
- Proactive Longevity (Cabo San Lucas, Mexico)
Top 3 Places to Shop in Atlanta for Fashion
- Ivy Showroom
- Antidote
- Icebox Diamonds & Watches
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