09/24/2026
Main Street Barberton's Executive Director, Melanie Black, was part of our Purposeful Leadership Program Expedition 12. As Executive Director of Main Street Barberton, Melanie brings together her passion for the Barberton community and leadership to drive initiatives focused on revitalizing downtown Barberton, economic development and community engagement. Here is what she has to say about Heart to Heart's Purposeful Leadership Program:
The course gave me the opportunity to step back from my day-to-day responsibilities and thoughtfully evaluate both how I lead and how I approach my work. As a result, I have gained a new perspective and am approaching challenges and opportunities more intentionally.
One of the most valuable aspects of the program was comparing my self-evaluation with how others perceived my leadership. It provided honest insight into both my strengths and the areas where I have opportunities to grow. I often become so focused on solving problems and accomplishing tasks that I lose sight of intentionally leading others. The program helped me step back and recognize the importance of balancing ex*****on with leadership. I also found the deeper exploration of my Enneagram results to be incredibly insightful, as it gave me a better understanding of my leadership style, motivations, and areas for personal growth. The TEDx talks further reinforced many of these concepts and challenged me to think differently about how I lead.
Rather than having one favorite part, I appreciated how each session built upon the previous one. Every topic served as an important piece of the puzzle, and together they created a complete picture of purposeful leadership. The progression of the program allowed me to continuously reflect, grow, and connect each lesson to both my personal and professional experiences.
