Mrs. Perkins is the Founder and President of Image Builders Etcetera, LLC, a full-service coaching, and leadership development firm. She is the Founder and President of two non-profit organizations: Sisters at the Well, Inc. (2005), a network of 600 women designed to provide support and resources to each other; and the International Black Women’s Public Policy Institute (IBWPPI) (2009), an organization working with international and domestic groups to promote kindness, cultural and gender diplomacy as a base for equitable public policy. Additionally, Mrs. Perkins is one of six co-founders of The Los Angeles African American Public Policy Institute, (LAAAWPPI) (2003), with a goal of creating an endless pipeline of Black women prepared for public service and elected office.
In 2013, Barbara partnered with world spiritual leader, Dr. Iyanla Vanzant and served as Interim-President of Vanzant Enterprises and Executive Director of Inner Visions Spiritual Life Maintenance, Inc. where she managed the day-to-day operations. She successfully applied her expertise as a change agent in guiding a 30-year organization through a reorganization and innovative branding process.
Prior to her leadership role with Inner Visions Spiritual Life Maintenance, for six years, Barbara successfully partnered with the National CARES Mentoring Movement, helping to build one of the largest mentor recruitment organizations for Black Mentors in the United States. Under her leadership in Los Angeles, California, the CARES Movement stood out as a leading amplifying voice on the importance of mentoring as a tool for developing the next generation of leaders.
Barbara has advanced degrees in Human Development and is a Certified Executive & Life Coach trained at Pacific Oaks College in Pasadena, California, and Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, California. For 37 years she has been married to retired Fire Captain, Stanley Perkins. They are proud parents of two adult children and one grandson.
