About Us
Focused Pathways® exists to strengthen those who lead and care for others. Our programs combine faith-aligned and science-backed training to help leaders grow in clarity, confidence, and resilience.
Our Methodology
Each experience at the Institute weaves together study, reflection, and practice.
Our approach is designed for people who lead, serve, and support others. We work with each individual on providing the education and resources to strengthen their resilience so that they can stay clear, steady, and effective in simple and complex situations. Each and every piece of our programs and services is designed to meet you where you are: we offer space to learn at your own pace, reflect, and to grow with guidance and community. Rest assured, with us supporting you, you'll gain the tools and skills you need to face anything life may throw your way.
Live Faculty Sessions
Engage in real-time conversations and guided discussions with Institute faculty and mentors.
Professional Cohorts
Join guided peer groups for shared reflection, accountability, and sustained professional growth.
Self-Paced Studies
Access structured lessons and guided materials that strengthen resilient leadership practice.
Practice Resources
Apply learning through readings, frameworks, and structured reflective field assignments.
Leadership Formation Tracks
Advance through sequenced studies that cultivate clarity, courage, and reflective discipline.
Workshops & Retreats
Participate in immersive gatherings that renew focus and advance applied leadership capacity.
Our
Mission
To equip leaders who bring calm, care, and competence wherever they serve.
Our values
Safety
Empathy
Integrity
Evidence-based
Competency
Meeting People where they are
Meet the Founder
My name is Ryan McCollum
I didn’t set out to build a training institute. I started by showing up for people in moments when things were heavy—when decisions mattered, emotions were close to the surface, and someone needed to stay calm enough to help others think clearly.
My background spans healthcare, pastoral care, and military chaplaincy. In each of those roles, I was often the person others turned to during conflict, crisis, or emotionally complex conversations. Over time, I began to notice the same pattern everywhere I worked.
Organizations talked a lot about the importance of empathetic leadership, especially as burnout increased and pressure mounted. But many leaders were expected to carry emotional and relational responsibility without ever being trained for it. They cared deeply about their people, yet lacked the structure, skills, and practices needed to stay grounded when the stakes were high. Too often, they carried that weight alone.
Stepping back, I focused on what actually helps leaders remain steady over time. Not platitudes, but practical, evidence-based approaches drawn from resilience research, positive psychology, conflict navigation, boundary clarity, and purpose-driven decision-making. I began developing a way of leading that was both human and sustainable—something leaders could learn, practice, and rely on when it mattered most. That work became the foundation of Focused Pathways.
Today, my focus is on equipping leaders with continuing professional development that strengthens resilience, judgment, and relational skill. The goal isn’t to change who leaders are—it’s to help them lead with empathy and clarity without losing themselves in the process.
