My expertise

I am a strategist with a passion for creativity who loves connecting the dots between people, culture, and storytelling.

    • Strategic brand positioning

    • Brand purpose and values

    • Internal branding and culture strategy

    • Brand narrative and storytelling

    • Brand marketing and activation

    • Sustainability branding

    • Employer branding

    • Narrative and messaging development

    • Multidisciplinary audience research

    • Corporate communications

    • Internal communications

    • Change management communications

    • Sustainability communications

    • Diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging communications

    • Content strategy and development

    • Campaign development

    • Copywriting

    • Creative workshop facilitation

    • Video concept and direction

    • Website strategy

    • Social media and influencer strategy

    • Creative direction and creative briefs

    • Project planning

    • Budget management

    • Resource management

    • Stakeholder engagement

    • Project reporting

    • Presentations

    • Account management

    • Stakeholder workshop facilitation

    • Relationship-building

    • Consultative sales

    • Project pitches and RFPs

    • Business development

Clients and colleagues count on me to…

Turn research into action

I distill qualitative and quantitive data into meaningful, actionable insights.

Lead impactful workshops

I design and facilitate collaborative sessions to drive innovation and engage key stakeholders.

Envision the big idea

I develop the overarching concept that ties everything together under a unique theme.

Craft compelling narratives

I translate intricate ideas and information into simple, engaging stories that resonate with target audiences.

Lead creative execution

I guide creative teams in bringing concepts to life with fresh and original ideas.

Manage complex projects

I lead teams in delivering within scope and budget, ensuring that all aspects of a project align with strategic goals

Expertise that sets me apart

  • Integrating sustainability and DEIB into branding and communications

  • Driving strategic alignment between internal culture and external branding

  • Applying change management principles to engage stakeholders and galvanize action

Ask me about my favorite projects

  • Collaborating with cross-functional teams to develop a communications strategy that amplified diversity and sustainability messaging

  • Developing a communications-driven change management strategy to roll out Atlassian’s new global job architecture

  • Facilitating a multi-day strategy workshop for Pinterest’s People Team to align the company’s performance management process with brand values

  • Creating a branded framework, narrative, and content to effectively promote Qualcomm’s “tech for good” initiatives

  • Guiding a team in creating a strategy, campaign concept, and activation plan to introduce Cox Enterprises’ ambitious new social impact goal

  • Partnering with DSRT Surf’s founders to develop a strategic brand positioning, narrative, and identity

  • Leading People Team leaders at King’s Hawaiian in creating a culture strategy aligned with the external brand

  • Articulating and activating Realty Income’s brand narrative to foster trust and stability ahead of an acquisition

  • Providing Bliss with strategic recommendations to integrate sustainability into the brand story

PROJECT SHOWCASE

I led the creation of a brand strategy that evolved a small startup into a modern, authentic, and purpose-driven brand. This entailed:

  • Deep discovery phase including market research, stakeholder interviews, and competitive analysis

  • Design thinking workshop with the leadership team

  • Brand narrative anchored in a new purpose, mission, and vision

  • Stakeholder personas and audience-specific messaging

  • Culture strategy and the development of core values 

  • Creative direction to bring the brand concept to life

Partner in Aging branding

  • "I had the honor of working with Shannon for just under three years at thinkPARALLAX. I saw Shannon lead, mentor, and befriend everyone she worked with. Her naturally calm and collected demeanor cut through any challenging project, new client, or unfamiliar industry. Being on a project with Shannon meant you had one of the best strategists on your side — any work under her jurisdiction was best-in-class. A natural leader, Shannon helped develop other team members into confident strategists, and I can confidently say my own work and professional development improved being within Shannon's radius."

    Isabel Ashley
    Sr. Business Engagement Manager, Social Responsibility, Amazon

  • “I had the opportunity to work alongside Shannon on several projects during our three and a half years together while at thinkPARALLAX. Shannon has an unprecedented ability to deliver quality work while remaining incredibly organized with a cheerful disposition and “get it done” work ethic, no one can top the value she delivers. Additionally, Shannon has the ability to interview senior executives at Fortune 500 companies to uncover valuable insights to push our clients to improve their business and communications strategies and can engage our creative team in unique ways in order to activate on her ideas.”

    Brianna Ralston
    Senior Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility, Cox Enterprises