Meet the Minds

For the past few decades, I have devoted my life to learning what helps people heal, grow, and be well. I kinda had to, as my life depended on it. After years of struggling with my own harrowing addiction, complex trauma, and mental health issues, what began as a desperate search for my own healing eventually became my life's work: helping people create the conditions for individual and collective flourishing.

The more I traveled, taught university classes, and worked with people and families in crisis, the more I realized how many people were struggling and in pain. Much of that suffering seemed preventable—or at least far more manageable—with the right resources, support, and guidance. I’ve learned that many of us don't struggle because we lack intelligence or potential. We struggle because we've never been taught how to effectively manage our time, energy, emotions, responsibilities, and relationships. Nor have we been shown how to successfully navigate the demands of an increasingly complex, ever-changing world.

For these reasons and more, I have dedicated my life to creating learning experiences that spark meaningful individual and collective change. Leveraging hard-earned wisdom, academic research, and lessons learned from teachers, healers, clients, and cultures around the world, my coaching and consulting helps people build the essential structure, systems, and skills needed to flourish. Think of working with me as “project management for well-being,” achieved by strengthening executive function and lifeways management.

When not focused on Higher Minds clients, creative pursuits such as writing and speaking, or serving in my deeply rewarding role as Director of Program Development with Culinary Concepts AB, I spend my time practicing classical guitar, cultivating edible crops, going on family adventures, and learning to be the best dad and husband I can. To this day, becoming a father has changed my life in unimaginable ways nothing else ever could, and I feel so deeply grateful for the love, lessons, and joy that my baby boy brings to my daily life.

• Doctorate in Philosophy – Organization Development & Behavior

• Bachelor of Arts – Social Sciences

• Bachelor of Arts – History Major

• Certified Executive Function Coach (EFCA)

• Certified Wellness Practitioner (CWP)

• Certified Yoga Teacher (RYT)

• Woodenfish Project Meditation Training

• Trauma-conscious Yoga Training

• Worksite Wellness Specialist Certification

• McLean, W. “Organizational Change and Organizational Development”. Public Administration and Organization Theory: An Annotated Bibliography, ed. by Tulasi Acharya and Kay Traille, Routledge, 2024, pp. 106-116

• McLean, W. (2019). “Toward Foundations of a Healthy Organization: Introducing the Holistic Organizational Wellness (HOW) Framework.” *Reviewed by Organization Dynamics. 

• McLean, W. & Sementelli, A. (2018). “A Critical Review of Organizational Spirituality: All Signs Point Toward Health!” *Reviewed by International Journal of Organizational Analysis. 

• McLean, W. (2019). “Investigating Healthy Organizations: Development & Testing of a Public Organization Wellness Quotient (WQ).” Dissertation. Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Fl.

• McLean, W. (2019). “Construct Validity and Content Issues with FEVS (2017).” (Journal Article). 

• McLean, W. & Miller, M. (2019). “Overcoming Organizational Traps with Healthy and Candid Communication.” (Journal Article). 

Works in Progress

• McLean, W. I Wanna Be Well: A Workbook for Overcoming Addiction and Cultivating Lasting Well-being. (Book). Coming Fall 2026. 

• McLean, W. Dearest Surprise! Reflections and Revelations on Becoming a Father. (Book). Coming Winter 2027.

• McLean, W. I Wanna Get High: Into the Abyss of Addiction and the Long Journey Home. (Book). Fall 2026.

• McLean, W. . Fall/Winter 2026.The Book of Bad Decisions: What NOT to do when you are ADHD, ADDICTED, and ANXIOUS. 

Conferences & Presentations

• “Investigating Healthy Organizations: Development & Testing of a Public Organization Wellness Quotient (WQ).” (3MT Presentation). Presenter at the 2019 Conference of Florida Graduate Schools. Florida International University, Miami, Florida, April 17-18, 2019. 

• “Toward Foundations of a Healthy Organization: Introducing the Holistic Organizational Wellness (HOW) Framework.” Presented at the Florida Atlantic University SPA Colloquium, Boca Raton, Florida, March 30, 2018. 

• “The Fireteam Hierarchy: A Physical Structure for Healthy Leadership.” Presented at the Florida Atlantic University SPA Colloquium, Boca Raton, Florida March 31, 2017. 

• “A Critical Review of Organizational Spirituality.” Presented at the 11th Annual Organization Studies Conference: Spirituality, Symbolism & Storytelling in Mykonos, Greece, May 18-22, 2016. 

• “Understanding Mimetic Institutionalization through the Ice Bucket Challenge.” Presented at the Florida Atlantic University SPA Colloquium, Boca Raton, Florida, March 2015.

• The Woodenfish Project: Exploring Guanyin & Chinese Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites. Workshop participant. Putuo Shan Island, Zhejiang Province, China, August 4-13, 2013. 

• Uhuru Foundation, Board of Directors (2026 - Present)

• Equine-Assisted Therapies of South Florida, Volunteer (2020 - 2021)

• Tri-County Animal Shelter, Volunteer (2015 - 2020)

• FAU Distinguished Teacher of the Year Selection Committee, Lead Facilitator (2019)

• Our Planet Environmental, Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board (2014-2016)

• Connected Warriors Organization, Volunteer & Executive Director (2011 - 2013)