Don Barden
Dr. Don Barden is a classically trained behavioral economist, globally recognized as an expert in leadership and decision-making. With three decades of corporate leadership and production in global development and organizational leadership, he has changed the landscape of several US and international firms.
Don was named one of the Top 30 Most “Transformational Leaders in North America” by John Maxwell and the 2018 Entrepreneur of the Year by the Atlanta Business Chronicle. In 2019, the Department of Defense recognized him with honors from the 75th US Army Ranger Regiment, and he was named 2020 YMCA Volunteer of the Year.
He is certified in Cybersecurity Management from Harvard University and has a Ph.D. in Economics and Organizational Leadership from Columbia International University. He earned his M.B.A. in Global Technology Management and International Business with an undergraduate B.B.A. in Economics and Finance. He resides in Atlanta, Georgia.
Don’s work challenges and motivates organizations and leadership teams to think deeply about their beliefs so they can consistently achieve their communication, culture, sales, and management goals. His “unfair advantage” theories are revolutionary in today’s economy, as he leads and builds companies in ways that expose the myth of modern leadership and communication techniques. Don’s recent work, “Here Come the Girls,” celebrates women in leadership. The study aims to help frustrated organizations transform by awakening their creative energy, thereby paving the way for uncharted production through cultural change.
Conquering the highest levels of ethical performance with humor, intellectual capital, and time-tested systems, Don engages teams with his highly personal style of steward leadership. His experience with cultural change and record-setting growth has drawn him to corporations that want to tap into his real-world expertise to move their organizations to higher levels of achievement. Don is well known in the global area, with sales averaging over $ 1 billion per year, and for his original book, The Perfect Plan, is available in 39 countries worldwide.
Don served as a Trustee and the past Chairman of the Summit Counseling Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He is a past Board Member of the Metro Atlanta YMCA and was responsible for designing their COVID response and post-COVID strategic initiatives. He is a past Board Member of the Sua Sponte Foundation. Additionally, he lectures at Wake Forest University, The Wharton School of Business, and Oxford University (U.K.). Dr. Barden is a frequent instructor at the US Army 1st and 3rd Ranger Battalion / 75th Regiment’s Leadership and Professional Development Program.
Steward Leader
- Don is a classically trained Economist but prefers “Frustrated Anthropologist.”
- He spent 25 years working for Wall Street-based firms as a corporate leader and a top-performing producer in institutional finance.
- As a corporate executive, he built teams that averaged over $1 billion in revenue and sales per year.
- During his doctoral studies, he realized a common thread among the words of elite leaders that made them unique.
- The results created the book The Perfect Plan, published in 39 countries, and his interviews are seen worldwide.
- He has lectured at Oxford University in the UK, Wharton, Clark Atlanta University, Moorehouse, Kennesaw State University, and Wake Forest.
- He is a frequent instructor at the U.S. Army Ranger Leadership and Professional Development Program.
- Don’s newest work, “Here Come the Girls,” is gaining worldwide attention and is currently #1 in economics and an Amazon Top New Release. The study represents an economic shift that will occur between the years 2028 and 2032 as women take over global leadership. Don’s research reveals a celebration of why women are better leaders in today’s economy and the traits they represent for future growth.
Recent Awards
2017: John Maxwell named Don one of the “Thirty most transformational leaders in North America.”
2018: The Atlanta Business Chronicle named Don “Entrepreneur of the Year.”
2019: The Department of Defense and the US Army gave Don full honors as a Member of Regiment for the 75th US Army Ranger’s
2020: The YMCA named Don Volunteer of the Year
Recent Charities
Don has provided scholarships to over 150 children to attend the school of their choice.
He has provided funding for over 1,000 metro Atlanta teenagers needing access to mental healthcare.
Don actively supports a passion for Autism, Sensory Inclusion, Youth Leadership, and Mental Health.