Today we’d like to introduce you to Peyten Williams.
Hi Peyten, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My work today really grew out of two lifelong callings that eventually braided together: a love for children and a deep interest in education practices that work to build knowledge and relationship.
I started my career as a classroom teacher and later moved into school leadership. For more than a decade, I listened to teachers share the same quiet fears and big questions about supporting kids of character in a fast-changing, high-achieving world.
At the same time, I was becoming a parent myself—learning firsthand how humbling, hilarious, sanctifying, and deeply meaningful this work is. I have three incredible kids and a fantastic husband, and I am so blessed to have been able to use the skills I learned as an educator at home.
I never thought I would leave the classroom or my role in teacher professional development, but God works in mysterious ways. I realized I was called to leave my job that I loved and was good at, and that I felt like I needed to trust that it was time to try something new that blended all three of my favorite things: family, education, and personal growth. That realization became the seed of Bowbend Consulting, where my mission is to inspire and equip parents and schools to raise thriving children of character.
What began as a small project quickly grew. I now partner with independent schools across the Southeast and beyond, offering workshops for faculty and parents, hosting a podcast called What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use, publishing weekly parenting newsletters, and continuing to build tools and resources that make family life feel more connected and purposeful. I’m also about to publish my first book, The Paradoxes of Parenting, which weaves together research, scripture, stories, and practical strategies for modern families from a Christian faith perspective.
Looking back, none of this was a grand master plan. It was simply the next right step, taken over and over: listening to what families needed, paying attention to where God opened doors, and following a calling to help parents feel more grounded, confident, and less alone. I love the work I get to do—and I’m humbled that it continues to grow in ways I never could’ve scripted.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all—and I think that’s part of what makes this work so meaningful today. When I left my stable job I truly loved, it was sad. I remember sitting with the reality that I was stepping away from structure, colleagues I loved, and a predictable paycheck into something completely unknown and solo. I’m incredibly grateful for my husband, who believed in me the whole way through. His steady presence made it possible for me to take that leap.
Another challenge was simply the business side of things. I was an English major—I can analyze a novel and teach writing all day long, but I didn’t know the first thing about budgets, pricing models, or how to actually run a company. I learned by doing (and often by asking AI and Google), and over time I found systems that made sense for my brain.
I was also navigating all of this while being very intentionally part-time. My primary calling is still my family—three kids, one husband, one dog, and a big extended family here in Atlanta. I also volunteer in my kids’ schools and community. So the question was always: How do I build something meaningful without sacrificing what matters most? It took trial and error to figure out a rhythm that allowed me to work deeply while keeping margin for the people I love.
In the early days I also struggled with the direction of the business. Should I focus on parents directly (B2C) or schools (B2B)? I spent almost a year trying the B2C path and quickly realized it wasn’t where I did my best work. Once I shifted to partnering primarily with schools, everything clicked—my workshops, newsletters, podcast, and consulting were suddenly aligned and life-giving.
It hasn’t been a smooth road, but it has been the right road. And each challenge has clarified my mission and strengthened Bowbend into what it is today.
We’ve been impressed with Bowbend Consulting , but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Bowbend Consulting exists to inspire and equip parents and schools to raise thriving children of character. I partner primarily with independent schools across the Southeast and beyond, offering parent education workshops, faculty professional development, custom consulting, and resources that help families feel more grounded, confident, and connected. My podcast, What Great Teachers Know That All Parents Can Use, and my weekly parenting newsletter both extend that mission by giving parents accessible, research-backed tools they can use immediately in everyday family life.
What I’m known for is taking big developmental and behavioral concepts—motivation science, Positive Discipline, Adlerian theory, SEL research—and translating them into warm, practical, real-life strategies that feel doable for busy families. Parents often tell me, “You make this feel less overwhelming,” which is exactly what I hope for. My work blends the head and the heart: research you can trust and compassion that meets parents where they are.
What sets Bowbend apart is the combination of educator experience, parent perspective, and a deep commitment to character formation. I’m not interested in adding more pressure to parents; I want to give them frameworks that reduce anxiety and increase connection. Schools trust me because I understand their world since I’ve been a teacher and leader myself, and parents trust me because I speak from the trenches of raising kids in today’s culture.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud of the clarity and warmth that Bowbend stands for. Whether someone attends a workshop, listens to a podcast episode, or reads a newsletter, my hope is that they feel seen, encouraged, and equipped with something concrete they can put into practice that same day.
Readers might be interested to know that I’m currently writing my first book, The Paradoxes of Parenting, which invites parents to embrace a more grounded, Christ-centered approach to raising children—one that is less reactive, more intentional, and deeply rooted in character. With that will come companion resources, small-group studies, and additional workshops for both parents and educators.
At its heart, Bowbend is about helping families and schools shape the next generation in a way that is research-based, relational, and full of hope.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
My work is shaped by a blend of faith, research, and practical tools that help me stay grounded both as a parent and as an educator.
Positive Discipline has probably had the biggest impact on my parenting and teaching philosophy. I’m a certified Positive Discipline parent educator, and their materials are pure gold. The framework of mutual respect, belonging, and skill-building is woven into almost everything I teach parents today.
I also learn a tremendous amount from voices like Dr. Dan Siegel and Dr. Tina Payne Bryson, whose work on brain science and emotional regulation is indispensable for understanding kids. Sissy Goff and David Thomas at Daystar Counseling offer such wise, accessible guidance for families—I recommend their books and podcast often. Paul David Tripp’s writing keeps me centered spiritually and reminds me why the heart work of parenting matters just as much as the behavior work.
On the leadership and organizational side, Andy Stanley’s leadership podcast has been an anchor for me. His clarity, practicality, and generosity of wisdom have shaped how I run Bowbend and how I think about influence. I also frequently revisit authors like Carol Dweck, David Yeager, Malcolm Gladwell, and Priya Parker—their work on mindset, motivation, storytelling, and gathering shapes my workshops and writing in powerful ways.
And of course, I keep a running list of my favorite parenting and education resources—books, podcasts, tools, and frameworks—on my website at bowbendconsulting.com for parents and educators who want to dive deeper.
These thinkers and resources help me stay sharp, stay humble, and continue learning so that I can serve families and schools with the best I have.
Pricing:
- Because my workshops are custom, I talk to the client to determine pricing.
- For coaching, you can find pricing on my website.
- I also have an Etsy store where you can get fun merch to inspire!
- My book will be coming out and you can find it online and in stores!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://bowbendconsulting.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bowbend_consulting?igsh=bHg5MnFlaDFoNmNy&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1DihQM1q6q/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peyten-williams-a093b2178?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Twitter: https://x.com/bowbend?s=21
- Youtube: https://m.youtube.com/channel/UC3TVeDgZTRLJibc1ux6tSYg
