Erica Banks on Leadership, Confidence, and Building Bankable Marketing Strategies in Detroit

Erica Banks doesn’t just run campaigns, she builds influence that lasts. As Managing Partner of Detroit-based Bankable Marketing Strategies, Banks has positioned herself as a strategic force behind high-impact initiatives spanning corporate brands, government agencies, and major cultural institutions. Her work carries precision, intention, and a deep understanding of how messaging shapes perception.

But beyond the boardrooms and large-scale activations, Banks represents something more personal: discipline, presence, and the kind of confidence that doesn’t ask for permission. Raised in an environment where entrepreneurship was modeled daily, she learned early that leadership is less about titles and more about accountability, consistency, and vision.

From advising executives and elected officials to guiding Detroit’s tourism and branding conversations through Mayor-Elect Mary Sheffield’s Transition Committee, Banks operates where strategy meets civic responsibility. She believes culture cannot be an afterthought in marketing — it must be understood, respected, and reflected with care.

In this exclusive feature for via the That Girl Blog, Erica Banks speaks candidly about resilience, mentorship, protecting your standards in competitive industries, and what it truly means to carry yourself with presence. For her, success is not about being the loudest voice in the room. It’s about knowing your value before the room decides it for you.

You’ve built Bankable Marketing Strategies into a powerhouse agency. What early experiences shaped your vision for leadership and entrepreneurship?

Erica: My leadership story started long before I stepped into my role at Bankable. I grew up watching my mother build this agency from nothing but faith, grit, and community support. That was my first masterclass in leadership — seeing someone lead not with titles, but with consistency, accountability, and a genuine ability to make people feel seen.

Over the years, working across government, entertainment, corporate environments, and community-driven spaces showed me just how deeply strategic decisions impact real people. Those experiences shaped my vision to evolve Bankable into an agency where strategy and humanity coexist. At Bankable, we believe brands deserve both brilliance and heart — and we’re intentional about delivering both every single day.

How do you define being a “that girl” in your own life and career?

Erica: For me, being “that girl” has never been about perfection — it’s about presence. It’s self-awareness, discipline, and the kind of confidence that comes from knowing exactly who you are and what you bring to the table. It’s owning your voice, honoring your standards, and walking into every room like you belong there — long before anyone else recognizes your name.

Being that girl means choosing yourself daily, not from a place of ego, but from a place of self-respect. It’s refusing to shrink, refusing to settle, and refusing to negotiate your worth. It’s setting the tone for how you will be treated — in business, in relationships, and in the way you lead your own life.

That girl is the woman who rebuilds when life tries to break her. She doesn’t crumble — she recalibrates. She keeps her boundaries tight, her energy protected, and her vision clear. She leads with kindness, but she doesn’t confuse kindness with being small. She’s aligned, intentional, and grounded in her purpose.

Being that girl is not about being the loudest in the room. It’s about being the most authentic. It’s about knowing that your power isn’t performative — it’s lived, earned, and deeply felt. That’s the version of “that girl” I strive to be every single day.

In a competitive industry like marketing and PR, what strategies have helped you stand out without compromising your values?

Erica: I lead with integrity and substance every single time. Trends are cute, but strategy and authenticity win. What separates Bankable is that we don’t sell hype, we sell outcomes. We build trust with clients, not just campaigns. Also, I don’t chase every opportunity. I say yes to what aligns with our purpose and no to anything that compromises how we show up. When your values are clear, your brand becomes magnetic.

What has been the most challenging moment in your career, and how did you turn it into a learning opportunity?

Erica: The toughest moments were the ones where I doubted myself or when I felt overlooked, underestimated, or stretched thin. But every challenge pushed me to learn and grow.

There was a season where everything hit at once: major clients, personal transitions, and demanding timelines. Instead of collapsing, I slowed down, reorganized my systems, and asked myself, “What is this moment trying to teach me?”

The lesson was capacity. Not everything is meant to be carried alone. I built stronger teams, clearer boundaries, and a healthier way of working. That became the turning point for Bankable’s growth.

How do you mentor and empower women in your industry to take ownership of their voice and influence?

Erica: I believe in real mentorship, not the inauthentic “coffee chat” version, but the kind where you pour into women, challenge them, allow them to share their thoughts, aspirations, and goals, while also telling them the truth with respect and love. I encourage women to stop negotiating their worth, to advocate for themselves, and to recognize their brilliance before others do. In every room I enter, I’d like to believe I make space for more women to step in behind me. Representation isn’t enough, we need seats, voice, and real, meaningful impact.

Detroit is central to your story. How has the city influenced your approach to creativity, community engagement, and leadership?

Erica: Detroit is resilience, innovation, artistry, and soul wrapped into one place. You cannot be from Detroit and not understand the power of community. My work reflects the heartbeat of this city — creative, bold, people-centered, and unafraid to disrupt the norm. Detroit teaches you to build with intention and impact. That’s exactly what Bankable stands on.

Can you share a moment when collaboration led to a surprising outcome or breakthrough for one of your campaigns?

Erica: Some of the biggest breakthroughs have come from unexpected partners and partnerships. There was a campaign where we invited community leaders, influencers, and local organizations into the strategy room, not just after launch. That collaboration shifted everything. By blending grassroots insight with strategic messaging, the campaign didn’t just perform well, it moved people. It reminded me that when you co-create, you don’t just build campaigns, you build culture.

What habits or practices keep you grounded while managing multiple high-impact initiatives?

Erica: What keeps me grounded is a mix of boundaries, rest, that’s actually rest, and being brutally honest with myself. I’ve learned to check in with my body, my energy, and where my mind is before I even look at my calendar or open my laptop. If I’m not ok, nothing else moves the way it should. I have to show up my for me before I can show up for anything or anyone else.

I also lean into what I call “micro-grounding,” small pauses where I take a few minutes to regroup, pray, or just be still. Sometimes it’s stepping away from my laptop, sometimes it’s just silence. Those little resets keep me aligned when life and work get loud.

And honestly, the people around me matter. I’m intentional about surrounding myself with people who care about me, not just Erica the professional, or “the brand.” People who pour into me, hold me accountable, and remind me to slow down when I start carrying too much. That support keeps me steady while I juggle high-impact work.

For young women pursuing careers in marketing, communications, or leadership, what advice would you give about cultivating confidence and vision early on?

Erica: Start by believing that you belong in every room your talent, your preparation, and your persistence carry you into. That’s the foundation. Confidence isn’t about being the loudest voice or having everything figured out, it’s about showing up consistently, doing the work, and trusting that you’ve earned your place.

Learn your craft deeply. Study the industry, understand the strategy behind the creativity, and become someone known for excellence, not ego. Protect your reputation, your name will enter rooms before you do, so make sure it speaks to who you are, and what you believe.

Don’t let this industry rush you. Marketing and PR move fast, but your growth doesn’t have to be frantic. Take time building your voice, your point of view, and your standards. Build those things before you chase titles or recognition. When your voice is strong, the opportunities that come will actually fit who you are.

Remember that your vision will evolve as you evolve. You won’t have all the answers on day one, and you aren’t supposed to. Don’t wait for the perfect moment or for some magical feeling of readiness, you’ll miss your whole window or opportunity. Start now, learn on your feet, refine your approach, and let the journey and lessons, good or bad teach you what preparation never could.

Most importantly, stay anchored in who you are. This industry will test your confidence, your creativity, and your boundaries. But when you know who you are — and what you refuse to compromise, you’ll move through it with clarity and purpose. That’s how you build a career with staying power, not just momentum.

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