Check Out Dr. Matisa Wilbon’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Matisa Wilbon.

Hi Dr. Matisa, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I am the daughter of Mr. Jesse Olinger, Sr. and the late Mrs. Pamela Jean Cooper. As I’ve grown older, it has become increasingly important for me to begin my story this way—with honor, with origin, and with truth. Though my parents divorced when I was young, they each gave me something essential that shaped the course of my life.

I was born in Hazard, Kentucky—a small post-coal mining town where roots run deep and stories are carried through generations. My father came from a large, stable family grounded in commitment. My grandparents built a foundation that many of my aunts and uncles followed, with marriages that have endured to this day. From the Olinger family, I saw what stability looked like. I saw longevity. And my father made certain that I had every opportunity to succeed—academically, socially, and beyond.

My mother gave me something equally powerful, though different in form. She taught me resilience. She was my spiritual compass, my prayer mentor, the one who introduced me to Christ at an early age. More than words, she showed me—through her own life—how God can restore, redirect, and elevate. She demonstrated that no matter where you begin, you can be set on a path toward something greater.

It is from these two perspectives that my story was formed.

Because of my father, I pursued excellence and aspired to higher education. Because of my mother, I developed a deep and personal relationship with Christ and grew into a voice of ministry. Their influences did not compete—they converged. And in that convergence, I found my identity.

I am a first-generation college graduate who went on to earn a PhD in sociology from The Ohio State University. I spent over a decade in academia, teaching, mentoring, leading, and ultimately earning tenure and promotion at a predominantly white institution. In those spaces, I did not just navigate systems—I studied them, challenged them, and worked to make them more just.

A two-time TEDx speaker, today, I am a leadership and equity strategist, consultant, and speaker. I work with organizations, institutions, and leaders to move beyond intention into impact—designing strategies, facilitating conversations, and equipping people to build cultures rooted in inclusion, accountability, and transformation. I am also the founder of Disrupthers University, where I coach women to dismantle limiting beliefs, disrupt internal and external barriers, and step fully into their brilliance, purpose, and power.

And alongside all of that, I am a woman of faith and minister, a mother, a builder, and a voice—committed to helping others walk boldly in both truth and calling.

These truths—discipline and faith, structure and spirit—have shaped who I am.

I am a Disrupther.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
There have been many obstacles along my journey, but the most profound have been the losses I’ve endured over the past decade—my mother, both of my brothers, my nephew, several cousins, two aunts, and most recently, my husband of 25 years.

I do not take the weight of these transitions lightly. Each one has shaped me—revealing the good, the hard, and the parts of me still being refined. Loss has required me to become more introspective, more honest, and more anchored in what truly matters.

Because in the face of death, accomplishments lose their shine. What remains—what matters—is life. Relationships. Purpose.

These experiences have not broken me, but they have changed me. They have strengthened me in ways I didn’t know I would need, and in ways I now recognize as necessary.

Out of that place of faith and refinement, I authored Undefeated: Prayer Never Loses, a book that affirms the power of prayer as a sustaining, strategic force in every season of life. It is both a testimony and a tool—reminding readers that even in uncertainty, prayer positions us for victory. The book is available on Amazon for those seeking to deepen their spiritual practice. I am also completing my next book, Lost and Found: The Journey Back to Joy, Purpose, and a New You After Loss, which I started after my husband died. This work is an offering for those navigating grief—guiding them not just through what was lost, but toward what can still be found.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a coach, consultant, researcher, and keynote speaker who works across sectors to help organizations, communities, and families build stronger, more effective systems. Trained as a sociologist, I bring a research-informed lens to community building, organizational capacity, leadership development, and family dynamics.

My work supports organizations in increasing fairness, strengthening trust, and creating practices that help people work together more effectively. I also specialize in family well-being through executive coaching for women, fatherhood research, and initiatives that strengthen parenting, co-parenting, and community support systems.

What sets me apart is the breadth of my experience. I bring together teaching, training, evaluation, research, facilitation, and strategic planning to help organizations and individuals move from ideas to action. Across my work, I help people design systems, relationships, and strategies that are practical, inclusive, and beneficial for everyone involved.

How do you define success?
For me, success is impact with integrity. It means doing work that strengthens families, builds trust in organizations, and creates systems where people are seen, supported, and able to thrive.

Success is not simply about achievement, visibility, or recognition. It is about whether my work helps people move forward with greater clarity, confidence, fairness, and possibility. As Maya Angelou reminds us, “Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it.” That resonates with me because the how matters. The process must reflect the same values as the outcome: honesty, equity, care, and accountability.

I also believe success is measured by contribution. Bessie A Stanley in her poem, What Is Success? once wrote that success includes leaving the world “a bit better” and knowing “even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.” That captures the heart of my work. Whether I am coaching women leaders, conducting fatherhood research, training organizations, or helping families and communities build stronger systems, I want the result to be meaningful and lasting.

Ultimately, I define success as using my gifts, training, and influence to create impact that outlives the moment — strengthening families, building trust, and helping people and organizations become healthier, fairer, and more effective.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.matisawilbon.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matisawilbon
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/matisaolingerwilbon
• LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/matisawilbonphd
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/matisawilbon
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DrMatisaWilbon
• Other: https://thedisruptorstable.substack.com