Made for This - by Deangela Burns-Wallace (Paperback)

About the Book

Made for This is a powerful reminder that leadership is not about a title--it's about how you choose to live. In this deeply inspiring memoir, DeAngela Burns-Wallace, EdD, shares a remarkable journey of purpose, discipline, and personal growth.

Book Synopsis

Step Into the Life You Were Made to Lead

Made for This is a powerful reminder that leadership is not about a title--it's about how you choose to live.

In this deeply inspiring memoir, DeAngela Burns-Wallace, EdD, shares a remarkable journey of purpose, discipline, and personal growth. From early lessons in service and self-worth to high-impact leadership roles in global diplomacy, education, and public administration, she unpacks the real work behind personal and professional transformation.

You'll walk away with insight, clarity, and the motivation to lead with intention--wherever you are in life.

Key takeaways include:

• How to identify and honor the values that guide your leadership
• How to move through uncertainty with discipline and courage
• Why building legacy starts with living authentically
• What it means to lead without apology or permission
• Why empowering others is the highest mark of leadership

If you're seeking clarity in your calling, wisdom in your next step, or strength to walk your own path--Made for This will meet you there.

Review Quotes

"Made for This is a well-written, engaging memoir of a successful career in leadership and diplomacy."

-- IndieReader

"Burns-Wallace redefines leadership not as the absence of fragility, but as the courage to remain rooted, resilient, and relentlessly focused on lifting others as you climb."

-- The Book Commentary

"By the end, you understand that the book's title is not a boast. It is an invitation, extended to every reader wondering whether they, too, were made for more than they have currently allowed themselves to claim, and offered with enough warmth and enough specificity that the invitation feels entirely within reach rather than aspirational."

- Women's Journal

"If you are drawn to memoirs that go beneath the highlight reel and show you what authenticity actually requires, Made for This by DeAngela Burns-Wallace belongs on your reading list."

- BLK News

"Burns-Wallace has written something that feels less like instruction and more like companionship, and that quality alone makes the book worth returning to more than once."

- The Chicago Journal

"Burns-Wallace doesn't sugarcoat anything; she doesn't hesitate to write about times when she was afraid or seemed stymied in her attempts to reach her goals."

- Readers Favorite

"This work reminds us that few reach success without the support of immediate and extended family. From the first uncertain steps of childhood to the winding roads of adulthood, this memoir is a tapestry woven from moments of laughter, heartbreak, and discovery. With candor and wit, the author invites you into her world--where ordinary days turn extraordinary and every setback carries the seed of renewal. Through family tales, personal triumphs, and unexpected detours, these pages offer a deep human exploration of resilience and hope.

Deepak Chopra's concept of 'synchrodestiny, ' is evident in every chapter.

Tender, unflinching, and moving, this memoir reminds us that the path to understanding oneself is rarely straight and never dull. Step inside and discover a life honestly lived and one which verifies we must lift as we climb."
-- Harriet L. Elam-Thomas
US Ambassador (Ret.)

"Reading Made for This feels like sitting down with a trusted friend who's willing to share the real story--the victories, the doubts, and the moments in between. DeAngela Burns-Wallace writes with honesty, humor, and grace, offering lessons that resonate far beyond the page. This book isn't just for leaders--it's for anyone ready to embrace their full, authentic self."
-- Rich Bracken
Founder, Unstoppable Solutions

"It's a rare day when someone can share so honestly the depths and peaks of struggles while also recognizing how to harness the power of your underlying ecosystem of contributors for meaningful personal and professional success. Using direct and simple storytelling, DeAngela provides a masterclass in learning lessons from the past to chart your best journey forward. Or more simply put: Because I believe no one wins alone, this is one of the most inspiring books I've ever read."
-- Julie Lorenz
Former leader of the Kansas Department of Transportation

About the Author

DEANGELA BURNS-WALLACE, EdD, is a nationally respected executive, former U.S. diplomat, and current CEO of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation. Her career spans leadership roles in the U.S. State Department, higher education, and state government, including serving as cabinet secretary for the State of Kansas. A lifelong advocate for systems change, she is known for transforming organizations, building strategic coalitions, and expanding opportunity through bold, values-driven leadership.

Burns-Wallace holds degrees from Stanford, Princeton, and the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Kansas with her son and retired parents and leads national initiatives to reimagine equitable economic mobility for all and access.