Dr. Wendy Thelese Talley, LCSW, DSW
Leadership Institute Faculty Member
Fathers and Families Coalition of America
Full Biography
Dr. Wendy Thelese Talley is an internationally recognized Corporate Wellness Strategist, licensed psychotherapist, executive leadership coach, and federal leadership consultant with more than twenty-two years of experience advancing mental health, leadership effectiveness, and organizational wellness. Over the course of her career, Dr. Talley has become widely respected for her ability to guide leaders and organizations from chronic stress and burnout toward clarity, resilience, and sustainable performance.
Dr. Talley is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Thelese Consulting Group, LLC, where she partners with senior executives, leadership teams, and organizations across corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors. Her work sits at the intersection of mental health strategy, emotional intelligence, and leadership development—supporting leaders who are expected to perform at a high level while navigating complex human, organizational, and cultural dynamics.
Within the Fathers and Families Coalition of America, Dr. Talley serves as a Certified Trainer of the FFCA DiSC Training Model and as a Leadership Institute Faculty Member. Her work with FFCA reflects a shared commitment to applied leadership development experiences that integrate purpose, emotional intelligence, behavioral science, and lived experience to strengthen leaders, families, and communities.
Corporate Wellness Strategy, Employee Assistance Programs, and Organizational Culture
Dr. Talley designs and leads evidence-based corporate wellness programs for corporations, government agencies, and nonprofit organizations. Her work integrates Employee Assistance Programs, leadership development initiatives, and mental health strategy to support both individual leaders and the broader organizational culture.
As a trusted Onsite Counselor for organizations such as Sony Pictures Entertainment and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Dr. Talley has delivered critical employee assistance services, facilitated staff development workshops, and provided executive-level leadership consulting. Her approach emphasizes practical solutions that strengthen psychological safety, performance sustainability, and organizational trust.
Dr. Talley is known for delivering impactful in-person trainings, executive retreats, and virtual workshops that equip leaders with practical tools to manage stress, lead with clarity, and cultivate psychologically healthy workplaces. Her work consistently supports growth at both the personal and organizational levels.
Leadership Mastery Elite Academy and Executive-Level Emotional Intelligence
Dr. Talley is the visionary and primary instructor of the Leadership Mastery Elite Academy, a premier executive training and coaching program designed for leaders operating in high-stress environments. The program equips C-suite leaders and senior executives with tools to understand workplace personalities, human behavior, and the emotional dynamics that influence leadership effectiveness.
Through this work, Dr. Talley helps leaders integrate emotional intelligence skills that allow them to better understand today’s evolving workforce. Her approach supports leaders in navigating generational shifts, workplace stressors, cultural dynamics, and organizational complexity with confidence and clarity.
At the core of Dr. Talley’s mission is a holistic view of well-being. Her programs empower leaders and their teams to support personal and professional growth while building workplace cultures where wellness is embedded into daily practice rather than treated as an afterthought.
Applied Leadership Collaboration with the Fathers and Families Coalition of America
Dr. Talley has collaborated with the Fathers and Families Coalition of America to co-facilitate the Comprehensive Leadership Workshop, focused on understanding, implementing, and executing the tools of the Eight Dimensions of Leadership and the DiSC behavioral strategies. These trainings are intentionally designed as applied leadership experiences that translate insight into practice.
Through her faculty role, Dr. Talley supports FFCA’s mission to develop leaders who can lead with purpose, emotional intelligence, accountability, and psychological awareness across family-serving and community-based systems.
National Impact, Public Leadership, and Keynote Engagements
Dr. Talley’s impact extends beyond organizational consulting. She has collaborated with national leaders, including former First Lady Michelle Obama, to support housing solutions for homeless veteran families. This work reflects her longstanding commitment to mental health, stability, and dignity for underserved populations.
Frequently sought after as a Corporate Wellness Consultant and keynote speaker, Dr. Talley inspires audiences through dynamic presentations that bridge mental health, leadership, and organizational success. Her ability to connect evidence-based strategy with real-world leadership challenges has made her a trusted voice across industries.
Authorship and Professional Resources
Dr. Talley is the author of multiple wellness and professional development resources, including My Healing Journal and the SMART Goal and Time Management Workbook. She is also an anthology author of the best-selling publication Triumphs in the Trenches: Black Professionals’ Guide for the Workplace, which explores resilience, leadership, and excellence in professional spaces.
Her written work reinforces her broader mission: helping leaders lead well without sacrificing their well-being, integrity, or sense of purpose.
Recognitions
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Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award
Honored by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr., who bestowed the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award on Dr. Wendy T. Talley on two separate occasions in recognition of her sustained leadership, mental health advocacy, and community impact. -
Advanced Practitioner Certification – Fathers and Families Coalition of America
Certified Trainer of the Fathers and Families Coalition of America DiSC Training Model. -
Meet the Women Behind the Business Magazine – Best Health and Wellness Award
Recognized by Meet the Women Behind the Business Magazine, a national publication platform dedicated to increasing visibility for Black women entrepreneurs and small business owners, for excellence in health, wellness, and leadership. -
City of Los Angeles Proclamation
Thelese Consulting Group, LLC, honored by Mayor Karen Bass for contributions to community wellness and leadership.
Community Involvement
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Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Incorporated
Member and Workshop Facilitator supporting leadership development, wellness education, and community empowerment. -
Permanent Supportive Housing Services for Homeless Veterans
Contributor to a joint initiative between the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs, providing permanent supportive housing and comprehensive services for homeless veterans and their families.
Signature Quote
Professional Contact
Phone: 310-600-4152
Email: drwendytalleylcsw@thelesecgroup.com
Website:
https://drwendytalley.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/in/wendytalleydswclcsw
Facebook: facebook.com/TheleseLLC
Instagram: instagram.com/wendy_tal