Dr. Edith C. Banks

Dr. Edith Banks is a dynamic educator, speaker, and coach. Because she believes in leading by example, her down to earth and honest approach helps her connect to audiences of all ages.

Started by founder Edith Banks in 2019, The Sunflower Nation has grown into an impactful leadership consulting firm. We emphasize transparency in everything we do, setting bold goals and pursuing a clear strategy to develop leaders and positively impact society. Driven by influencing and inspiring change, The Sunflower Nation constantly expands our understanding of contemporary issues and leadership development.

With 18 years of experience as a Student Affairs professional, Edith has conducted hundreds of training and workshops. She has impacted the lives of thousands of students with her presentations and one-on-one coaching sessions.

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Edith was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. She graduated summa cum laude from The College of New Rochelle, earning her Bachelor's Degree in Communication Arts with a minor in Business. In 2007, while working full time, she earned her Master of Professional Studies (MPS) in Humanistic Multi-Cultural Education from SUNY New Paltz. Edith later completed her doctorate in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher University.

Since completing her dissertation on the Evolution of the Strong Black Woman in Academic Leadership: Balancing Career, Family, and Self, Edith shifted her career and started her consulting firm, The Sunflower Nation, LLC.

The firm's name was birthed after Edith endured a battle with cancer and would use sunflowers as a reminder to remain positive and look for opportunities in all situations. Since her remission, Edith has been sharing her story to help inspire others to focus on positively impacting the world. Edith invites everyone she encounters to commit to improving the community and becoming part of the nation of people dedicated to positively impacting the world.

Edith provides executive leadership coaching, keynote addresses, and workshops she is committed to continuing her work of equity in the workforce by raising awareness through her weekly podcast, The Sunflower Nation: Women In Leadership.

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