Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner
Skinner Leadership Institute
Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, CEO and co-founder of Skinner Leadership Institute, is a trusted advisor, public policy strategist, faith and community leader, author,
lecturer, educator, executive coach, and mentor. She has made an indelible imprint
in American public policy, government, diversity, and community relations. She and her late husband, Tom Skinner, founded the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Prayer Breakfast that annually attracted over 3000 leaders across the nation. She regularly works with interfaith leaders on issues like health care, criminal justice reform and voting rights.
Widely known as a committed prayer warrior, Dr. Williams-Skinner regularly prays for and with Congressional leaders from both political parties and sends daily scripture to many of them. She is co-founder of a millennial and Generation X leadership program – the Masters Series for Distinguished Leaders that equips young leaders to move to the next levels of their lives and careers, while also addressing the needs of the disadvantaged in their community and modeling high moral character.
Dr. Williams-Skinner also co-founded the Masters Series for Distinguished Clergy that equips pastors with advocacy and media skills to voice their values in the public arena. She has authored a book on building personal spiritual power, I Prayed, Now What? My Journey From No Faith to Deep Faith and a companion Discussion Guide, ideally suited for individual and group Bible studies. She is also the author of Leadership Led by God: Prayer Journal and Guide, a book that equips leaders to operate daily in the spirit and character of Jesus.
In 2022, Dr. Williams-Skinner is coordinating a ten-state nonpartisan, multi-racial, interfaith, and multi-generation Faiths United to Save Democracy (FUSD) voter justice campaign with a toolkit, to make voting easier for vulnerable populations. She is co-convener of the National African American Clergy Network and recipient of various awards, including the D.C. Regional Leadership Hall of Fame Award.
Dr. Williams-Skinner holds a B.A. Degree from San Francisco State University, a
Master of Social Work Degree and a Law Degree from UCLA; as well as a Master of
Divinity and a Doctor of Ministry from Howard University School of Divinity in
Washington, DC.
