Wendy McCulley’s journey is one of resilience, reinvention, and relentless purpose. From Memphis to Harvard, from the boardroom to the classroom, she’s navigated systems—then built new ones that work better. Today, she leads with a rare combination of strategy and soul, transforming how public education supports students and communities.
In this video, students were asked to share their dreams. Wendy believes our children are worth investing in, no matter how big and bold their dreams are.
Originally from Memphis, Wendy’s journey into education was deeply personal. She moved to Connecticut in 11th grade through a scholarship from A Better Chance, a nationally recognized program that places high-performing students of color in some of the country’s top schools. This opportunity set her on a path to Harvard University, where she earned a degree in history. She went on to earn an MBA in corporate management from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by a Master’s in education policy from Penn’s Graduate School of Education. Her early career spanned leadership roles in corporate growth and strategy, including positions at Mattel, a tech startup, Edmunds.com, and a division of Experian.
In 2016, Wendy was selected as a FUSE Executive Fellow by Superintendent Mike Hanson to support Career Technical Education initiatives at Fresno Unified School District. FUSE is a national nonprofit that partners with local governments to drive systemic change in communities. Through this work, she discovered the potential for synergy between business and education—and the urgency of applying that synergy to support students.
Wendy is always honored to share the stage with the panelists at the annual Spill the Tea event—including Graciela Moreno, Captain Jordan Beckford, Edythe Woodruff Stewart, MD, FACS, Raji K. Brar, and Diane Phakonekham, MS (from left to right), who shared their stories at the event in 2025.
From her earliest days at the district, Wendy was trusted by top leaders to build and shape a variety of programs. In 2020, she established The Foundation for Fresno Unified Students from the ground up, building an organization designed to bring resources, innovation, and access to the district’s 70,000 students. While traditional paths into education leadership often prioritize academic credentials alone, Wendy’s combination of business expertise and education policy experience positioned her to take a different approach. Her leadership emphasizes accountability and student-centered design. Rather than conforming to outdated models, she challenges systems to move faster, work smarter, and always stay focused on what’s best for students.
Wendy McCully is not just a leader—she’s a builder. From boardrooms to classrooms, she creates what doesn’t yet exist and brings bold ideas to life. Through The Foundation and her broader work in the community, she is showing what’s possible when strategy and purpose come together in service of students.
Every child deserves access to quality education, free from systemic barriers that have nothing to do with their ability or potential. Wendy believes that the status quo in education is not just flawed—it is failing students. She challenges outdated models, fights for accountability, and ensures that students, not bureaucracy, remain at the center of decision-making.
They are brilliant, capable, and deserving of access to the best opportunities.
The barriers in education are systemic, not inevitable. They can be dismantled—it just shouldn’t be this hard.
Education is the only industry that doesn’t consult its consumers—Wendy is changing that.
Schools receive billions in funding, yet outcomes remain stagnant. That’s unacceptable.
Efficiency, strategy, and innovation can rebuild a broken system.
Wendy is fulfilling a lifelong purpose, driven by a belief that education changes lives, just as it changed hers.
Wendy McCulley envisions an education system that empowers, equips, and elevates students—not one that limits them. Her work is rooted in a fundamental truth: talent is universal, but opportunity is not. Her vision is clear:
At her core, Wendy believes that education should work for students, not the other way around. She advocates for systemic redesign through her work, bringing business and education mindsets together to drive real impact.
Wendy’s six focus areas reflect the urgent, student-centered priorities that drive every decision she makes.
Wendy’s modern leadership model replaces red tape with results, proving change is possible right now.
Ready to connect or collaborate? Wendy is available for speaking engagements, panels, partnerships, and collaborative initiatives that center students and drive systems forward.
