Dr. Wendy Cooley is the founder of Zoeken Solutions and a sought-after strategist, coach, and advisor with over two decades of global leadership experience across the K–12 education and government sectors. She brings a sharp focus to helping organizations unlock potential, realize their vision, and align systems for sustainable, high-impact results.

A recognized thought leader in strategy and organizational design, Dr. Cooley’s consulting expertise is rooted in years of executive leadership. Dr. Cooley has authored several cornerstone frameworks that continue to guide national and global efforts—including the Department of Defense Education Activity’s (DoDEA) Blueprint for Continuous Improvement, DoDEA’s COVID-19 Operational Guidelines and Protocols, and the Bureau of Indian Education’s (BIE) Strategic Direction. Her leadership in developing and operationalizing these strategic documents earned her the prestigious Department of Defense Gears of Government Award, helped secure a #1 national ranking for DoDEA on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), and increased BIE graduation rates by 18%.

Dr. Cooley’s expertise has been featured in publications in partnership with Harvard and Brown Universities, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Additionally, she has served on advisory panels for The College Board and AVID Center and has presented nationally at numerous venues.

A dedicated educator and academic mentor, Dr. Cooley serves as a Lead Doctoral Faculty Mentor and dissertation chair with a 100% publication rate among her doctoral candidates. She is also an accomplished editor of Senior Executive Service (SES) Executive Core Qualifications and numerous doctoral dissertations, offering deep insight into the intersection of leadership, scholarship, and high-stakes performance.

Her background includes executive leadership roles in strategy, change management, organizational performance, and instructional systems. She has served as a senior advisor, chief of strategic and organizational excellence, chief of staff, principal, instructional specialist, and educator in both the U.S. and abroad.

Dr. Cooley holds a Doctor of Education in Transformative Leadership, a Master’s in Educational Leadership, and a Bachelor’s in Professional Administration.