Tell us more about who you are and what you do?
I’m Carlton Young growth strategist, speaker, and founder of Mindset U and Genesis Leadership Group. At my core, I help men build internal order so they can produce external momentum.
I come from a background of military leadership, corporate sales, and real-life adversity—including multiple near-death experiences that forced me to confront purpose early. What I do now is translate that into frameworks, systems, and environments that help men lead themselves first—spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically, and financially.
Because if a man can lead himself well… he can lead anything.
What inspired you to start the Genesis Leadership Group?
Genesis was born out of a gap I kept seeing—Men had information… but no formation.
They had access… but no accountability. And more importantly—men were trying to grow in isolation.
Genesis Leadership Group was created to be a breeding ground for transformation—not just motivation. A place where men could rebuild from the inside out, anchored in truth, structure, and brotherhood.
Genesis means “beginning”—and a lot of men don’t need more advice…
they need a new starting point.
What are the top three takeaways you want men to know about GLG?
- This is not a motivational space—it’s a formation environment.
We don’t just talk about change, we build systems that sustain it. - Accountability is the standard, not the option.
Growth happens when responsibility is shared and reinforced. - We develop the whole man, not just one area.
If one pillar is weak, the structure is unstable.
Are there any guidelines for men to join? If so, what are they?
Yes—and they’re intentional.
- You must be willing to be honest about where you are
- You must be committed to doing the work, not just hearing the word
- You must value accountability, structure, and growth
This isn’t for spectators.
It’s for men who are ready to submit to process and become disciplined in execution.
Where do you see the organization in 5 years?
Scaled, structured, and systemized.
- Operating in corporations, schools, and communities nationwide
- A fully built curriculum and licensing model
- Thousands of men walking in clarity, discipline, and purpose
- Genesis Summit becoming a premier leadership and formation conference
But more than numbers—
I see generational impact.
Men who were once lost… now leading families, building legacies, and raising sons differently.
Who is Carlton as a father?
I’m intentional. I’m present. I’m still growing.
As a father, my responsibility is not just just financial but it’s modeling.
My kids don’t just hear what I say… they absorb how I live.
So I focus on:
- Discipline
- Integrity
- Emotional control
- Faith in action
Because fatherhood is not about perfection—
it’s about consistency and alignment.
How has starting your organization impacted who you are as a dad?
It raised my standard.
When you’re teaching men to lead… you can’t go home and live differently.
Genesis forced me to:
- Be more accountable
- Be more intentional with my time
- Be more aware of what I model daily
It made me realize
my first audience is not the room… it’s my household.
How has your work impacted who you are as a man today?
It refined me.
This work exposes:
- Your inconsistencies
- Your blind spots
- Your emotional patterns
And it forces you to confront them.
I’ve become more disciplined, more self-aware, and more aligned.
Not because I arrived and what to help men who look like me.
How can we collectively change the narrative around Black fatherhood?
By replacing stereotypes with structure and visibility.
We don’t change narratives with arguments—
we change them with evidence and consistency.
That looks like:
- Present fathers being seen and heard
- Communities reinforcing standards, not excuses
- Men being trained in emotional intelligence, leadership, and discipline
And most importantly
we stop normalizing absence and start celebrating presence with accountability.
Why do you feel it’s important to focus on the pillars?
Spiritual | Emotional | Mental | Financial | Physical
Because a man is only as strong as his weakest pillar.
Most men try to win in one area…
while ignoring the others.
- Spiritual gives you alignment
- Emotional gives you stability
- Mental gives you clarity
- Physical gives you capacity
- Financial gives you stewardship
If one collapses, it impacts everything.
The goal is not balance, it’s integration.
Tell people what’s next for you, how they can follow you, etc?
What’s next is expansion and execution.
-
Genesis Summit continues to grow as a movement and experience with opportunities for everyone to glean structure and purpose.
- Mindset U is scaling into a structured development ecosystem
- New programs, content, and environments designed to drive real transformation
If you’re serious about growth, not just inspiration
tap in:
Instagram: @iam8020nation
YouTube: Genesis Podcast @iam8020nation
Community: Mindset U / Genesis Leadership Group
Because at the end of the day, this isn’t about information.
It’s about becoming the man you were designed to be…
and having the structure to sustain it.
