An Inspired Chat with Dr Tanisha Manning-Williams

Dr Tanisha Manning-Williams shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Tanisha , a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
“Honestly, with everything I’m carrying right now — court filings for my mom, building businesses, trying to create a legacy — the moments that make me laugh and feel proud aren’t big, dramatic ones. They’re the small, unexpected moments with my son. When he cracks a joke, when he does something silly, when he shows me he’s absorbing the lessons I’m trying to teach him…those are the moments that break the tension, make me laugh, and remind me why I’m doing all of this. That’s where my pride sits.”

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Whew, where do I start? I’m Dr. Tanisha Manning-Williams, most people call me Chaplain T. I’m a business owner and I serve as a Judicial Chaplain, where I step into some of the toughest legal and human situations, and I also serve as a Chaplain at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, the busiest airport in the world. My calling is to meet people right where conflict, grief, or transition has cracked life open.

Venting Session®. It’s not just about courtrooms or mediation tables, it’’s about creating safe spaces for people to process conflict, whether it’s with a loved one, a coworker, or even themselves. Conflict doesn’t only happen in the courts; it happens at kitchen tables, in relationships, in workplaces. Venting Session® brings together the tools of mediation, chaplaincy, and conflict coaching to help people heal and move forward.

What makes it unique is that it’s not transactional, it’s restorative. I don’t just want to solve problems, I want to transform how people show up for themselves and each other. And that’s what I’m working on now: building platforms, tools, and conversations that make peacemaking a lifestyle, not just a legal process.”

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
I learned early on that if I didn’t become my own cheerleader, I’d end up repeating the same cycles I witnessed. That taught me some valuable lessons, but also planted beliefs that weren’t true about my worth.

Today, my son has completely reshaped that. He’s broken down those old belief systems and rebuilt me in a way, he’s my legacy, my ‘why.’ He’s the reason I’ll end relationships that no longer serve me and nurture the ones that do.

And the part of me that has served its purpose and must be released is the need to be validated by others. I no longer have to announce my power by listing my degrees, my businesses, my trademarks, or my titles. My faith keeps me grounded, and at the end of the day, the strongest title I’ll ever hold is Mom.”

If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
My nick name growing up was TT.
“If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, little TT, I’d tell her: the disappointment you felt, the hugs that were never returned, the longing to be loved the way you deserved, none of that defines you. Not having a father, the weight of your story, or the silence from the ones who should’ve been there, those were real, but they were not the measure of your worth.

You had to learn too early to cheer for yourself, to survive without affirmation. But what you couldn’t see then is that God was already setting you apart. You’re chosen. One day, you’d grow into a woman who didn’t just survive rejection, you’d transform it into legacy. You’d raise a son who breaks every old belief system and shows you love in its purest form. You’d build brands, ministries, and movements that touch lives beyond the family who failed to show up.

So TT, hold your head up. You are seen. You are chosen. And your story is not broken — it’s holy ground.”

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
“The belief I’m committed to, no matter how long it takes is building a lasting legacy for my son. That’s the anchor. Fulfilling the call God has on my life, creating a peaceful environment for him to grow, and showing him that resilience and faith can shape destiny, that’s what matters most.

I’m committed to building my empire brick by brick. Every business, every brand, every late night and early morning, it all makes sense when I look at the bigger picture. It all points back to the work God has been calling me to do. I’m not chasing quick wins; I’m laying down foundation stones for something that will outlive me.”

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
If I laid down my name, my role, and every possession, what would remain is my faith, my love, and the impact I had on the people I touched. Titles and things don’t carry weight in eternity, but the way you made others feel, the peace you created, the legacy you leave in your children, that’s what lasts.

When I’m gone, I hope the story people tell about me is simple: that I loved deeply, that I fought for what was right, that I created spaces of healing, and that I left my son with a foundation stronger than what I inherited. That I turned pain into purpose and made sure those who came after me had less to heal from and more to build on. If that’s the story they tell, then I know I lived well.”

Image Credits
Photo Descriptions:

Dr T embracing her younger self, little TT. The child who longed for love, who carried disappointment, who lived through the weight of her story & without a father present. In this picture, she’s reminded that she is enough. Every wound, every unanswered hug, every tear did not define her. Dr T holds her now the way she once wished someone had held her and carries her into the future with love and protection.”

This is Dr. T today, the woman little TT became. Confident, grounded, no longer chasing validation from others. She’s learned that power is not in titles, degrees, or accomplishments. True power is in faith, her motherhood, and the legacy she’s building brick by brick. This photo is a declaration that she is everything she once prayed for.”