Michael Burks Jr

Michael Burks Jr. — known to many as "Dr. Burks" — is a global strategy consultant who grew up on the west side of Chicago. He experienced homelessness at the early age of 16 and became a high school dropout at 17. Rather than letting those circumstances define his ceiling, he made them fuel. He spent the greater part of the last decade positioning himself to complete his graduate degree in business while being coached and mentored by some of the sharpest minds in the world — including #1 Motivational Speaker Dr. Eric Thomas, Entrepreneur & TV Host Paul C. Brunson, Success & Leadership Coach John C. Maxwell, and various others who poured into his development and sharpened his vision.

Dr. Michael Burks Jr. is a strategist shaped by life, sharpened by responsibility, and defined by an uncommon blend of emotional intelligence, operational clarity, and forward-looking vision. Long before he advised companies or structured deals, he was the person others turned to when decisions mattered. Leadership didn't begin for him in a conference room — it began in real moments, with real people, where solving problems wasn't optional.

Those early instincts to guide, steady, and empower others grew into a lifelong path. His mentorship work became one of the most defining pillars of his life. He poured into young men who needed direction, structure, and belief. More than 1,000 males moved through his programs, achieving an 87% graduation rate and forming a network of young leaders who credit him for changing their trajectory.

Michael's community efforts expanded far beyond coaching. For five years, he helped feed over one hundred families annually. He awarded scholarships to emerging entrepreneurs and youth entering summer leadership programs. He served on boards, councils, and advisory committees focused on education, financial literacy, housing stability, and community empowerment.

His professional career spanned technology, operations, strategy, capital planning, and executive development. He worked inside complex systems — from large financial institutions to emerging businesses — learning how organizations truly function, where they break down, and what it takes to rebuild them. He developed a reputation for being the person who could walk into chaos and create clarity.

This blend of experience led to the creation of Blackguard LLC, his strategy and advisory firm. Blackguard exists for leaders who need more than motivation — they need structure, truth, and a plan they can act on immediately. The firm provides M&A advisory, capital advisory, operational strategy, and decision intelligence for founders, investors, and organizations preparing for growth, acquisition, or transition.

Alongside this, he created systems like Operators OS, which distill his strategic thinking into frameworks founders can use to make better decisions, evaluate risk, streamline operations, and accelerate execution. Complexity is a choice, but clarity is a discipline.

Academically, Michael earned a Doctorate in Business, deepening the knowledge he had lived for years. His doctoral work strengthened his expertise in organizational leadership, business psychology, operational architecture, and strategic modeling.

Through every chapter, Michael's family has remained at the center of his vision. His wife — known affectionately by her audience as "The Queen" — and their children shape the purpose behind his work.