Heart to Heart Leadership

What Heart to Heart Leadership does

Heart to Heart Leadership is an Akron, Ohio-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers purpose-driven leadership development, team building, and one-on-one coaching to individuals, employers, and community organizations across the Greater Akron and Northeast Ohio region. Founded in 1990 by Father Norman Douglas and Lawrence Vuillemin as Heart to Heart Communications, the organization operates a "Look Within, Lead Beyond" methodology built on established human-facilitated assessment frameworks including the Enneagram, CliftonStrengths, Leadership Circle Profile 360, and MBTI. Its portfolio spans roughly a dozen programs ranging from premium cohort-based executive development (Purposeful Leadership Program at $4,000 per participant, capped at 18 per cohort) and annual leadership series (Emerging Leaders, $600) to team workshops (Working as One, The Enneagram at Work), manager training (Unlocking Workplace Well-Being), wellness programs (Fostering Resiliency and Well-Being), and experiential retreats (Mindful Zoo Mindful You at the Akron Zoo).

The organization monetizes through four streams: program fees (cohort tuition and workshop registrations), tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations (EIN 37-2221101), corporate sponsorships and ticket revenue from the 33rd Annual Breakfast event held at the John S. Knight Center, and an Akron Community Foundation-hosted endowment fund. Programs are delivered on-site at the 37 N. High Street headquarters, at client facilities, at off-site venues, and virtually; distribution is augmented by a Greater Akron Chamber partnership that provides member-discounted access to mid-market employers. Customer logos span healthcare (Akron Children's Hospital, Kyocera SGS Precision Tools), technology (ComDoc, DRB Systems), legal (Buckingham Doolittle), government (City of Green, County of Summit, Akron Public Schools), higher education (University of Akron, Kent State University), and a deep bench of regional nonprofits (United Way, Leadership Akron, Knight Foundation, Akron Zoo).

The organization is currently undergoing a structural transition, spinning off from United Way of Summit & Medina to operate as an independent nonprofit effective on or about April 1, 2026. Leadership includes President & CEO Jeremy Lile, Vice Presidents Christine Williams, PhD and Amy Cameron, and Director Hana Lowe, supported by a Board of Directors chaired by Barb Whiddon (retired Goodyear) and a bench of credentialed facilitators and certified coaches. The technology layer is built entirely on human-facilitated frameworks and established third-party assessments — there is no proprietary software, AI/ML component, or platform product; the IP is the curriculum, methodology, and facilitator expertise accumulated over 35+ years.

Name

Heart to Heart Leadership

Legal name

Heart to Heart Leadership

Website

https://htohleadership.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Heart to Heart Leadership is an Akron, Ohio-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1990 that delivers purpose-driven leadership development programs, team workshops, and one-on-one coaching to organizations and individuals across the Greater Akron region using established assessment frameworks.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Leadership Development Training

NAICS

Human Resources Consulting Services (541612)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Executive Leadership & C-Suite Development (EDABAAAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Coaching Leadership & Mentoring Skills (EDABAAAG), Leadership Development & Executive Coaching (BPAHAGAD), Talent Management & Leadership Advisory (Succession, Performance, Culture) (BPACAJAH)

Keywords

• Leadership development programs
• Executive coaching services
• Team building workshops
• Nonprofit training services
• Professional development consulting

Headquarters

HQ city

Akron

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Program Fees: Revenue from leadership development programs, coaching services, and workshops offered to individuals and organizations. Programs include Emerging Leaders ($600), Unlocking Workplace Well-Being ($599/$399), Purposeful Leadership ($4,000), and others.
2. Donations and Contributions: Tax-deductible donations from individuals and organizations supporting the nonprofit mission. EIN: 37-2221101. Donations enable accessible pricing and scholarship availability.
3. Event Revenue: The 33rd Annual Breakfast generates revenue through ticket sales and corporate sponsorships at various levels.
4. Endowment Fund: Endowment fund through Akron Community Foundation providing long-term financial stability and generating income for sustainability.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Heart to Heart Leadership is a nonprofit leadership development organization that partners with businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and educational institutions in the Greater Akron region to deliver purpose-driven leadership programs, team development workshops, one-on-one coaching, and consulting services. Its product portfolio includes the Purposeful Leadership Program, Leadership from Within, The Enneagram at Work, Working as One, Unlocking Workplace Well-Being, Emerging Leaders, CliftonStrengths workshops, Mindful Zoo Mindful You retreats, and Mindful Leadership, all built around a "Look Within, Lead Beyond" methodology using established assessment tools including the Leadership Circle Profile 360, Enneagram, CliftonStrengths, and MBTI.

