Brand Building | Reputation Management | Employee Communications and Engagement
Public Relations/Public Affairs | Media Relations | Crisis/Issues Management
Executive Communications | Employment Engagement and Diversity | Investor Relations
Speeches and Presentations
For most of her 30-plus-year career, Wanda Herndon directed communications, public relations and marketing functions for leading brands and Fortune 500 companies. She held senior-level positions, not only at Starbucks Coffee Company, but also for DuPont, The Dow Chemical Company and the Michigan House of Representatives.
Wanda’s global experience with business-to-business and consumer companies has enabled her to gain extensive and valuable experience in the areas of: brand building, reputation management, public relations, media relations, crisis and issues management, public affairs, executive communications, employee engagement and diversity, and investor relations. Her authentic, relaxed, direct leadership style motivated team members to excel.
As a member of the Starbucks executive team and officer of the company from 1995 to 2006, Wanda contributed her insightful business perspective, which was factored into and influenced key business decisions. Her counseling skills were fine-tuned, often tested and valued as a result of her direct reporting relationship to the chairman, president and CEO of Starbucks.
A significant public acknowledgement of her expertise in the communications and business arena occurred in 2008 when Howard Schultz asked her to return to Starbucks and, once again, lead the Global Communications function when he resumed the role of president, chairman and CEO of Starbucks. Her post-retirement engagement with Starbucks continued through the end of 2008, and she continues to provide strategic communications counsel.
As president and CEO of W Communications, Wanda utilizes her communications expertise to develop and execute communications strategies tailored to meet business needs. Over the years, Wanda has demonstrated how exemplary communications can help corporations and other entities successfully achieve positive, measurable results.
W Communications provides comprehensive communications planning and execution for all categories of businesses and organizations. W Communications expertise is focused in the following areas: