Navigating Loss and Building a Brand with Toya Banks

In this episode of Bet On Yourself, Sis!, I sit down with Toya Banks, founder of Hermanas Amigas Tequila, and she shares how her brand began as a tribute to sisterhood and resilience. She talks about how grief reshaped her life, how supportive friendships carried her through, and what it was like to build a business as a woman of color in the liquor industry.

The conversation also turns to the realities of entrepreneurship: building confidence through experience, saying yes to opportunities, and the power of networking. Toya and I talk about the freedom that comes with owning your business, why you have to dream big, and why self-belief matters, especially for Black women entrepreneurs.

If fear or self-doubt has been holding you back, this episode is a push to speak life into yourself and your goals. Conversation highlights: 02:10 - Toya's journey of grief and sisterhood 17:11 - Friendship dynamics and quality over quantity 24:10 - Building confidence through experience 30:30 - The power of networking and self-promotion 41:58 - Advice for Black women entrepreneurs and business owners How you’ll learn to Bet On Yourself, Sis!: How grief and loss can become the foundation for purpose-driven work Why a supportive circle of friends matters when you’re building something What it takes to break into the liquor industry as a Woman of Color How confidence is built through experience, not before it Why networking and embracing opportunities open doors How to push past fear and self-doubt by betting on yourself Other topics covered: The meaning behind Hermanas Amigas Tequila Grief, vulnerability, and community Challenges for Women of Color in the liquor industry Freedom as a driver of entrepreneurship Dreaming big and believing in yourself Bet On Your Community, Sis!

Connect with Toya! - IG @Hermanasamigastequila Connect with Pink Lady! - IG @pinkladyprod - Tik Tok @pinkladyprod - LinkedIn @pinkladyprod Follow Bet On Yourself, Sis! on social media - IG @betonyourselfsis - Tik Tok @betonyourselfsis - YouTube @betonyourselfsis