Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace, Made for This with Rainy Day Books

Join Rainy Day Books in-store to celebrate Made for This, from local author Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace in conversation with Ebony Reed!

“Made for This is a well-written, engaging memoir of a successful career in leadership and diplomacy.” — IndieReader

This event takes place in-store and includes a conversation with the author.

The Book

Made for This: Lessons in Leadership, Legacy, and Living Unapologetically

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.

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 and access for all.

The Moderator

Ebony Reed began her career as a reporter at The Plain Dealer, covering Cleveland public schools, documenting public education’s inequities. The Investigative Reporters & Editors organization recognized her examination of how social promotion impacted the district’s majority Black and brown students. At the Detroit News, she managed the local coverage during the 2008 economic crisis. Now the Chief Strategy Officer at The Marshall Project, she has held other senior roles at the Associated Press, Boston Business Journal, and the Wall Street Journal. She’s taught at more than a half dozen institutions, including The Yale School of Management.

Please Note: There are no refunds for this event. If you are unable to attend, your book will be available for pickup at Rainy Day Books starting the following day. If you are not local, we’ll be happy to mail it to you upon request. Thank you for your support!

We will hold your event book in-store for a maximum of 6 months following the event. If you have not retrieved your book in that time period, it will be donated.