ABOUT
Lead with Energy, Live with Balance
We believe that when the mind and heart are aligned, success becomes inevitable.
This isn’t about hustle, or doing more—it’s about nurturing your emotional well-being so you can achieve the success that truly matters.
We help clinicians move past the burnout, the guilt, and the pressure to be perfect.
We help you make space for what you really want, and build the emotional fitness you need to create a fulfilling, sustainable life.
Learn how to consistently show up in your life with inspiration, clarity, and renewed motivation.
Meet Our Team of Founders
Our Founders bring together a unique blend of expertise in emotional intelligence, personal transformation, and practical experience in high-stress professional environments. Their collective knowledge and passion for mental and emotional well-being provide the perfect foundation for the Tailwind Trainings program.
Dr. Brett Gilbert
Consulting Clinician Partner, Coach
Dr. Julie Wilkes
Program Designer, Coach
Chris Hawker
Program Designer, Facilitator, Trainer
co-FOUNDER
Dr. Brett Gilbert
Board-certified endodontist by trade, emotional intelligence evangelist by passion. Brett is the bridge between precision and purpose — blending cutting-edge dental science with soul-centered self-growth.
A Chicago-based thought leader with a global vision, Brett’s world is where wellness meets leadership, tech meets mentorship, and success always includes service.
Dr. Brett E. Gilbert graduated from the University of Maryland Dental School (DDS 2001, ENDO 2003). He is a professor in the Department of Endodontics at the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Diplomate of the American Board of Endodontics.
He is the founder of the Access Endo Impact Academy, a global direct mentorship continuing education platform. He is a fellow in the International College of Dentists and a contributing consultant for Oral Health Journal.
Dr. Gilbert lectures nationally and internationally on clinical endodontics and personal wellness and is the host of the On The Cusp Podcast. From the operatory to the podcast mic, he's on a mission to elevate minds, inspire hearts, and educate the next wave of impact-makers.
He is a partner in Specialized Dental Partners and has a private practice, King Endodontics PLLC, limited to Endodontics in Niles, IL.
co-FOUNDER
Dr. Julie Wilkes
Dr. Julie Wilkes is an organizational psychologist and well-being advocate who has spent over two decades supporting others in living healthier, more meaningful lives—both at work and at home. With a Ph.D. in Industrial and Organizational Psychology, her focus has always been on creating environments where people can thrive emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Julie’s passion for wellness is personal. Born with a heart condition and not expected to survive infancy, she has spent her life turning challenge into purpose. That spirit led her to found Seven Studios, a wellness center that offers yoga, coaching, and community-centered programming for people at every stage of life.
She is also the author of The 7 Life Miracles, a book that captures her philosophy on finding meaning, even in the hardest moments. Julie has created several coaching tools and wellness programs—such as WELL-Q and SafeCompass—that support emotional intelligence, resilience, and personal alignment in today’s complex world.
Though she has had the honor of speaking at places like the White House, TEDx, and international conferences, Julie is most fulfilled by the quiet moments: a meaningful coaching conversation, a class where someone reconnects with their strength, or the chance to help someone take one small step toward the life they want.
Her work continues to be driven by a simple belief: that well-being begins with compassion—for ourselves and each other—and that it’s never too late to start living with purpose.
co-FOUNDER
Chris Hawker
Chris Hawker is a transformational coach, master EQ facilitator, and entrepreneur with a passion for helping caregivers, clinicians, and leaders heal from the inside out - so they can serve from a place of grounded strength and purpose.
As a co-creator of Tailwind, Chris brings over a decade of experience in emotional intelligence facilitation and personal transformation work, alongside a deep understanding of the unique emotional toll of leadership in high-pressure environments.
Chris is also a prolific inventor and business founder, having commercialized more than 100 products and earned over 40 patents throughout his career.
He also co-founded Next Level Trainings, an emotional intelligence and leadership company that has trained over 6,000 individuals and raised more than $6 million for charitable causes. Through this work, he has facilitated transformational workshops for thousands of professionals, guiding them to deeper self-awareness, emotional mastery, and authentic leadership.
Drawing on his diverse experience as an entrepreneur, innovator, and longtime student of personal development,
Chris creates powerful, compassionate spaces for clinicians to explore their inner world, reconnect with their purpose, and build emotional resilience.
He believes that when clinicians are empowered to care for themselves with the same skill and devotion they offer their patients, they become even more effective, fulfilled, and impactful in their work and lives.
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