Being in the Room Is Not the Same as Having Power
Wanda has spent more than two decades inside the rooms where political, business, policy, and institutional decisions are made. That experience taught her something important: proximity to power is not power.
“Access can get you into the room. Influence determines whether anyone listens when you speak. Leadership determines what you are willing to do once you have the opportunity.”
Wanda’s career across business, politics, public policy, entrepreneurship, advocacy, and elected leadership has given her a rare view of how those systems work from the inside. She believes getting a seat at the table is only the beginning. Real leadership requires understanding the room, knowing where decisions are made, building the right relationships, speaking when silence would be easier, and using influence to create opportunity beyond yourself.
Power matters. Proximity matters. What you do with both matters more.