A scholar-practitioner's desk for builders at the intersection of innovation, entrepreneurship, strategy and global leadership. High-impact advisory where alignment becomes action.

Wendy Ekua Da'Cruz is a U.S. State Department–appointed speaker, federal and state advisory board member, founder, lecturer, and doctoral researcher whose work sits at the intersection of strategy, entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation. She advises founders and senior leaders building inside complex environments: regulated industries, cross-border markets, public-private terrain, and convenes them annually through the Desk Residency, where strategy, conviction, and inner authority are formalized into how they impact globally.





Here’s how we can work together
Access to your thinking, network and strategic frameworks
Select group strategy briefing or live call
Access to the Desk Community
Newsletter / Written insights
On-demand course library
Invitation to open ground session
This tier is not coaching. It is intellectual access.
Hands-on strategic advisory for operators and founders
Desk Community +
2 private advisory sessions monthly
Curated introductions
Small-group strategy sessions
Invitations to curated in-person gatherings
Priority access to events
This tier is hands-on.
Private strategy advisory for leaders navigating high-stake decisions.
Desk Community + Suite
Private Advisory
Direct access
Strategy intensives
Introductions
Institutional positioning
Non-market strategy guidance
This tier is high-impact.
At The Desk Advisory works with leaders operating in environments where strategy, relationships, and institutional dynamics matter as much as execution.
Our clients are typically founders, executives, and organizations navigating growth, complexity, or new market opportunities.
This advisory is particularly valuable for:
Founders and Entrepreneurs
Leaders building or scaling companies who need strategic guidance on partnerships, market entry, positioning, and navigating regulated or complex industries.
Operators and Executives
Leaders responsible for driving growth, managing teams, and making decisions that impact the long-term trajectory of an organization.
Organizations and Institutions
Companies, public-sector leaders, and international initiatives seeking insight into how markets, policy environments, and innovation ecosystems intersect.
Global Builders
Leaders working across borders who must navigate different regulatory systems, cultures, and institutional frameworks.
At The Desk Advisory is not a traditional coaching program or general business course.
Our work is designed for leaders who are ready to engage in serious strategic thinking and execution.
This advisory may not be the right fit if you are:
Looking for quick hacks or shortcuts to success
Seeking step-by-step business startup instruction
Not currently responsible for meaningful strategic decisions
The leaders who benefit most from this work are those actively building, leading, and navigating real complexity.
Modern leaders are operating in an environment where information is abundant, but clarity is scarce.
Markets are shaped not only by products and capital, but by institutions, regulations, relationships, and informal power structures that often remain invisible to those trying to navigate them.
Founders, executives, and organizations frequently find themselves asking:
Why do some ideas gain traction while others stall?
How do certain companies unlock access to markets, capital, or partnerships?
What determines whether innovation moves forward or gets blocked?
The answer is rarely just better information.
The answer is interpretation.
At The Desk Advisory was created to help leaders interpret the forces shaping their environment so they can make more informed, strategic decisions.
Our work is grounded in the Triangular Trade of Transactions™, a strategic framework developed through doctoral research on non-market strategy and entrepreneurial decision-making.
The framework examines the three forces that determine how opportunities actually move through markets and institutions.
Talents
The people, capabilities, relationships, and networks that enable action.
Terms
The formal and informal rules that govern industries, partnerships, and institutional environments.
Techniques
The strategic approaches and methods leaders use to navigate complexity and execute effectively.
When leaders understand how these three forces interact, they move beyond reacting to circumstances and begin strategically navigating them.
At The Desk Advisory offers three levels of engagement designed to support leaders at different stages of strategic development.
Desk Community — Understanding
Access to insights, frameworks, and conversations that help leaders interpret complex markets and institutions.
Desk Suite — Application
Strategic guidance and private advisory designed to help founders and operators apply these frameworks to their organizations.
Desk Executive — Navigation
Private strategic advisory for leaders navigating high-stakes decisions, institutional complexity, and major growth opportunities.
At The Desk is a space for examining the ideas, decisions, and disciplines that shape both personal and professional outcomes.
Our conversations sit at the intersection of:
Personal & Professional Pursuits
The alignment between who you are and how you lead, build, and make decisions over time.
Entrepreneurship
Building, scaling, and sustaining ventures within real market conditions, not just theory.
Consciousness
How awareness, perspective, and internal frameworks influence judgment, discipline, and long-term outcomes.
Leadership
Developing the capacity to lead people, organizations, and ideas through complexity and change.
These areas are not explored in isolation.
They are examined together, because the way you think, the way you lead, and the way you operate are all connected.
In addition to ongoing conversations and advisory, members have access to specialized, on-demand learning experiences within the Desk portal, designed to support practical execution.
These include topics such as:
Building and positioning a global brand
Developing and delivering a compelling stage presence
Building your voice and becoming memorable
Navigating partnerships, markets, and growth opportunities
Each experience is designed to complement the broader advisory by translating insight into applied capability.
Watch Full Episodes Available on Youtube
Desk Notes are written reflections. Office Hours are longer conversations on Youtube.

