Influential Woman · Divorce Recovery Coaching
Heather Theisen-Gandara, Ed.D.
Founder, Reignite Collective, LLC
Houston, TX 77057
Her Story
About Heather
Heather Theisen-Gandara, Ed.D., is the Founder of Reignite Collective, LLC, a coaching practice based in Greater Houston that supports women—particularly those over 40—through divorce recovery, identity rebuilding, and life reinvention. Her work integrates emotional healing, confidence-building, wellness, and financial empowerment to help clients transition from post-divorce survival into purposeful, self-directed living. She is also affiliated with the Center for Divorce Coaching (CDC), reflecting her formal training in divorce coaching and structured support methodologies. Prior to founding her coaching practice, she built a nearly two-decade career in international education, nonprofit leadership, and global exchange programs. She held leadership roles with the Institute of International Education (IIE) and worked on initiatives connected to the U.S. Department of State, including the Gilman International Scholarship Program. Her career focused on international diplomacy, cross-cultural exchange, and program leadership across global contexts, where she developed expertise in communication, team development, and managing complex, mission-driven initiatives. She earned a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Educational Leadership from the University of Houston–Clear Lake, along with earlier graduate and undergraduate studies in counseling, Spanish, and sociology. She is also engaged in professional communities such as the International Association of Collaborative Professionals (IACP). Her professional philosophy centers on mentorship, courageous leadership, and values-based transformation, combining her background in international exchange with her current mission of helping women rebuild clarity, confidence, and purpose after major life transitions.
The Return to Self: Ready for Love Masterclass
A 90-minute live masterclass for women navigating life after divorce or major transition.
June 30, 7 pm CENTRAL $27 REGISTER at https://www.reignitecollective.com/returntoselfmasterclass
This is for you if....
-You're navigating life after divorce or a major transition
-You're questioning if you're truly ready for love again
-You want to trust yourself without overthinking
-You're ready to break old relationship habits
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Heather
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to lots of daydreams and hard work. I'm actually the only one in my family from a small town, rural Wisconsin that has a passport. I just kept on working, and I learned that work ethic by baling hay as a teenager to pay for school clothes. I just knew that if I worked hard, I would get there. My academic talent has also been a key factor in my success.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to remain authentic and humble throughout your career. I live by this principle - for example, if people contact me on LinkedIn, I will always give my time when they want to know about my career, because I sure wish someone would have done that for me.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would tell young women entering my industry to lead with courage, and by that, I mean have the difficult conversations. Be yourself, and align your values between your personal and your professional life. That is so important to work-life balance and satisfaction. It will keep you honest and keep you working hard. Definitely focus on those things.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges right now are definitely getting women and clients to understand that the position of women in the world right now is really challenging because of geopolitical factors. It's challenging to be a woman in the world, so I'm focused on maximizing contact and representing women, making sure they're given a voice in this challenging world, and helping as many women as I can all over the world. It's a challenge right now because so many rights are compromised. On the opportunity side, we are living longer, and women are discovering that we are so empowered after 40 and 50. Longer lives create opportunities for women to find their path after 40.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Courageous leadership is something that I've written about a lot on LinkedIn and is very important to me. Value alignment between my personal and professional life is crucial - making sure that my beliefs are reflected in my work. Promoting a better world and contributing to that is central to what I do. Random acts of kindness are part of my soul's purpose on Earth - that is my soul food for living.
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