Wendy is the Purpose Partner helping women go from Crossroads to Confidence, from Shaken to Unshakable, from Purpose to Power. To learn more, visit WendyGladney.com and ForgivingForLiving.org.
Upland, CA — There is something powerful about a woman who understands that she is not limited to just one role, one title, or one version of herself. She evolves. She expands. She rises to meet the moment. In doing so, she becomes a woman who can wear many hats with both grace and purpose. Recently, I had the honor of speaking with Lorna Little, President and CEO of St. Anne’s Family Services. What stood out to me most was not just her impressive résumé, but her heart, a heart for service, transformation, and people, especially women and children who often live in the shadows.
Lorna is a clinical social worker, executive leader, author, and media personality. She has worked extensively with parenting youth, foster care, and adoption, dedicating her life to helping families not just survive, but truly thrive. Under her leadership, St. Anne’s continues to be a beacon of hope offering early childhood education, supportive housing, mental health services, and community-based programs that create lasting impact. But what makes Lorna so compelling is not simply what she does, it is how she does it. She leads with what I call strategic grace, a balance of strength and compassion, intention and humility. In a world that often pressures women to choose between being powerful or nurturing, Lorna embodies both. She reminds us that we do not have to sacrifice our softness to be strong, nor diminish our strength to be caring.
Many women today find themselves at a crossroads trying to balance career, family, purpose, and personal well-being. They are wearing multiple hats yet often questioning if they are wearing them well. Lorna’s journey reminds us that the goal is not perfection, it is alignment. Alignment with who you are, with what you are called to do, and with the season you are in. Because wearing many hats is not the challenge, losing yourself while wearing them is.
In my work as The Purpose Partner, I guide women through three transformational phases: Crossroads, becoming Unshakable, and Strategic Grace. Lorna’s life reflects each of these stages. At some point, she stood at her own crossroads, choosing a path rooted in service, healing, and advocacy. She stepped into spaces that are not always easy, but deeply necessary. From there, she became unshakable, the kind of leader who stands firm in her purpose, even in the face of systemic challenges and emotional demands. Now, she leads with Strategic Grace using her voice, her story, and her leadership to create pathways for others to rise. What I also appreciate about Lorna is her understanding of the power of storytelling. As the author of Mums the Word!, she shares her personal journey of late discovery adoption, reminding us that our stories, no matter how complex, can become bridges to healing, connection, and empowerment.
When we begin to own our story instead of hiding from it, something transformative happens. In that ownership, we find our voice. And in that voice, we find our power. Lorna’s work is also a reminder that true leadership is not about position it is about impact. It is about showing up wholeheartedly, believing in the potential of others, and doing the work necessary to remove barriers so others can succeed. Her belief that “we are all connected” is more than a philosophy it is a call to action. A call to care more deeply, serve more intentionally, and create spaces where healing and growth are possible. As women leaders, caregivers, and changemakers, we must give ourselves permission to wear many hats, but to do so with clarity and care. When we center ourselves, we do not just manage our roles, we master them.
And perhaps that is the true essence of being a woman who can wear many hats. Not that she does it all, but that she does what matters with purpose, presence, and grace.
Wendy is the Purpose Partner helping women go from Crossroads to Confidence, from Shaken to Unshakable, from Purpose to Power. To learn more visit WendyGladney.com and ForgivingForLiving.org.
