Barriers to Breakthrough Speaker Series

In the season finale of Barriers to Breakthrough, Dr. Don Wilkins sits down with Jason Wolfe for a powerful conversation on how to persevere through adversity as an entrepreneur. Jason shares his journey from hardship and instability to building and selling multiple companies, while reflecting on the discipline, resilience, and leadership required to keep going through setbacks. The episode also explores business growth, company culture, multigenerational leadership, and why strong teams are built through clear vision, mission, and shared values. A must-listen for entrepreneurs, business owners, and leaders working to grow through challenge and lead with purpose. ✨ Barriers to Breakthrough: Speaker Series is hosted by Dr. Don Wilkins, founder of Transformation 180 and author of Barriers to Breakthrough: 13 Strategies for Effective Leadership in the Multi-Generational Workplace.🎙️ New episodes feature candid conversations with leaders across education, business, and community about the real challenges, strategies, and breakthroughs of leadership.📚 Learn more about Transformation 180: www.transformation180.com📖 Get your copy of Barriers to Breakthrough wherever books are sold🔗 Follow Dr. Wilkins on LinkedIn and Instagram: @drdonwilkins

In Episode 6 of Barriers to Breakthrough, Dr. Don Wilkins talks with Marcus Tompkins about leadership, accountability, self-discipline, and growth in today’s workplace. Together, they discuss the importance of leading yourself first, mentoring others well, navigating multigenerational communication, and managing both hybrid and in-person teams with clarity and purpose. This episode is packed with insight for leaders who want to develop people, improve communication, and grow through honest reflection and accountability. ✨ Barriers to Breakthrough: Speaker Series is hosted by Dr. Don Wilkins, founder of Transformation 180 and author of Barriers to Breakthrough: 13 Strategies for Effective Leadership in the Multi-Generational Workplace.🎙️ New episodes feature candid conversations with leaders across education, business, and community about the real challenges, strategies, and breakthroughs of leadership.📚 Learn more about Transformation 180: www.transformation180.com📖 Get your copy of Barriers to Breakthrough wherever books are sold🔗 Follow Dr. Wilkins on LinkedIn and Instagram: @drdonwilkins

In Episode 5 of Barriers to Breakthrough, Dr. Don Wilkins sits down with entrepreneurial power couple Amanda and Kevion Latham to explore leadership through the lens of marriage, faith, business, and resilience. Together, they share their unique journeys into leadership—Amanda through the restaurant and beauty industry, and Kevion through athletics and financial advising—and how their early life experiences shaped their confidence, work ethic, and approach to serving others.This episode dives deeply into the realities behind entrepreneurship, unpacking fear, financial risk, and responsibility—especially when leading with a family in mind. Kevion reflects on stepping away from corporate security to build his own financial advisory business, while Amanda shares her fearless leap into owning and scaling her skincare studio. Their stories highlight the importance of trusting God, listening to wise counsel, and leaning into discomfort as a pathway to growth.Amanda and Kevion also discuss the lack of formal leadership training and the critical role of mentorship, consistency, and values in building strong teams. They emphasize the difference between skill and will, the need for adaptability when leading across generations, and the importance of passion, teachability, and communication in today’s workplace.This conversation offers a refreshing perspective on leadership as both a calling and a partnership—demonstrating how vision, faith, and courage can help leaders overcome barriers and build something meaningful together.Listeners will walk away inspired to take bold steps, embrace their leadership journey, and understand that breakthrough often comes on the other side of fear.✨ Barriers to Breakthrough: Speaker Series is hosted by Dr. Don Wilkins, founder of Transformation 180 and author of Barriers to Breakthrough: 13 Strategies for Effective Leadership in the Multi-Generational Workplace.🎙️ New episodes feature candid conversations with leaders across education, business, and community about the real challenges, strategies, and breakthroughs of leadership.📚 Learn more about Transformation 180: www.transformation180.com📖 Get your copy of Barriers to Breakthrough wherever books are sold🔗 Follow Dr. Wilkins on LinkedIn and Instagram: @drdonwilkins

