Dr. Amber Banks
Founder & CEO
Advisors
We are in the process of selecting several key advisors.
Please stay tuned!
Our Team
Dr. Amber Banks is the Founder & CEO of Trust Compass Studio. She is a seasoned social sector leader with over two decades of experience in the education, nonprofit, and philanthropic sectors. Dr. Banks works with organizations and foundations across the country to build and repair trust on teams, organizations, and social change networks. Dr. Banks has been formally studying trust in social change movements for the last fifteen years, but her curiosity about the power of relationships began at a young age. Her approach is distinguished by its emphasis on understanding how context and identity shape relationships, and inform collaborative efforts for social transformation.
Dr. Banks began her career as a Special Education teacher in Los Angeles, where she worked primarily with neurodivergent youth and young people with autism. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism from Boston University and a Ph.D. in Education Leadership, Organizations, and Policy from the University of Washington. Her doctoral research broke new ground in understanding how cross-cultural, cross-sector trust networks can advance social justice. She is a member of the Aspen Global Leadership Network and is trained as a Healing Centered Coach and Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP). Her leadership has been recognized through fellowships with Education Pioneers, the Pahara Institute, and Mosaic Changemakers. Dr. Banks also serves on the board of Groundswell Fund.
Dr. Banks lives in Nashville, TN with her partner, two children, a dog, and a home full of plants. She finds joy in writing, capoeira, swimming, outdoor adventures, and tending to her garden—activities that mirror her professional commitment to nurturing growth and transformation.
Dr. Banks loves to dream of what’s possible when we work together from a place of trust and healing. [LinkedIn]
Ayomi Rajapakse, MPA
Project Director
Ayomi Rajapakse, MPA, is a Project Director at the Trust Compass Studio. Ayomi has spent the last five years studying trust and prior to joining TCS, Ayomi earned a Master of Public Administration (MPA) with a specialization in Social Policy from the University of Washington. She has worked for numerous nonprofit and philanthropic partners helping center the voices of those most impacted and designing equitable solutions that strengthen cohesion. Ayomi holds undergraduate degrees in Political Science and Sociology from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she served as a Research Assistant for the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and contributed to projects focused on equitable education, democratization, and domestic violence prevention.
Ayomi currently resides in the United Kingdom with her partner, children, and their golden retriever.
She finds joy in reading, walking her dog, traveling to new places with her family, and sharing good food. Her lived experiences fuel her passion for creating a world where trust, equity, and justice are foundational to how we engage with one another. [LinkedIn]