Deborah Tillman is a powerful force for good whose leadership in early childhood education spans almost three decades. Her love for children, faith-based approach, and passion for empowering parents have made her the go-to Transformational Parenting Leader. Deborah’s journey as a parenting and family expert began when she gave birth to her son, Zeplyn. Frustrated by not being able to find him quality care, she took a leap of faith by leaving a successful six-figure career to start her own child care center in 1994. 

Her Happy Home Christian Leadership Academy for Early Learners is now a top-rated child care provider in Northern Virginia. Deborah’s approach—which focuses on showering children with love, providing a quality education, equipping parents and providers to be compassionate leaders, and providing stellar facilities—eventually garnered her national attention. In 2011, Lifetime Television cast Deborah as America’s Supernanny giving her a platform to bring her unique style of purposed parenting to a global audience. She has been a recurring parenting expert on the HARRY and Steve Harvey daytime talk shows and has appeared on The View, Today Show, Katie Show, Wendy Williams, Great Day Washington, CNN and many others.  

This dynamic leader serves more than 16,000 coaches in over 150 countries as the President of the John Maxwell Team Parenting and Family Certification, for which she developed the curriculum. A highly sought-after speaker, she has been hailed as the “Transformer” at schools, national conferences, organizations, businesses, and churches. In addition, Deborah is the author of three books including Stepping out On Faith: How to Open a Quality Childcare Center; Parenting on Purpose: A Menu for Raising Children in Today’s Society; and Game Changers: 12 Strategies To Guide Parents And Families Through The Many Challenges, Problems And Storms Of Life.  

She received an Honorary Doctorate in Education from Richmond Virginia Seminary, holds a Masters in Early Childhood Special Education from George Washington University, and studied Jurisprudence at Oxford University. 

Deborah Tillman is an example of a life lived with purpose and a commitment to equipping parents and providers with the tools they need to raise children who grow up to fulfill their own unique purpose.