Tera Carissa Hodges has built a career rooted in purpose, authenticity, and fearless self-expression. From being born on an Air Force base to growing up in homes centered around caring for children in New York, her life experiences laid the foundation for the global impact she creates today. Whether serving communities across West Africa, empowering women to boldly take up space, or challenging audiences to embrace every layer of who they are, Tera’s influence is grounded in truth, not performance. She is a woman who refuses to shrink herself for acceptance, choosing instead to lead with conviction, faith, intelligence, and unapologetic transparency.
Mo Clark: You’ve consistently used your platform to bridge empowerment, media, and global advocacy. How has your personal journey shaped the way you show up in international spaces like AfroCannes?
Tera Carissa Hodges: My personal journey has definitely shaped my career. From a psychological perspective, we understand your subconscious mind is shaped during your formative years when you absorb information like a sponge. For starters, I was born on an Air Force base because my dad served in the US Air Force. After leaving my birthstate, we moved to New York where my parents worked as group home parents, caring for and taking in children for the state of New York. So, when you see me aiding children around the globe, that represents what was instilled in me. I am not new to this. I am true to this. Fast forward to my parents divorcing and moving from New York to Mississippi—talk about a contrast and culture shock. However, experiences like that shaped my ability to connect with diverse audiences, especially through my work across West Africa.
Mo Clark: You often speak about authenticity being the true “moneymaker.” In an era where social media encourages trends and imitation, how do you personally protect your individuality and encourage others to do the same?
Tera Carissa Hodges: I stay true to my morals. My moral compass does not allow me to duplicate anyone. Plenty of people attempt to duplicate me, but that’s just a nod to my value as no one makes knockoffs of something that’s worthless. Furthermore, when you are true to yourself, you are free because you are not obligated to maintain a mask or a role. You can visit my social media page to see me posting Bible verses or attending my favorite rap concert. And guess what? Who are you going to tattle-tale to? My audience knows me. My audience supports me. My audience can handle all of me. I am more than just a professional. I am a person, unapologetically. I encourage others in the media eye to live fully and openly. Because when you are true to yourself, there’s no mask you have to maintain. Life is too short to live in bondage.
Mo Clark: Your message “There Is Room For Me” resonated with thousands of people. Why do you believe so many women struggle with taking up space, and what mindset shifts are necessary to overcome that fear?
Tera Carissa Hodges: Women often struggle with taking up space because, historically, there has been a penalty for women who did so. Women are constantly told to dim their light so as not to intimidate men, etc. So, when you hear messaging like this all your life, who should be surprised that at 30, you’ve kept your best ideas to yourself? You’re not shrinking because you want to. You’re shrinking for survival. Thank goodness that has never been me.
One of my favorite quotes is: “well behaved women seldom make history,” by Laurel Thatcher Ulrich. Have I been lied on, antagonized, and scrutinized for shining? Yes. But, you can learn a lot from the sun… it doesn’t stop shining just because you got sunburned. I allude to the challenges many professional women face at www.successbullying.us.
Mo Clark: Networking has played a major role in your career growth. What are some of the biggest misconceptions people have about networking, and how can entrepreneurs build genuine, lasting connections instead of transactional ones?
Tera Carissa Hodges: Networking often gets a bad rap because people don’t want to feel like they are asking for an opportunity. But, when you know your value, you know you are not positioning yourself to ask for anything. You are positioning yourself for partnership. You bring just as much value to the other party as they bring to you. When you shift to that type of thinking, it frees you to get out there and find your match.
Mo Clark: You’ve worked across ministry, media, entrepreneurship, and clinical hypnotherapy. How do you balance purpose-driven work while continuing to evolve personally and professionally without losing yourself in the process?
Tera Carissa Hodges: You have to know the season you are in. There was a season when I was on the road speaking 5 times a month. I shifted from that season when I entered motherhood. While pregnant, I focused on advancing my education.
What else was I going to do for 9 months (laughs). Knowing your season helps you understand your purpose for that time, allowing you to evolve without losing yourself. Seasons are like college semesters, they build on each other. They complement each other. …it should say: While you have a finish line in mind, focusing on your current season will help you evolve and keep you on track.
Authenticity has become rare in spaces where people are constantly pressured to fit expectations and follow trends, yet Tera Carissa Hodges continues to stand firmly in who she is. She believes success is not found in imitation, but in alignment with your purpose, your values, your voice, and the season you are meant to walk through. Through criticism, obstacles, and the pressure placed on bold women to silence themselves, she has remained unapologetic and unshaken. Her story is about more than career success. It is about freedom from fear, limitation, silence, and the expectation to shrink for the comfort of others. Tera’s message is undeniable: once you know your worth, you stop asking for permission to exist fully and powerfully.
Photos courtesy of Tera Carissa Hodges
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