Heart of A Champion Spotlight: Tierra Barclay
Having the Heart of a Champion often goes beyond what Team Members do within the four walls of a Sport Clips Haircuts. We’re continuing our series of honoring our 2026 Heart of a Champion award recipients with a look at someone whose impact extends far beyond her skills behind the chair. Tierra Barclay, Manager at Sport Clips Haircuts of Ft. Walton Beach in Florida brings her spirit of service to everything she does and is dedicated to inspiring the same passion in her team.
Tierra joined the Sport Clips team in 2011 in Atlanta, Georgia. But it wasn’t until she moved to Florida in 2012 and fully bought into the culture, that she realized how closely the Sport Clips values aligned with her own beliefs. Giving back is at the heart of who we are, and growing into her role with the brand allowed Tierra to share her passion for community involvement with Team Members. It’s this drive for helping others that allowed her to quickly move into the Manager role and leave a lasting impact on every person she meets, serves, and leads.
For Tierra, “having the heart of a champion means going beyond the chair – caring about others, doing what’s right, and treating others the way they want to be treated both at work and in my community.” She shows up for those around her by volunteering with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Relay for Life, and even starting her own service program: Caring Cut Project.
In partnership with local cosmetology schools, Tierra established the program to take rising Stylists on a mission to give back. She and the students visit facilities for individuals with disabilities, and shelters for men and women experiencing homelessness to offer free haircuts. While the students use their industry skills to serve members of the community, the visits create a full-circle moment for Tierra’s mentorship style. She offers hands-on experience with a diverse clientele and reinforces that giving back to the community is a top priority for Sport Clips. On her days off, Tierra spends her time with local autism advocacy programs supporting children with special needs.
As dedicated as she is to her community, the work she does in store with her team means just as much. With a genuine care for their success, Tierra takes the time to understand each Team Member and what motivates them. She created a digital tracker to build new goals and encourage professional development, where each Stylist can focus on small wins that lead to bigger success. But she also knows success is about more than reaching goals and prioritizes making sure her people feel cared for. After relying on Team Member support programs in 2016 and 2022 while she navigated family loss, Tierra advocates for her team to understand and use the resources available to them.
Tierra’s heart of gold has opened doors and led to recognition across the brand and in her community. Under her management, the Ft. Walton Beach, FL store has earned an impressive list of accolades including a Rising Star award, President’s Club, and Chairman’s Club. She also received a Woman of Honor Award in her community for the outstanding work she does in a female-dominated industry. Now, with the Sport Clips Heart of a Champion award added to her list, these recognitions reflect the significant impact Tierra has on those around her. From investing in her team’s success behind the chair to inspiring Stylist involvement in the community, she is building the next generation of well-rounded professionals.
And for Tierra, the journey has given her a purpose in helping others grow. She has always had a heart for service, but as she grew as a leader, she realized how she could use her position and the Sport Clips culture to continue expanding her impact. “Sport Clips has become far more than a career. It has allowed me to coach and develop young professionals in the industry, and the values I’ve learned here have shaped how I live my life and interact with others.” It takes leaders like Tierra to keep our culture strong and empower every Team Member to have the heart of a champion.