Dr. Quintin Shepherd and cowriter Sarah Williamson use their combined decades of experience in the education and corporate spheres to create a unique model for leadership that is anchored by compassion and a powerful new language. The Secret to Transformational Leadership presents the personal journeys of such professionals as a pediatric cancer specialist, a president of an innovative nonprofit, and a former investment banker who became an online entrepreneur.

The authors use their experiences to illustrate how we are at a precipice for real change in the way we perceive and enact leadership. This book offers practical advice about how to adopt a new language of leadership. And if we can help others think differently, ultimately we can create a ripple effect of empathy, compassion, kindness, and a sense of purpose for our life’s work. Dr. Quintin Shepherd, a true visionary for the future of education, is the superintendent at Victoria Independent School District in Victoria, Texas. Sarah Williamson of SWPR Group works with leaders in education to create thoughtful public-relations programs that promote growth, build momentum, and enhance learners’ academic success and overall well-being.

"We write this book for two audiences. The first is leaders who are embracing the changes within our organizations and want to evolve and grow their leadership. This book will resonate most with leaders adopting this new language, as they know there are paradigmatic Cultural (Culture with a capital 'C') changes that come with it. The second audience? Aspiring leaders.

"We do not currently have a language of leadership that gives us the opportunity to have genuine and relevant conversations about what it means to lead in this era. We are hopeful our contribution here will advance this conversation in some way. In short, we’ve got fire—and it has changed our lives. We want to share this fire with you, so we can learn with you and from you."