THE NEW SAFETY BLUEPRINT
BUILT TO PROTECT: RECLAIM YOUR POWER
A Story of Survival, Protection & Purpose
A raw, tactical guide to personal empowerment and women's safety. Learn the S.H.I.E.L.D. method to navigate the world with unshakeable confidence and strategic awareness.
Built to Protect is the true story of how one woman turned trauma, tactical training, and years on the front lines into a blueprint for survival, protection, and purpose. From dark moments to decisive action, this book shows women and professionals how to think clearly, move safely, and reclaim their power.
Michele Banks began as a fugitive recovery agent, better known as a bounty hunter, relentlessly ensuring offenders like pedophiles and rapists were returned to justice. Even after surviving her own stalking ordeal in Nevada, the harassment continued when she arrived in Texas. She found refuge again, this time at Safe Haven, a program that helped her rebuild. There, she met fellow survivors and once more gave back by helping with their hair and makeup and teaching self-defense.
Her heart lies in empowering survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking, offering safety, hope, and dignity, even for a dollar. To every survivor, she says: you are seen, you are strong, and you are not alone. With a book, training classes, and a vision for safe community places where survivors can relocate and thrive, Michele knows this mission takes a tribe. If you want to help build these safe spaces, it’s about all of us creating a safer future, one life, one safe home at a time.
MEET MICHELE (Kitty) BANKS
Michele “Kitty” Banks wasn’t handed a safe life; she had to learn how to survive one.
She stepped into the world of fugitive recovery as a bounty hunter, not just chasing people, but walking into chaos most people run from. Nights were unpredictable. Situations turned in seconds. Every knock on a door could go left. And while she was out there bringing people in, she was also learning something deeper about how quickly control can disappear, and how important it is to take it back.
But the real battles weren’t always the ones on the outside.
Michele knows what it feels like to be watched. To be followed. To have your sense of safety taken from you. Surviving stalking changed the way she moved, the way she thought, and the way she understood danger. It forced her to sharpen her instincts, trust what she felt, and never ignore the signs again. That’s what led her into executive protection.
As a bodyguard, she shifted from chasing danger to standing in front of it. Protecting others while carrying her own experiences required a different kind of strength, the kind that doesn’t get seen. Staying calm when everything in your body is on alert. Reading a room in seconds. Making decisions that could change outcomes before anyone else even realizes there’s a threat. But even then, she saw something that didn’t sit right. Too many people were unprotected, unheard, and unprepared.
So she went deeper.
As a private investigator, Michele stepped into people’s hardest moments, uncovering truth, documenting what others tried to hide, and helping clients navigate situations that were often painful, complicated, and dangerous. She saw patterns. She saw warning signs people missed. And she saw what happens when no one teaches you how to protect yourself before it’s too late. Her journey hasn’t been clean or easy.
It’s been built through pressure, fear, resilience, and the decision, over and over again, not to stay in survival mode but to turn it into something bigger.
She learned how to turn fear into awareness, awareness into strategy, and strategy into protection, not just for herself, but for others who feel like they have no control. What once tried to break her became the very thing that built her.
Today, Michele is a safety strategist and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual assault. She doesn’t just teach safety, she teaches awareness, control, and how to move differently in a world that isn’t always safe.
Because for her, this isn’t theory.
This is lived experience.
And now, it’s her mission to make sure other women don’t have to learn the hard way.
Common Questions
Who is 'Built to Protect' specifically written for?
The book is designed for women seeking empowerment, survivors of domestic violence or trafficking looking to rebuild, and professionals in high-risk fields like real estate who need tactical safety strategies.
How does the book complement S.H.I.E.L.D. workshops?
While workshops provide hands-on tactical experience, the book offers the deep psychological 'blueprint' and foundational mindset training that allows those physical skills to be applied effectively under stress.
What core safety topics are covered?
Michele covers Situational Awareness, Conflict De-escalation, identifying 'Red Flags' in behavioral patterns, and establishing a trauma-informed roadmap for personal independence and physical protection.
Is the book available for bulk purchase for organizations?
Yes. We offer bulk ordering for non-profits, shelters, real estate brokerages, and corporate safety programs. Please use the contact form below to inquire about organizational rates.
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BOOK THE MISSION
Michele Banks is available for keynote speaking, specialized workshops, and media appearances. Bring the S.H.I.E.L.D. philosophy to your organization and empower your community with actionable safety intelligence and resilience strategies.