WANDA MARIE is the author of "Living Inner Peace: A Personal Guide to Greater Happiness," and founder of the Foundation for Living Inner Peace and DeStress America. She also co-authored a book with Yolanda King entitled "Embracing Your Power in 30 Days." Wanda is a Life and Career Coach, Business Consultant, Trainer, and Inspirational Speaker. She enjoys speaking to women's groups on three topics: Finding Inner Peace; Embracing Your Power; and Building Your Dreams. She recently started the Queen Academy for inspiring and empowering women over 40. In her spare time, Wanda enoys working as a Project Executive Director, helping to find turn-around solutions for stagnate corporations.

Wanda Marie is a self-made woman who graduated from Sawyer Business College in 1975 studying legal sciences.  In 1982, after working as a legal assistant and paralegal for several years, she went to work as a legal administrator for Toyota Motor Sales, USA, helping to establish their in-house Legal Department. She developed programs, strategies and systems for associates to use for running the department smoothly and efficiently, and supervised a team of day and evening support staff.

Wanda was always drawn to the healing arts and in 1994 she left a successful corporate career to pursue another passion, helping people to create positive and lasting change in their lives.  She completed a six-month certification course in Neuro-Linguistic Programming, a two-year training program through Coach University for Life Coaching, and received certification as a Master Executive Coach through the Behavioral Coaching Institute. She completed a three-month certification course in Clinical Hypnotherapy, and a two-year licensing program through the Agape University of Transformational Studies and Leadership, receiving a license as a Spiritual Counselor.

As Wanda Marie changed career paths and launched her private practice, she quickly became a sought after Spiritual Teacher, Business Consultant and Professional Coach, counting among her clients the late Yolanda King, eldest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and Coretta Scott King.  A collaborative relationship developed helping them realize their shared mission, to bring about more peace and unity to all of humanity.  In 2001, Wanda Marie joined forces with Yolanda King and accepted a position as Executive Director of her company, Higher Ground Productions, Inc. 

In 2005, Yolanda King and Wanda Marie co-authored the book, “Embracing Your Power in 30 Days: A Journey of Self-Discovery and Personal Freedom.” In 2007 Wanda Marie wrote and published, “Living Inner Peace: A Personal Guide to Greater Happiness.” The partnership between Wanda Marie and Yolanda King ended in May, 2007, when Ms. King suddenly passed away from heart disease. During Wanda’s association with Higher Ground Productions, she took Yolanda King from a one-woman operation to a staff of five employees under Wanda’s personal supervision to run the home office, and a host of outside partners and team members across the country as part of the production team.

As a spiritual counselor, professional coach, and NLP Practitioner, Wanda has a deep understanding of human psychology and works with teams and individuals in such a way that inspires, empowers and motivates, raising self-esteem and increasing productivity.  She has the ability to lead individuals to a place of high performance and excellence for achieving amazing results, through values-based goals, strategic planning, and heartfelt teamwork.

On a personal note, Wanda Marie has two adult children and she resides in Redondo Beach, California with her husband of more than 14 years.  She enjoys traveling and has been to Egypt, India, England, France, Italy, Germany, Greece and the Netherlands.