Rhonda’s Journey:
From Teaching to Law
For ten years, Rhonda Coleman Wandel dedicated herself to shaping young minds as a high school English teacher. While she loved working with students, she felt limited in her career trajectory and knew she was meant for more. With a natural entrepreneurial drive, she spent summers running small businesses—a children’s boutique and a tutoring agency—but quickly realized that to build something truly sustainable, she needed deeper business knowledge and legal expertise.
That realization led Rhonda to make a bold pivot into law. She relocated to Chicago with her two young daughters to attend Loyola University Chicago School of Law, juggling the rigors of legal education, single parenthood, and financial pressures—all while navigating a competitive, fast-paced field. Despite these challenges, she adapted, strategized, and carved out a unique career path.
Today, Rhonda is an accomplished commercial attorney, business advisor, and strategic negotiator. Through RCW Strategies, LLC, she provides senior-level legal counsel to corporations, executives, and private equity firms—helping them navigate complex commercial contracts, mitigate risk, and align legal strategies with long-term business success.
Her journey is a testament to the power of resilience, reinvention, and strategic decision-making. Having experienced firsthand the challenges of career transitions, she is passionate about helping others take bold steps toward fulfilling, purpose-driven careers.
The Mission: Supporting Businesses & Ambitious Women
Today, Rhonda’s work is rooted in two core missions:
✔ Helping Businesses Navigate Complex Legal Challenges
Through RCW Strategies, LLC, Rhonda partners with mid-market and large corporations, executives, and private equity firms to provide practical, high-level legal support. She helps businesses negotiate critical contracts, minimize risk, and develop legal strategies that drive long-term growth.
✔ Elevating Women Through Career Transitions
As the host of The Rhonda Coleman Wandel Podcast, Rhonda creates a platform where ambitious women share their career journeys, professional pivots, and lessons learned. Through authentic conversations, real-world insights, and inspiring storytelling, she empowers women to embrace change, redefine success, and step into their next chapter with confidence.
Why She Started the Podcast
During her own career pivot, Rhonda experienced firsthand the uncertainty and isolation that often come with major professional transitions. Balancing ambition, motherhood, and personal growth made the shift even more challenging. She realized that women navigating career changes need a space where they can hear real stories, gain clarity, and feel empowered to take action.
That’s why she created The Rhonda Coleman Wandel Podcast—a platform dedicated to candid conversations with ambitious women who have reinvented themselves, embraced resilience, and built fulfilling careers on their own terms. Through shared experiences, wisdom, and actionable strategies, the podcast provides the support and encouragement women need to pursue their own paths with purpose and confidence.
At her core, Rhonda believes that career success and personal fulfillment don’t have to come at the expense of mental well-being or identity. She champions strategic career pivots, self-growth, and creating opportunities that align with your values and ambitions.
Her journey is proof that reinvention is possible, that ambition and balance can coexist, and that the most transformative career moves often begin with trusting yourself—even when the next step isn’t fully clear yet.