Ann Arbor, MI — April 18, 2025 — Picasso Restaurant Group, a family-owned Michigan-based food service provider renowned for its innovative dining experiences, is excited to announce a partnership with The Mushroom Angel Company, a Detroit-based family-owned producer of made from mushrooms foods. This collaboration aims to bring nutritious, locally made, plant-based options to the University of Michigan's campuses in Ann Arbor, Dearborn, Flint, its affiliated hospitals, and more.
The Mushroom Angel Company specializes in creating foods from mushrooms that offer the taste and texture of meat, without using soy, dairy, gluten, or GMOs. Their products cater to health-conscious meat lovers, vegetarians, and vegans alike, providing a more wholesome alternative that doesn't compromise on flavor or quality.
Allen Attee, CEO of Picasso Restaurant Group, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership.
"If I had to identify one thing that differentiates our organization from any other, it is the culture and family we have collectively built together." He added, "Partnering with another family-owned brand like The Mushroom Angel Company, whose journey mirrors our own, is truly inspiring. Together, we're bringing innovative, health-focused dining options to the communities we serve."
W.E. Da'Cruz, CEO of The Mushroom Angel Company, shared her perspective:
"Our goal is to 'spread the good gospel of mushrooms,' and we're excited to bring this good news to more people across Metro Detroit. This partnership brings us full circle, as our family took a leap of faith when we moved from the East Coast to Michigan, unaware that we would become part of the fabric of Michigan by building a mushroom-first food manufacturer. We’re happy to bring our talents and serve Michiganders (our new home) because there’s mushroom (much room) to impact."
CFO of the The Mushroom Angel Company, Dominique Da’Cruz, added:
“This collaboration to impact more lives wouldn’t be possible without the various communities in Detroit that have become family, including our relationship with Marygrove Conservancy. Marygrove served as our initial shared-kitchen space before transitioning to our dedicated facility in Eastern Market. And it’s the leadership at Marygrove, in particular Robbie Walker, who connected us with Allen that initiated this partnership.”
This collaboration underscores both companies' commitment to promoting healthier foods and wellness through innovative, locally-sourced food options. Students, faculty, staff, and hospital patrons can look forward to enjoying these mushroom-based dishes across University of Michigan campuses and medical facilities starting this month.

About Picasso Restaurant Group
Picasso Restaurant Group is a Michigan-based, family-owned company dedicated to revolutionizing food service, restaurants, and catering. With a focus on quality and community, they have become a trusted partner in delivering exceptional dining experiences across various venues. https://www.prgmichigan.com/
About The Mushroom Angel Company
The Mushroom Angel Company is a Detroit-based, family-owned food manufacturer producing foods made from mushrooms that cut and bite like meat but taste like veggies. Their products are free from soy, dairy, gluten, and GMOs, catering to health-conscious individuals seeking nutritious and delicious alternatives. https://themushroomangel.com/
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