For over three decades, Darren L. Johnson has been helping individuals and organizations navigate the inner and outer complexities of change. As a sought-after organizational development expert and coach, Darren’s work bridges executive wisdom with deep personal insight, empowering his clients to break free from what no longer serves them—and rise into who they’re meant to be.

But his most powerful work began the moment he chose to let go himself.

After years of helping Fortune 500s, government agencies, and nonprofit leaders drive change externally, Darren found himself asking deeper questions: What about the change we resist inside? This inquiry sparked the birth of the Letting Go Café, a global community and philosophy focused on releasing emotional clutter, outdated mindsets, and ceaseless striving in favor of clarity, confidence, and conscious action.

Today, Darren blends his real-world leadership experience with a signature coaching method grounded in the four transformative phases of growth:

  1. Positive Goals – Building a life rooted in purpose and desire.
  2. Giving Up (Undercontrol) – Acknowledging resistance and facing limitations.
  3. Letting Go – Releasing what no longer aligns with your vision.
  4. Ceaseless Striving (Overcontrol) – Breaking the cycle of burnout through conscious ease.

Whether coaching a high-achieving professional stuck at a crossroads, facilitating mindset workshops, or guiding leadership teams through organizational transformation, Darren’s approach is warm, direct, energizing, and rooted in deep respect for each person’s journey.

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Leadership Experience Highights:

President, InsideOut Learning, Inc, Darren led his own million-dollar company through successes and challenges for over 20 years. His client list included over 150 other businesses, government, and NGOs within and without the US. Designed, developed, and facilitated executive level diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training and coaching sessions for Thomas Nelson Publishing.

Founder of the Global Business and Organization Development Foundation (501c3)

Deputy Director, National Minority AIDS Council in Washington DC where he successfully led the organization through a major multi-million dollar restructuring. Facilitated diversity, equity, and inclusion session and lead by DEI while in the role.

Deputy Director, State of New Mexico’s Office of African American Affairs where he restructured the agency and led the roll out of the largest statewide Expo in New Mexico. Promoted concepts for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) throughout the state.

Walmart, Inc – Designed and taught a Change Management course for Walmart US and Latin America (WalMex). Also converted the course into an internal certification course for practitioners of change management. Was a member of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Advisory Council.

Manager, General Motors, Darren successfully managed the end of the line electronic check and drive off phases at the Buick-Oldsmobile-Cadilac Hamtramck, MI manufacturing facility.

Adventist Health System – Lead Organizational Change Management efforts for the acquisition of new facilities