Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tierra Banks. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Tierra, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?

The best thing my biological father ever did for me was to step back and make room for my stepfather to raise me alongside my mom. Growing up, I didn’t fully appreciate the magnitude of that decision, but now I see it as a profound act of love and sacrifice. It must have taken immense courage for him to recognize that I’d be better off in a different environment. Because of his decision, I was blessed with a present, caring father figure.

My mom, on the other hand, taught me how to dream beyond limitations. She didn’t just tell me I could be anything I worked hard to become—she exposed me to those possibilities. When I said I wanted to be like Rudy Huxtable on TV, she enrolled me in acting classes. When I showed an interest in hair, she turned a part of our home into a salon suite so I could explore that passion. She would even take my sister and me to suburban open houses, pretending we were shopping for homes we couldn’t yet afford, opening our minds to what could be.

My bonus dad, my stepfather, has been the most patient person I’ve ever known. In a world that rushes everything, he showed me the power of maintaining a steady, calm pace. He became the safe space I could run to, and from him, I learned that taking your time is essential to achieving your goals without causing undue harm to yourself or those around you.

These lessons—my mother’s boundless encouragement and my stepfather’s steady patience—have shaped who I am today, both in my personal life and my career. They taught me to dream big but stay grounded, and to approach my work with purpose and care.

Tierra, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

In my early 20s, at the height of my cosmetology career, I was forced to take time off to care for my two young children and my injured husband. Unbeknownst to me, this shift into a domestic role would become the catalyst for my personal renaissance. For two years, I battled depression, worthlessness, and an identity crisis. I discovered through counseling that I carried many unresolved emotional wounds due to my lack of a relationship with my mother.

One day, a spiritual mother gave me the book Character Makeover, which catapulted me into a journey of self-discovery. It revealed that much of what I had been pursuing didn’t add value to my life. I began seeking God for my purpose, and He showed me that I was created to be a Transformer. I reflected on how, time and again, I had challenged the status quo and taken the path less traveled. For the first time in my life, I was introduced to my true self—unattached from accomplishments, titles, and embellished appearance (which stylist are known for).

As I worked on myself, I gained the courage to leave behind the familiar and embrace the unknown. I retired from cosmetology, earned a degree in social work, and began building the vision that God had placed in my heart. Today, I am the proud founder and Executive Director of the Mended Inc Foundation.

What began in 2015 as an unconventional Mother’s Day event for women with “mother wounds” has since grown into a national initiative. Our first event featured a mental health clinician who discussed the psychological impact of tumultuous mother-daughter relationships. While I was moved by the emotional response and the turnout, I thought that was the end of it. But there was more to come.

We went on to host workshops, conferences, support groups, and a counseling scholarship fund—all of which revealed the demand for our services. Women are suffering deeply in this sacred relationship, often lacking critical skills like communication, self-knowledge, confidence, empathy, and understanding. My team and I have responded to these needs ever since.

Since Mended’s inception, I’ve obtained certifications in community health work, grief recovery, mother-daughter coaching, and yoga. But my greatest source of mastery comes from the reconciliation I’ve experienced with my own mother. The work I’ve done to heal my “mother wounds” and build a thriving relationship with her fuels my passion for helping others.

Mended Inc now offers nationwide individual and dyad coaching, group programs, and bonding opportunities. We host events like our annual Mother’s Day Brunch for hurting women and produce the Mended Inc Podcast. I’ve authored a book titled *Our Perfect Chaos: A Poetic Dialogue Between an Adult-Daughter and Her Mom* and this summer, we hosted our first art exhibit in collaboration with a phenomenal photographer.

Several things set us apart:

1. Our Unique Population: Unlike most mother-daughter initiatives, we focus on adult daughters and their mothers—a fragile and underserved population.

2. Service Awareness: Our services are seen as a luxury, but they are vital. Many don’t realize how the state of the mother-daughter relationship impacts every area of a woman’s life, from motherhood to career.

3. Pandemic Expansion: The pandemic created an opportunity for us to serve women across the country. This has allowed us to study mother-daughter dynamics across cultures, ethnicities, and religions.

4. Offering Hope: We simplify relationship dynamics and sources of conflict, offering hope to women at their wits’ end, desperate for change.

I wouldn’t be here if God hadn’t chosen me for this sacred assignment. I’m grateful for my mother, Willette Williams, who gave me her blessing to use our story as fuel for others’ healing. And my children Peyton & Dawson, who inspires me to disrupt patterns of dysfunction and empower those I have the privilege to lead.

Are there any books, videos or other content that you feel have meaningfully impacted your thinking?

I continuously consume information—whether it’s through reading texts, watching videos, or listening to podcasts or people—to increase my leadership capacity. The material may be spiritual, personal, or professional in context, but I believe each deposit of knowledge or wisdom significantly impacts me, contributing to my growth. One of my spiritual mentors once advised me to “learn to eat the meat and spit out the bones,” which I interpreted in two ways: first, that I am responsible for the information I allow into my mind, and second, that valuable lessons can come from a wide range of sources.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

A critical lesson I had to unlearn was my understanding of love and trust. Growing up, all I saw were strained relationships between parents and children, including my own with my mother. When I set out to create an organization focused on repairing broken mother-daughter relationships, I had to first believe it was possible, despite no real examples around me. That realization—that I was called to this work—became clear as divine purpose. Through that journey, I learned what love is not, how trust is earned, and the power of effective communication, acceptance, and forgiveness. Once these principles became part of who I am, teaching them to others became more natural.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mendedrelationships.com
• Instagram: @mendedinccle @iamtierrabanks
• Facebook: @mendedinccle
• Linkedin: Tierra Banks, Mended Inc Foundation
• Youtube: @mendedinccle
• Other: TikTok @iamtierrabanks

Image Credits

Dani Venen @theeditorialstyle & @14kongo The Fightographer