About Dr. Wanita Mercer
Dr. Wanita Mercer is an executive coach, consultant, author, thought leader, minister, educator, and founder and CEO of Lead My Heart (LMH), where she equips leaders to live and lead with purpose, passion, and power. Her work sits at the intersection of leadership, spirituality, organizational development, and holistic wellness—helping executives and organizations elevate their leadership and maximize their impact.
With a Ph.D. in Education specializing in Organizational Leadership, Dr. Mercer brings a distinctive blend of academic research, executive coaching, ministry, education, and real-world leadership experience to her work. Her career has spanned the United States and China and includes experience in higher education, nonprofit and community leadership, executive development, and faith-based ministry. She is also a certified executive coach with advanced training in executive management, change management, and crisis management.
As an author, published scholar, and nationally recognized thought leader, Dr. Mercer brings a compelling voice to conversations about leadership, workplace culture, spirituality, wellness, and organizational transformation. Her leadership expertise and insights have been featured in national and regional media, including Authority Magazine, AOL, MSN, Nasdaq, and Voyage San Antonio, among other publications. She has authored books and resources focused on leadership, faith, purpose, and personal development, and her scholarly work has appeared in peer-reviewed academic literature.
At the heart of Dr. Mercer’s work is a foundational conviction: leadership is a divine calling. She believes leadership extends far beyond titles, positions, or organizational authority. Leaders are entrusted with people and carry a responsibility to LEAD—to Love, Educate, Affirm, and Deliver—creating environments where people can discover their purpose, develop their potential, and make meaningful contributions.
Through Lead My Heart, Dr. Mercer coaches executives and executive teams, facilitates transformative leadership development experiences, delivers keynotes and workshops, and curates conversations that connect leadership with purpose and community impact. Her approach integrates research, practical leadership strategy, spiritual principles, and signature frameworks, including L.E.A.D., 12 Elements of Alignment, 12D Wellness, and the ABC of Fulfillment: Align, Balance, and Chill.
Her leadership extends beyond the boardroom. Dr. Mercer is deeply engaged in civic and community development, bringing leaders, organizations, and communities together around issues that matter. She serves as Executive Director of Horizontal San Antonio, facilitates leadership development experiences with New Politics Academy, and contributes her expertise through civic and community advisory initiatives throughout San Antonio. She is also an ordained minister and Teaching Pastor at Vertical Church, where her leadership and ministry are grounded in a commitment to developing people and strengthening communities.
Whether coaching an executive, facilitating a leadership cohort, speaking from a stage, writing, teaching, or convening leaders around critical community conversations, Dr. Mercer challenges people to move beyond simply holding positions of leadership to becoming leaders who transform the people and places entrusted to them.
Ultimately, her work is about transformation—developing leaders who cultivate gardens where there were once graveyards and creating organizations and communities where people can grow, flourish, and fulfill their God-given purpose.