Stephanie Barnes

My path to founding Sistah of Survival wasn't a traditional career path - it was forged through lived personal experiences that became my purpose. I'm a two-time domestic violence survivor, a returning citizen as a result of one of my abusers, and a recovering addict of 33 years. I also survived severe mental health challenges including suicidal ideation and attempts. For years, I was concerned about how people would view me if I told my story. I come from a family of gospel singers, and I remember being terrified to share my testimony because I didn't want to be judged. But eventually, something said 'tell your story, tell it.' When I did, so many people came to me saying 'oh my god, I went through that too!' God graced me with a personality to be a safe space for people to open up. I've co-authored three books and had a pivotal moment on my annual birthday cruise when I was in the library writing a chapter - that's when I realized this work was real. I launched Sistah of Survival as a nonprofit in 2023, after the transition of my special friend of 22 years to pancreatic cancer. That loss deepened my ability to relate to women who have experienced profound grief. Now I do mentorship, one-on-one and group coaching as a certified life coach and certified mindful strategist. I'm also furthering my education through a faith-based coaching program because this is a fragile, gentle space where women need to feel understood and not judged as they write their stories. I've always been a people person - I love my clothes, everything must match, the hair, the nails - and people look at me and say 'there's no way you went through that.' But I have court receipts, probation records, all of it. I'm not proud of it, but it pushed me into the purpose that God wanted me to fulfill. My background includes graduating from business school, which taught me organization, accounting, and how to function as an executive assistant in corporate settings. I've also done event planning, which taught me customer service and the etiquette of dealing with people. Today, I focus on leadership development - helping women understand that leadership isn't just about running a business, it's about taking control of who you are and facing the person in the mirror every day.