Wanda James is a nationally recognized entrepreneur, United States Navy veteran, public policy leader, elected official, and sought after speaker. A first-generation college graduate, she was the first Black woman commissioned through the University of Colorado Naval ROTC Battalion and serves as a University of Colorado Regent.
As founder and CEO of Simply Pure, the first Black-owned dispensary in America, Wanda helped transform the national conversation around cannabis, racial justice, mass incarceration, and equitable public policy. She brings audiences a powerful message rooted in leadership, resilience, courage, and creating opportunities for others.
“Things like ‘first’ and ‘only’ just motivate me to want to open up the floodgates”
