About Darril Wilburn

A learner's journey through Toyota's teachings and beyond, discovering how timeless principles can serve leaders wherever they are.

Let me tell you a bit more about my journey.
My career began at Toyota, where I worked at three unique sites that shaped my leadership journey. Those experiences, from leadership coaching and teaching The 7 Habits to helping roll out The Toyota Way 2001 and co-leading the global pilot of Toyota Business Practice, gave me a foundation in both people and process that still guides my work today. Since then, I've partnered with organizations across industries as a consultant, speaker, and author, helping leaders discover that transformation isn't about new tools or temporary fixes. It's about how we think, how we lead, and how we develop the people around us.

Darril Wilburn
Darril with family at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas Darril with consulting colleagues Darril speaking at Harvard Business Review event

From Toyota to Global Consulting

During my time at Toyota, I had the opportunity to work at three critical sites: Kentucky, the corporate headquarters, and the San Antonio start-up, while also training under Toyota's internal sensei group (OMDD). These experiences gave me a deep foundation in Toyota thinking and leadership that continues to shape my consulting today.

Kentucky Plant

Toyota's largest North American facility. Studied with OMDD and did the Toyota Way project here. Leadership coach, taught leadership workshops including 7 Habits.

Corporate HQ

Toyota Business Practices Global Pilot facilitator and helped revise the original Japanese material.

San Antonio Start-up

Being part of the startup team of a new greenfield plant.

OMDD Sensei Training

Deep foundation in Toyota thinking

Every person has latent capability. The role of leadership is to uncover it.

Consultant, Partner, and Guide for Leaders

Since leaving Toyota, I've partnered with organizations worldwide through honsha, niwaki, and other collaborations to guide leaders in building cultures that endure. My consulting goes beyond process improvement: it focuses on vision, alignment, and leadership courage.

I'm known for asking leaders the hard questions:

  • What future are you really leading your people toward?
  • Do you see the latent capability in your team, or only their current performance?
  • Are you managing results, or shaping the system that produces them?

By challenging assumptions and inspiring reflection, I help executives shape visions that lift entire organizations. My work blends the discipline of Toyota's principles with the adaptability leaders need in today's turbulent business landscape.

Darril at traditional Japanese Torii gate Darril with workshop participants Darril at Lean for Hope Connections event
Darril presenting Lean Principles for Leaders keynote

Speaker, Author, Teacher

As a keynote speaker, I've had the privilege of addressing global audiences, from the Harvard Business Review Latin America Series to Lean Netherlands. I'm also a contributing author to Toyota by Toyota and have written articles such as Clean Hands, 8 Learnings from the Summit, and Believe in One Thing All the Way.

In addition, I'm a certified instructor and coach of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, which allows me to bring timeless personal leadership principles into organizational transformation and coaching.

Notable Speaking Engagements

  • Harvard Business Review Latin America Series
  • AME Australia
  • Canadian Manufacturers and Importers (CME) Lean Conference
  • Brazil Lean for Hope Connections
  • Brazil Lean Summit

Core Belief

At the heart of my work is a conviction shared with Toyota's founders: every person has latent capability waiting to be unlocked. My mission is to help leaders believe in that potential, first in themselves, then in their teams, so they can shape organizations that are not only more successful, but also more humane, adaptive, and aligned with purpose.