About our Founder

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 Carla D. Lankford is a visionary leader, developer, and advocate with a deep passion for empowering young women around the world. As the Founder of Global Girl Voyagers (GGV) and its signature G.L.O-Up Mentoring Program, Carla is committed to transforming lives by exposing girls to global travel, cultural engagement, and Kingdom identity.

Carla’s passion for helping women began years ago when she served as Miss Tennessee State University (2003–2004). Her platform focused on preventing suicide among young women entering college—a cause that planted the seed for her lifelong commitment to mentorship and advocacy.

While pursuing her Master of Divinity, Carla interned as a chaplain at Metro State Women’s Prison, providing support for incarcerated women living with HIV/AIDS. She was awarded a competitive fellowship from the Office of Black Women in Church & Society, which led her to develop a mentoring program for pregnant high school girls.

Her mission-driven leadership expanded in Miami, FL, where she served with Urgent Inc., training teen girls to develop and advocate for policies addressing dating violence within public schools. These experiences became the foundation for the launch of Global Girl Voyagers—a Dallas-based nonprofit designed to develop bold, purpose-driven young women through travel, mentorship, and discipleship.

Carla also serves as Campus Kings & Queens CARES Official National Partner of National CARES Mentoring Movement, a nationally recognized initiative committed to healing, restoring, and uplifting Black children and communities through mentoring and community engagement.

In addition to her nonprofit and mentoring work, Carla has experienced explosive success as a real estate agent and developer in the Dallas-Fort Worth community. Her ability to build both people and properties has made her a trusted name in real estate, with a heart for revitalizing neighborhoods and helping families find their forever homes.

Carla is deeply devoted to missions and evangelism, with a desire to see young women proclaim the Gospel boldly—both domestically and abroad. She mentors and equips young women to walk confidently in their authority, identity, and purpose in the Kingdom of God.

Above all, Carla is a proud mother of five—four of whom are girls—and strives to model a life of faith, leadership, and legacy for her family and the next generation.

She holds a Master of Divinity from The Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, GA, and a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Tennessee State University. Carla is also a Certified Professional Life Coach.

Above all, Carla is a proud mother of five - Four whom are daughters, she and her husband Cedric strive to live a life rooted in faith, leadership, and legacy, serving as a powerful role model for their family and the next generation. 

“Travel opens you up to a whole new world of opportunities. I never realized I was looking at life through a straw until I took my first international trip in college. It opened my eyes. I started seeing everything in life on panoramic after that experience.”

—Carla D. Lankford, Founder, Global Girl Voyagers