We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Dr. Wanita Mercer a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Wanita, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
First, thank you for inviting me to share my story with Bold Journey.
To know one’s purpose is to understand why you were created and what God expects of you. As a young girl, I grasped that God created me to worship Him and glorify Him through my life. My parents instilled this in me, and the Bible they read to me reinforced this belief, which I embraced wholeheartedly. As I matured, discerning God’s specific expectations for me— that unique role only I could fulfill—became, frankly, less clear. My plethora of gifts and talents along side my call to ministry, I believe, rendered the identification of my true purpose even more challenging. While aware of my capabilities, I yearned to understand what I must do. So, before 2022, I found myself exploring various jobs, roles, and opportunities, guided merely by my interests. Nonetheless, irrespective of my pursuits, I invariably found myself teaching, facilitating, or leading—endeavors that have always felt natural and enjoyable to me.
However, a defining moment clarified God’s intent for me during one of my life’s lowest moments. Two years into the COVID-19 pandemic, as I prepared to resign from my teaching position in Beijing, China, my future was unclear. Uncertain whether to relocate to another country, state, or career field, none of the paths seemed feasible or divinely guided. In this period of uncertainty and fervent prayer for guidance, I initiated a series of leadership seminars online. Entitled ‘Powerful Professionals,’ these sessions covered topics ranging from our divine calling and commission to spiritual discourse and the ministry of excellence. This endeavor brought me immense joy and creating content for these seminars felt incredibly rejuvenating and relevant. Yet, amidst this, I was pleading with God to reveal my next steps, having never before faced such uncertainty about the future. It was during a conversation with a friend, who inquired about my job search, that I experienced a revelation. My reply to her inquiry was, ‘It’s not going well. But in the meantime, I continue hosting the leadership seminars because there I find God’s peace while awaiting His guidance.’ Suddenly, it dawned on me, ‘Oh my God, that’s it. This is where I find God’s peace.’
All along, as I cried and awaited God’s direction, He had been guiding me. I was already engaging in my purpose. That realization enabled me to recognize how each of my work and ministry experiences had equipped me to support and empower leaders in a unique, innovative, and inspiring manner. Consequently, I took decisive steps to establish Lead My Heart, my executive coaching and consulting firm, focusing on thought-leading and inspiring content and leader support.
Understanding my purpose now informs not which gifts and talents I employ—since I utilize them all to effectively serve my clients—but rather how I do so. I write leadership books, compose songs to uplift leaders, organize events showcasing my hospitality, and much more. I offer my entire self in service. I firmly believe this is God’s desire for all of us. Yet, without a clear understanding of our purpose, talents can distract rather than serve as means to uniquely benefit others. Now, I have the privilege of assisting leaders in discovering their purposes as well. In fact, my coaching approach is rooted in purpose, guiding leaders towards alignment with their purpose in vision-setting, goal achievement, decision-making, team building, and effective communication, among other areas.
That is the journey of how I discovered my purpose.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Of course! God has blessed and equipped me to be an educator, motivational speaker, author, minister, and worship leader. My home church is Vertical Church in San Antonio, Texas, where I’ve lived with my family these last 23 years. I have a Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in organizational leadership from University of the Incarnate Word and several specialized certifications. My most recent endeavor is that of an executive coach.
As I mentioned before, I founded Lead My Heart in 2022. At Lead My Heart (LMH), we specialize in equipping leaders and their teams to lead with purpose, passion, and power. As an executive coach, my mission is to empower executives and executive teams to elevate their leadership and maximize their impact by integrating spirituality and faith into their leadership journey. What sets LMH apart is our unique approach to coaching, which revolves around the belief that leadership is not just about achieving success in the traditional sense, but about living out one’s divine purpose with a sense of urgency and excellence. We provide corporate executive coaching, group executive coaching, motivational speaking services, and executive luncheons, and we also provide specialized consulting services.
