Lorena Wade, MBA, NBC-HWC
Board Certified Coach · Global Healthcare Consultant · Speaker · Doctoral Scholar
Pepperdine University, Graziadio School of Business — Executive Doctor of Business Administration
Where my personal story and professional calling meet is the purpose that drives my work.
Professional Bio
Lorena Wade is a faith-driven board certified life coach, serial entrepreneur, speaker, and former Vice President of Operations for a national behavioral health organization, with over 15 years of progressive healthcare leadership experience. She has led multi-state, multi-site outpatient divisions, overseen a workforce of more than 400, managed a $75 million P&L, and supported care delivery for close to 90,000 patients. As the first in her family to graduate from college, earn advanced degrees, and serve in senior healthcare executive leadership, Lorena brings both lived experience and systems-level perspective to her work.
Today, she is the founder of Stewarded Path, where she supports women navigating growth, transition, leadership, and entrepreneurship with greater clarity, confidence, and self-trust. Through coaching, speaking engagements, and leadership development workshops, Lorena curates meaningful experiences that challenge, empower, and equip women to lead with greater clarity, conviction, and confidence. She is also the founder and principal consultant of a global healthcare advisory firm, LW Advisory Group, where she partners with healthcare organizations, federal contractors, private equity / investment firms, and global advisory networks on strategy, leadership, operations, innovation and transformation.
She is also the founder of La Doctora Collective, a platform and community she is building to elevate, connect, and support Latina women pursuing doctoral journeys and those who have already earned them. She is creating this space to foster visibility, voice, and connection, while highlighting the brilliance, depth, and impact of Latina doctoral women across disciplines.
Lorena holds a BS in Sports Medicine, MBA, PMP certification, Lean Six Sigma certification, Six Sigma Green Belt certification, is a nationally board certified health and wellness coach and is currently pursuing her doctorate in business as a two-time Pepperdine alum. Her research explores leadership frameworks that improve workforce sustainability and access to care for neurodiverse pediatric populations. Her leadership and service have been recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, County of Los Angeles, and City of Los Angeles.
Education
Founder of three purpose-driven ventures spanning healthcare, human flourishing, leadership, and systems change
Stewarded Path
Coaching, speaking, and leadership development workshops for women navigating growth, transition, leadership, and entrepreneurship.
LW Advisory Group
Healthcare advisory firm partnering with healthcare organizations, federal contractors, private equity / investment firms, and global advisory networks on strategy, leadership, operations, innovation and transformation.
La Doctora Collective
A platform and community elevating, connecting, and supporting Latina women pursuing doctoral journeys and those that have earned their terminal degree to foster visibility, voice, and connection across disciplines.
Personal
- — Mom to two autistic daughters
- — Lived experience navigating care
- — A desire for earlier diagnosis and support
- — A drive for better outcomes for children and families
Professional
- — 15 years of progressive healthcare leadership
- — Healthcare leader in outpatient behavioral health
- — Focus on workforce sustainability
- — Commitment to improving access to care
- — Passion for stronger systems, leadership, and operations
Purpose
- — Bridging lived experience and leadership
- — Advancing equitable access to autism care
- — Strengthening the workforce that supports children and families
- — Turning personal connection into meaningful systems change
Momma of Two Neurodivergent Littles
This research began in the most sacred and painful place of my life: motherhood.
Lauren, our IVF rainbow baby, came into the world as an answer to prayer. At just five weeks old, we almost lost her to a rare and life-threatening case of infant botulism. She became completely paralyzed, spent a month in the NICU, and began fighting battles no baby should ever have to fight.
Since then, Lauren has continued to show us what resilience looks like. Now three, she has a medically complex history, global developmental delays, and is on the autism spectrum. Her days are filled with special education preschool, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and ABA.
Chloe, our youngest, is 21 months old and has also recently been diagnosed on the autism spectrum after experiencing global developmental delays. She is now beginning her own early intervention journey through occupational therapy, physical therapy, and infant stimulation services.
My girls have taught me that access is not abstract. It is the waiting, the advocating, the therapy schedules, the unanswered questions, the hope, the exhaustion, and the quiet prayers that your child will be seen, supported, and given every chance to thrive.
This dissertation is dedicated to them. They are the heartbeat of this work.