Iyanla Vanzant's remarkable life story is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience, courage, and transformation. Born in Brooklyn, New York, to an alcoholic mother, Iyanla's early life was marked by tragedy and hardship, including the loss of her mother to breast cancer at the tender age of two.
Raised by her father, who was often physically and emotionally absent, Iyanla was left in the care of various relatives, including an uncle who sexually abused her at the age of nine. By 16, she was a teenage mother, and by 21, she had three children and a physically abusive husband.
Despite the challenges she faced, Iyanla's determination and strength enabled her to persevere. She attended Medgar Evers College in Brooklyn, graduating Summa Cum Laude, and later entered the City University of New York Law School at Queens College.
Iyanla's exceptional oratory skills caught the attention of the Philadelphia Public Defender's office, who offered her a job without a formal interview. However, she eventually left her position as an attorney to pursue a new path.
After a period of unemployment, Iyanla found herself teaching a class for women transitioning from welfare to work. This experience inspired her to write her first book, "Tapping The Power Within: A Path To Self Empowerment For Black Women," which became a bestseller.
Iyanla's subsequent books, including "Acts of Faith: Daily Meditations For People of Color," have also achieved great success, crossing racial divides to become beloved companions for readers of all backgrounds.
Throughout her career, Iyanla has received numerous awards and accolades, including being hailed as one of Halle Berry's five "Sheros," one of the country's most influential African Americans, and one of the "most dynamic speakers in the United States."
As a renowned speaker and life coach, Iyanla travels globally, sharing her message of hope and empowerment with thousands. She has appeared on various prime-time radio shows and has hosted her own daytime talk show, "Iyanla," as well as a life coach on the NBC Daytime Drama, "Starting Over."
Iyanla is also the Founder and Director of the Inner Visions Institute of Spiritual Development, where she trains life coaches and ministers and conducts community forums. Her tireless work has inspired countless individuals to create a better life, community, and world.