One of our newest initiatives, “The Well” – the executive wellness and vision workshop – exemplifies our commitment to holistic leadership development. The Well is a transformative workshop based on LMH’s first comprehensive workbook – “12D Wellness & Vision Workbook 2024” (available on Amazon) and it is designed to empower leaders to explore their personal and professional vision while nurturing their holistic wellness. At our recent event on March 28, 2024, I was thrilled to see leaders from various sectors, including educational leaders, entrepreneurs, and non-profit founders, come together to engage in meaningful discussions and activities.
The response to The Well was overwhelmingly positive, with participants expressing how inspired and excited they were to dive deeper into their leadership journey. The four hours flew by as attendees immersed themselves in discussions, reflections, and exercises aimed at aligning their vision with their divine purpose. Encouraged by the success of the first event, I’m already in the process of planning The Well, Part 2 and anticipate The Well Retreat in 2025.
At LMH, we believe that true leadership begins with self-awareness, purpose, and a commitment to ongoing growth and development. Through events like The Well, we provide leaders with the tools, insights, and support they need to lead with authenticity, intentionality, and impact. We invite like-minded leaders – men and women – to join us on this transformative journey of leadership and personal growth.
I’m also excited to announce my latest book “When Leaders Love” – a 31-day leadership devotional to help us unpack the transformational power of love in leadership. It’s available on Amazon (print and Kindle), Barnes & Nobles (e-book), and Google Play (e-book).
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Thank you for asking such an insightful question. As I reflect on my own leadership journey, I believe that effective leadership revolves around three key focus areas – the 3D’s: discipline, development, and discipleship.
Firstly, discipline is fundamental to leadership excellence. It encompasses self-awareness, self-evaluation, and self-leadership. Being disciplined means understanding the behaviors and habits necessary to fulfill our calling. This includes managing our time effectively, maintaining productivity, prioritizing overall wellness, and more. By cultivating discipline, leaders can better align their actions with their vision and purpose.
Secondly, development plays a crucial role in leadership growth. It prompts leaders to identify areas where they may be lacking skills or knowledge that hinder their impact. Continuous development empowers leaders to stay relevant, adapt to change, and maximize their potential. Whether it’s through formal education, mentorship, or experiential learning, investing in personal and professional development is essential for leadership success.
Lastly, discipleship emphasizes the importance “bringing our team along” by nurturing and supporting others in their own journey of growth and fulfillment and developing other leaders. As leaders, we have a responsibility to not only lead by example but also to teach, mentor, and empower those around us. By fostering a culture of discipleship, we create environments where everyone can thrive and contribute to the collective success. More importantly, we must lead by the values we say we hold dear. Our leadership style should be a testament to our faith and values.
In essence, effective leadership is about more than just achieving individual goals—it’s about cultivating a mindset of discipline, prioritizing ongoing development, and embracing the role of mentor and guide to those we lead. As professionals, we are constantly “professing” something through our words, actions, and attitudes. By embodying the principles of discipline, development, and discipleship, we can inspire others and make a lasting impact in both our personal and professional spheres.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
LMH’s ideal corporate client for our executive coaching programs is an organization that shares our values of holistic leadership development and understands the importance of integrating spirituality and purpose-centric ideals into their leadership culture. We seek clients who prioritize purpose-driven leadership, authenticity, and integrity, valuing continuous growth and development, as well as the well-being and balance of their executives. Our ideal corporate client values collaboration, inclusion, and diversity in their leadership approach.
Our ideal corporate client also values strategic guidance and vision alignment, seeking coaching programs that help align individual and organizational visions for maximum impact. They appreciate accountability structures and ongoing support to keep their executives focused, motivated, and accountable to their goals.
LMH’s ideal executive client is someone who recognizes the importance of holistic leadership development and seeks to integrate faith and purpose-centric ideals into their leadership journey, while not forsaking data-supported best practices. They are open to self-reflection, growth, and transformation, and is ready to invest in their own development to become a more effective and purpose-driven leader. While mostly female leaders are taking advantage of our services, I want to be clear that LMH serves male leaders too.
Contact Info:
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/drwanitamercer
Image Credits
Miles Fields
