A native of Detroit, Gloria Mayfield Banks (www.gloriamayfieldbanks.com) began her professional career as a sales representative for IBM, later joining Stratus Technologies as a manufacturing marketing manager. A graduate of Howard University and Harvard Business School, she went on to become assistant director for admissions at HBS, where she traveled nationally and internationally to recruit students. Faced with a difficult divorce, Banks began selling Mary Kay products to supplement her income. Within a year she set the company sales record; within a few more years, her business had grown to over $24 million in retail sales with a sales group of over 6,000 consultants. Over her career with Mary Kay, Inc., Banks has broken company sales records, including largest personal team, largest unit, and largest national unit, while earning several cars, numerous trips, and jewelry. Her performance ranks as #3 in the United States and #1 for an African American.

Banks has shared her secrets of success with national media audiences, appearing on CNN with Soledad O'Brien, ABC-TV, and CNBC with Donny Deutsch on The Big Idea. She has also appeared in Fortune, Black Enterprise, Glamour, Working Woman, and PINK. She is the cofounder of Charisma Factor, a motivational speaking and coaching company with an international impact. A dynamic storyteller, Banks presents her ideas and thoughts in a conversational style and uses creative humor to engage her audience. One of her best-known workshops focuses on teaching the people skills needed to attain personal and professional success. Her enthusiasm is contagious and her message is strong: Success is a choice that, once committed to, can be achieved.

Gloria Mayfield Banks is married to Kenneth R. Banks, President and CEO of Banks Contracting. The Banks family includes four adult children. They reside in Baltimore, Maryland.