In Episode 4 of Barriers to Breakthrough, Dr. Don Wilkins sits down with Cesquinn Curtis, Associate Vice President of Student Life at Kent State University and founder of The Strategist Firm, for a thoughtful and practical conversation on leadership in today’s complex, multigenerational workplace.Cesquinn shares the formative experiences that shaped his leadership journey—from advocating for positive change as a middle school student to being mentored by educators who removed barriers and expanded his access to opportunity. Together, Dr. Wilkins and Cesquinn explore the critical role of mentorship, empathy, and exposure in developing leaders, particularly those who step into leadership roles without formal training.The episode unpacks why effective leadership must be dynamic rather than static. Cesquinn explains how leaders must adapt their approach based on people and context, balancing the roles of coach and supervisor. Using a framework centered on skill, will, knowledge, and capacity, he offers practical insight into assessing readiness, building capacity, and removing barriers for teams.Listeners also gain perspective on leading within large, high-impact systems, including the importance of delegation, the distinction between accountability and responsibility, and the discipline required to lead without ego. Cesquinn emphasizes that true leadership is rooted in care, clarity of vision, and commitment to mission—not titles or authority.This episode is essential listening for leaders navigating complexity, leading across generations, and striving to create sustainable impact while remaining deeply grounded in purpose and people.✨ Barriers to Breakthrough: Speaker Series is hosted by Dr. Don Wilkins, founder of Transformation 180 and author of Barriers to Breakthrough: 13 Strategies for Effective Leadership in the Multi-Generational Workplace.🎙️ New episodes feature candid conversations with leaders across education, business, and community about the real challenges, strategies, and breakthroughs of leadership.📚 Learn more about Transformation 180: www.transformation180.com📖 Get your copy of Barriers to Breakthrough wherever books are sold🔗 Follow Dr. Wilkins on LinkedIn and Instagram: @drdonwilkins

In this episode, Dr. Don Wilkins sits down with dynamic leadership partners Dr. Christine and Dr. Chuck Herring to explore how efficacy, mentorship, and communication shape effective leadership. The Herrings share powerful stories of discovering their leadership strengths early in life, navigating roles without formal training, and learning how timing, tone, and emotional intelligence make or break a leader’s impact.They also introduce FlexCom, their simple four-style communication framework (Ant, Ladybug, Grasshopper, Caterpillar) that helps leaders adapt and connect across generations and diverse teams. Packed with humor, transparency, and practical wisdom, this conversation is a must-listen for anyone committed to growing as a leader and empowering others to do the same.✨ Barriers to Breakthrough: Speaker Series is hosted by Dr. Don Wilkins, founder of Transformation 180 and author of Barriers to Breakthrough: 13 Strategies for Effective Leadership in the Multi-Generational Workplace.🎙️ New episodes feature candid conversations with leaders across education, business, and community about the real challenges, strategies, and breakthroughs of leadership.📚 Learn more about Transformation 180: www.transformation180.com📖 Get your copy of Barriers to Breakthrough wherever books are sold🔗 Follow Dr. Wilkins on LinkedIn and Instagram: @drdonwilkins

In this episode of Barriers to Breakthrough, Dr. Don Wilkins sits down with Coach Chandler McCabe, Head Coach of the Robert Morris University Women’s Basketball Team, for an unfiltered conversation about leadership, authenticity, and the grind behind building winning teams.Coach McCabe shares what it really takes to lead with honesty, create trust within a program, and connect with players across generations. From locker room lessons to life philosophies, this conversation is packed with real talk about staying grounded, having tough conversations, and leading people—not just players—with purpose.Whether you’re a coach, educator, or executive, “Just Keep It Real” reminds us that authentic leadership isn’t about perfection—it’s about presence, integrity, and the courage to grow with your team.✨ Barriers to Breakthrough: Speaker Series is hosted by Dr. Don Wilkins, founder of Transformation 180 and author of Barriers to Breakthrough: 13 Strategies for Effective Leadership in the Multi-Generational Workplace.🎙️ New episodes feature candid conversations with leaders across education, business, and community about the real challenges, strategies, and breakthroughs of leadership.📚 Learn more about Transformation 180: www.transformation180.com📖 Get your copy of Barriers to Breakthrough wherever books are sold🔗 Follow Dr. Wilkins on LinkedIn and Instagram: @drdonwilkins

In the premiere episode of the Barriers to Breakthrough Speaker Series, Dr. Don Wilkins sits down with K. Chase Patterson—CEO of Urban Academy, founder of the State of Black Learning, and nationally recognized strategist. Together, they dive into the real, behind-the-scenes realities of leadership: the sacrifices, the responsibilities, and the breakthroughs that define the journey.Chase shares how his earliest experiences as a protector and translator for his younger sister shaped his leadership instincts, the wisdom passed down from grandparents and mentors, and the lessons learned from leading without a title. He opens up about building Urban Academy into a mission-driven organization, creating the State of Black Learning, and navigating the complexities of leading multi-generational teams.Listeners will walk away with:Powerful insights on mentorship, vision, and delegationA candid look at the burdens and blessings of leadershipPractical advice for new and current leaders on accountability, values, and resilienceThis conversation sets the tone for the Speaker Series—raw, insightful, and deeply human.✨ Barriers to Breakthrough: Speaker Series is hosted by Dr. Don Wilkins, founder of Transformation 180 and author of Barriers to Breakthrough: 13 Strategies for Effective Leadership in the Multi-Generational Workplace.🎙️ New episodes feature candid conversations with leaders across education, business, and community about the real challenges, strategies, and breakthroughs of leadership.📚 Learn more about Transformation 180: www.transformation180.com📖 Get your copy of Barriers to Breakthrough wherever books are sold🔗 Follow Dr. Wilkins on LinkedIn and Instagram: @drdonwilkins