This year’s T.D. Jakes’s International Leadership Summit was more than a gathering—it was a generational shift. Held under the powerful theme “The Changing of the Guards!”, the summit brought together world-class thinkers, spiritual leaders, and cultural influencers for a weekend of bold insight and intentional transition.
Bishop T.D. Jakes and Dr. Judith Christie McAllister opened the summit with a dynamic call to leadership—grounded in legacy, but aimed squarely at the future. Their message set the tone: leadership is evolving, and it’s time to prepare for the next wave.
Pastor Steven Furtick and Dr. Joel Tudman delivered keynote addresses that were equal parts fire and strategy. Pastor Furtick challenged attendees to embrace bold faith in uncertain times, while Dr. Tudman taught a masterclass on leading through transformation and disruption.
The summit featured a lineup of powerful voices, including Dr. Cindy Trimm, Dr. Courtney McBath, Mellody Hobson, and Bishop Lambert W. Gates, among many others. Each speaker brought a distinct perspective, bridging spiritual depth with practical leadership insight—whether in ministry, the marketplace, or social impact.
More than just panels and sermons, the summit was a meeting point for visionaries: a place where generations met, ideas sparked, and leadership was redefined. With every session, the message rang clear—this isn’t just a handoff, it’s a full-on mantle exchange.
For HBCU leaders, students, and changemakers, the relevance couldn’t be stronger. As many institutions face the same tension of tradition and transformation, this summit provided a framework for how to lead boldly, build strategically, and shift with purpose.
The guard is changing—and the future looks prepared.
*Photos by Guardian
