Meet Wendy Montas

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Wendy Montas a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Wendy, we’re so appreciative of you taking the time to share your nuggets of wisdom with our community. One of the topics we think is most important for folks looking to level up their lives is building up their self-confidence and self-esteem. Can you share how you developed your confidence?

Confidence begins with understanding who you are — your strengths, your struggles, your values — and accepting all of it. Many people grow in self-esteem when they stop comparing themselves to others and start embracing their unique story. Confidence rarely appears overnight. It’s built through consistent action — small goals achieved, challenges faced, and lessons learned. Each small success sends the message: “I can handle this.” Replacing self-doubt with self-compassion changes everything. Instead of saying “I’m not enough,” say “I’m learning and improving every day.” Being around encouraging, purpose-driven people can accelerate growth. Mentors, friends, or communities that uplift and challenge you help you see your worth reflected back at you. True confidence often comes from aligning your life with something bigger than yourself — serving others, building something meaningful, or living out your values. Purpose gives your self-esteem roots

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Wendy Montas, is a visionary leader, counselor, and community advocate dedicated to empowering individuals and families through leadership, education, and compassion. The founder of Leaders Creating Leaders and Supporting Stronger Lives Foundation, two organizations committed to building stronger, more resilient communities through mentorship, mental health awareness, and leadership development.

I graduated from John Jay Community College, where earned a degree in Deviant Behavior and Social Control, and holds a master’s degree in clinical counseling. I am internationally certified as a Law Offender Therapeutic Counselor, Therapeutic Family Counselor III, and Therapeutic Addiction Counselor III. In addition, holds the CASAC certification from NYC OASAS (Office of Addiction Services & Support), accrediting me as a Counselor in Alcoholism and Substance Abuse.

With over 15 years of experience in child abuse prevention and mental health, a state-certified in Child Protection in New York. Throughout my career, has provided essential support to mothers who are victims of domestic violence, substance abuse, and mental health challenges, as well as to at-risk youth, helping them re-enter school and break cycles of addiction, has worked closely with the Family Court of the Bronx, connecting families to critical resources for healing and reunification.

My passion for leadership is reflected in my certification as a Coach and Speaker by the Maxwell Leadership Team (2023), through which I continue to empower others to lead with purpose and authenticity.

As founder of Leaders Creating Leaders Association in New Jersey, I support entrepreneurs and community leaders in overcoming challenges through educational conferences and global mentorship programs. My mission is to create inclusive spaces where individuals, especially women, can thrive and believe in their potential regardless of obstacles.

Through the non-profit, Supporting Stronger Lives Foundation, I advocate for a world where autism, sexual abuse, and mental health challenges are met with compassion and understanding. The foundation’s work focuses on expanding access to mental health treatment for children and families, especially victims of abuse in the Dominican Republic and the U.S.

Wendy is also a co-author of the book “Hispanas Influyentes” and the author of “Más Fuerte que el Dolor,” a project dedicated to raising awareness about men’s mental health and promoting emotional healing across communities.

My leadership and service have earned multiple recognitions, including being crowned Queen of the Dominican Parade of New Jersey (2025), and serving as Honored Madrina of the Essex County Dominican Parade and Festival. has also served as a judge for the Bronx Dominican Parade Pageant and Miss Herencia Dominicana, celebrating cultural pride and empowerment.

At a young age, I coordinated the Dominican Parade of New York, managing logistics and community engagement. My early leadership experiences helped shape her lifelong commitment to service and empowerment.

For over nine years, I have also volunteered with HOPE NYC, an organization dedicated to helping the homeless during the coldest months of the year by bringing warmth, shelter, and compassion to those in need.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Looking back, I believe the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, empathy, and vision.

Resilience has been the foundation of everything I’ve built. Life has presented many challenges, personal, professional, and emotional, but learning to rise after every setback shaped my strength as a leader. My advice to others is to embrace the process. Growth is uncomfortable, but it’s in those moments of pressure where true leadership is forged.

Empathy has allowed me to connect deeply with people. Working with families, survivors, and community members has taught me that leadership isn’t about position, it’s about compassion. To those starting out, I encourage you to listen more than you speak. Understanding others’ pain and dreams gives you the power to lead with purpose.

Finally, vision has guided every initiative I’ve created, from Leaders Creating Leaders to the Supporting Stronger Lives Foundation. Vision gives direction to passion. My advice is to keep your “why” clear. Even when the path feels uncertain, your purpose will always lead you forward.

These three, resilience, empathy, and vision, have not only shaped my professional life but also my commitment to help others discover the leader within themselves.

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

One of the books that has had the greatest impact on my personal and professional journey is Liderazgo con propósito (Purpose Driven Leadership) by Rick Warren. This book helped me understand that true leadership isn’t about titles or recognition, it’s about serving others with intention and clarity of purpose.

One of the most valuable lessons I took from it is that leadership begins with character, not position. When your motives are guided by service and faith, your influence becomes lasting and meaningful. It reminded me that our purpose as leaders is to empower others to find their own, not just to achieve personal goals.

Another powerful insight is the idea that vision without values is empty. Purpose-driven leadership requires aligning your actions with your convictions, leading with integrity, humility, and compassion, even when it’s not easy.

Finally, the book emphasizes that every challenge is an opportunity for growth. That message shaped how I approach my work with Leaders Creating Leaders and the Supporting Stronger Lives Foundation, seeing obstacles as moments to grow, serve, and strengthen the community.

This book continues to guide me as I help others discover not just how to lead, but why they lead.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://leaderscreatinglearders.org
• Instagram: leadercreadingleader and wendymontasp
• Facebook: Wendy Montas
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/wendy-montas
• Youtube: leaders creating leaders