Dr. Wanda R. Padilla

Dr. Wanda Ross Padilla's educational credentials include a BS Degree in Education from Bethune-Cookman University, A M.Ed. Degree in Counseling from Florida Atlantic University, and a Doctorate Degree in Public Administration from Nova Southeastern University. She was ordained by the Reverend Dr. Johnnie Colemon of the Universal Foundation for Better Living, Inc. as a Minister of the Gospel of Christ. Starting out as as public school teacher, she moved up to become the VP of a 300-employee private, non-profit social service agency in Miami, Florida (where she was employed for 18 years). Re-locating to Southern California in 1991, she became the Management Skills Assessment/Coach for the five (5) southern campuses in the University of California system, i.e. UC Santa Barbara, UCLA, UC Irvine, UC Riverside and UC San Diego. In 1994, she became a Management Specialist at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos New Mexico. Leaving the Lab after two years, she became the Community Coordinator for the Institute for Intercultural Community Leadership at Santa Fe Community College. In 1998 she founded her own consulting company: A BETTER LIFE NOW, where she continued consulting the private and public sector in various management modalities (team buiding, communication skills, conflict resolution, diversity training, facilitation, etc.). Her passion became HOLISTIC LIFE COACHING where she offers to clients on a one on one basis, LIFE COACHING...always integrating spiritual principles into her coaching pratice. Her speciality became RELATIONSIPS...where she espouses that "Healthy Relationships = a Healthy Planet Earth". It was out of this practice, she wrote her first book: ARE YOU LIVING TOGETHER, OR DYING TOGETHER? As as inspirational teacher, inspiring hope and wisdom to her clients and other groups/organizations, a Professional Speaker. Dr. Padilla is realizing her dream of offering a valuable service to mankind. The foreword of her book was written by LES BROWN, internationally known motivational speaker and teacher. Dr. Padilla has traveled all over the world, including a stay at an Ashram in India where she learned meditation skills. She uses a wide range of tools (which she has been certified in), such as Re-Evaluation Counseliong, the Enneagram, Kriya Yoga (Self Realization Fellowship), the Silva Mind Method and many others. Her book references these tools for her readers. A fitness "guru", Part 3 of her book is on the importance of a healthy body with many tips & tools. She is married, has two adult children (her son Mark is a Radio Executive and daughter Carla is an Attorney) and three grand children. She has been an officer in the Santa Fe Branch of the NAACP for the past fifteen years. She is a member of the Con Alma Health Foundation's Board, the NM Office of African American Affairs' Board, the National Counsel of Negro Women, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, the NM National Speakers Association, etc. She is very actively politically. She also teaches a spiritual class weekly. She and her husband are owners of their own business: PADILLA INDUSTRIES, INC. a General Construction Company. They both are avid skiers, hikers, bicyclists, golfers and tennis players. They reside between their Santa Fe, NM home and their 300-acre ranch near the Manzano Mountains, NM.