Product overview

Heart to Heart Leadership offers a portfolio of purpose-driven leadership and team development programs based on a Look Within, Lead Beyond approach. The core product suite includes: Leadership from Within (an in-depth leadership development journey), the Purposeful Leadership Program (a comprehensive cohort-based program with assessments and coaching), The Enneagram at Work (self-awareness workshop), Working as One (team communication workshop), Unlocking Workplace Well-Being (manager training), Emerging Leaders (year-long series for new leaders), CliftonStrengths (team strengths assessment), Mindful Zoo Mindful You (retreat experience), Fostering Resiliency and Well-Being (organizational wellness program), and Mindful Leadership (mindfulness integration program). Programs are delivered through on-site training, workshops, retreats, and coaching, with assessments including the Leadership Circle Profile 360, Enneagram, CliftonStrengths, and MBTI.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Leadership from Within
• Purposeful Leadership Program
• The Enneagram at Work
• Working as One Program
• Unlocking Workplace Well-Being
• Emerging Leaders
• CliftonStrengths
• Mindful Zoo Mindful You
• Fostering Resiliency and Well-Being
• Mindful Leadership

Quantifiable outcome

• Participants report deeper self-awareness and personal/professional growth
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers23 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• United Way of Summit & MedinacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 April 2026Heart to Heart Leadership was formerly a program under United Way of Summit & Medina and is spinning off as an independent 501(c)(3) organization effective April 1, 2026. This represents a significant organizational transition and ongoing strategic relationship.
• Greater Akron ChambermajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for the Unlocking Workplace Well-Being program, offered at Greater Akron Chamber location. Chamber members receive discounted pricing ($399 vs $599).
• Leadership AkronmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPremier regional leadership development organization. Cross-participation in programming and community leadership initiatives.
• Akron ZoominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for unique Mindful Zoo Mindful You retreat program combining mindfulness and leadership development at the zoo setting.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• GiANT Worldwide: Values-based leadership development network focused on authentic, purpose-driven leadership for enterprises. Comparable because its philosophy and cohort-based enterprise offerings directly overlap with Heart to Heart's Look Within, Lead Beyond methodology and senior leadership programs.
• Maxwell Leadership: Leadership training and coaching enterprise founded by John Maxwell offering speaker-driven programs, coaching certifications, and team workshops. Comparable as a competitor for budget-conscious organizational leadership development purchases.

Others

• Gallup: Owner of the CliftonStrengths (formerly StrengthsFinder) assessment that Heart to Heart deploys. Comparable because Gallup also delivers strengths-based leadership workshops and coaching, overlapping directly with Heart to Heart's CliftonStrengths program and Kyocera-style sales team restructuring engagements.
• The Enneagram Institute: Primary source of Enneagram framework and certification that Heart to Heart uses for its Enneagram at Work program. Comparable as an adjacent/thematically-related organization in the Enneagram-based personal and professional development ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Center for Creative Leadership: Research-backed leadership development provider offering 360 assessments, executive coaching, and cohort programs. Comparable in its use of established assessment tools (similar to Heart to Heart's Leadership Circle Profile 360) and its C-suite focus through the Purposeful Leadership Program.
• DDI (Development Dimensions International): Global leadership and talent development firm delivering leadership programs, assessments, and coaching to enterprises. Comparable to Heart to Heart in serving organizations across all leadership levels (emerging to executive) with research-based methodologies.
• FranklinCovey: Global leadership and execution training firm behind The 7 Habits and Leadercraft. Comparable because it sells cohort-based and enterprise leadership programs to organizations across industries, overlapping with Heart to Heart's Purposeful Leadership and team development offerings but at national scale.
• Korn Ferry: Global organizational consulting firm offering leadership development, executive coaching, and talent advisory. Comparable in its senior-executive coaching practice, which competes for the same enterprise clients (e.g., county government, Fortune 1000 regional employers) that Heart to Heart serves.

Regional players

• Torchbearers Akron: Young-professional leadership organization in Greater Akron. Comparable regional peer; Heart to Heart's Emerging Leaders cohort and Torchbearers programs serve overlapping early-career audiences, and the organizations cross-refer participants within the Akron civic ecosystem.

Direct peers

• Leadership Akron: Regional leadership development organization serving Greater Akron with cohort-based programs and Signature Classes. Directly comparable to Heart to Heart in mission, geography, and cohort delivery model; both participate in cross-promotion and share community leadership alumni networks.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@H2HLeadership
• Facebookfacebook.com/hearttoheartleadership
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/heart-to-heart-leadership
• Instagraminstagram.com/hearttoheart

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Heart to Heart Leadership