Ruth Haley Barton is founder and Chief Essence Officer of the Transforming Center, a ministry dedicated to strengthening the souls of pastors, ministry leaders and the congregations and organizations they serve. A practitioner, teacher and leader in the area of Christian spirituality and spiritual formation for over twenty-five years, she can always be found teaching and leading the Transforming Center's two-year Transforming Community experience—a practice-based spiritual formation journey for leaders.

A trained spiritual director and retreat leader, Ruth is the author of numerous books and resources on the spiritual life including Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership, Sacred Rhythms, and Pursuing God’s Will Together, plus her most recent book, Embracing Rhythms of Work and Rest: From Sabbath to Sabbatical and Back Again. She reflects regularly on spirituality and leadership in her blog, Beyond Words, and her podcastStrengthening the Soul of Your Leadership.