Walda Collins

Walda Collins is a U.S. Marine (ret.) and 3 time combat veteran with over 23 years of honorable and faithful service. She’s a classically trained chef, author, speaker, and Purpose Practitioner. Walda went from Guns to Gourmet turning her passion into enthusiastically helping others fulfill their purpose and live a healthier life through food and faith. She shares her passion to encourage, equip and empower women to strategically align their lives through the four pillars: faith, family, finances, and fitness & health.

As the founder of Woman D.A.R.E to Live, Walda challenges women to stand strong, face adversity and live life on purpose through events, courses and speaking. Walda has distinguished herself through mentoring, counseling and educating others, particularly women, for over 20 years. Having traveled around the world throughout her military career, she engages the hearts and minds of many people through her warm spirit and inspirational speaking, with a special gift to motivate and inspire change.

Walda Co-Authored her first book, Behind Their Brand Vol. 2, in a chef’s collaboration, with Chef Deb Cantrell, sharing their journey from “behind the stove.” An additional collaboration with fellow gifted speakers, alongside Dr. Cheryl Wood, Walda passionately contributes her thoughts and inner strengths in the book, Women Crushing Mediocrity. In her current book, "A Warrior's Sword," Walda unleashes 10 powerful strategies that help her readers garner a “Never Give Up Attitude and a Warrior’s Expectancy to Win.”

Walda is married to her husband of 28 years, Dr. Keith G. Collins, Sr. and whole-heartedly loves her two “adulting” sons Zach and Keith, Jr. She is also the “CiCi” to two amazing little humans, Sariah and Na’Kobi.