Dr. Shannan’s Management Consulting Qualifications

Coaches professionally

Experience level: Partner or Managing Director

30+ people coached for Management Consulting

Dr. Shannan has helped clients get into these companies:

With 20+ years in management consulting, I’ve built and scaled two multi-million-dollar practices—grounded in real capability, not fluff. I’ve been the service innovator, the business development lead, and the sales capture strategist who knows how to drive growth and deliver results that stick. I’ve sat in the seat that manages profit-and-loss, led the charge on talent pipelines, and built teams that perform at their best. I get it—because I’ve lived it. From navigating the consulting lifecycle to delivering sustainable outcomes, I know the push-and-pull leaders face when balancing people, processes, and profit. Whether you’re ready to sharpen your leadership edge, step into your next big move, or redefine your path, I bring a no-nonsense approach backed by decades of experience to help you lead with confidence, clarity, and impact—on your terms.

Dr. Shannan can help with:

Skill Building

LinkedIn Review

Case Interview Prep

Presentations

Resume Review

Networking Strategy

Frameworks

Behavioral Interview Prep

Dr. Shannan also coaches for Leadership Development and Career Development. View all.

Why do I coach?

I coach because I know what it’s like to face challenges that aren’t always visible to the world. Early in my leadership career, I was managing invisible illness while often being the “diversity” in the room—the only woman on the team, the first-generation college graduate figuring it out as I went. There was no roadmap for me, just a whole lot of imposter syndrome and the grit to show up every day, put my shoulder to it, and, as Nike says, just do it. I’ve lived the moments where you question if you belong and learned how to silence that doubt by owning my strengths, my story, and my seat at the table. Coaching matters to me because I see so many leaders—especially women—facing those same battles: pushing through what others don’t see, showing up strong even when it’s hard, and trying to carve out a path that feels true to them. Now, I help leaders define their story, navigate what feels impossible, and step into their power—unapologetically. Because I’ve been there, and I know what happens when you decide to own your strengths and lead like you belong—everything changes. And it changes a bit quicker and easier, when you have an ally in your court standing shoulder-to-shoulder with you helping you through the times.

Work Experience

Principal Director

Accenture

September 2021 - Present

I have served as a Principal Director in Strategy & Consulting, leveraging 20+ years of leadership and human-centered strategy expertise to guide global organizations through transformative initiatives. My work includes co-leading a $30M greenfield Distributed Energy Resource modernization project and delivering high-impact coaching to mid-level and senior leaders. I also spearhead thought leadership through white papers, conference presentations, and mentoring practitioners to elevate consulting delivery quality and client impact. You can see my active thought leadership on LinkedIn.

Founder

Athena's Ally

March 2021 - Present

As Founder & Chief Ally of Athena’s Ally, I created a strategic-career coaching consultancy focused on empowering women leaders through coaching and career development strategies. The practice emphasizes navigating non-linear career paths, leveraging strengths, and building resilience for those managing chronic pain and invisible illnesses.

Psychology Faculty

Walden University

September 2020 - Present

In my role as Contributing Faculty, I teach graduate-level courses in organizational psychology and behavioral health leadership. Additionally, I lead curriculum design, mentor doctoral candidates, and develop micro-certification courses. This role combines my academic expertise with practical insights from industry, enhancing the next generation of organizational leaders.

Vice President, Advisory Services

Avaap

October 2015 - September 2021

As Vice President of Advisory Services, I built and scaled the Organizational Change and Leadership practice, achieving consistent revenue growth and exceeding sales targets. I led high-visibility transformation projects, developed repeatable innovation models, and coached practitioners across a portfolio of 65+ consultants, achieving industry-leading retention and satisfaction rates. I coached leaders at all levels of the organization to connect people to results, consistently.

Senior Manager

Booz Allen Hamilton

April 1999 - October 2015

At Booz Allen, I advanced to Senior Managers, building and managing a $10M dollar business line and multi-million dollar projects. My leadership spanned organizational design, talent strategies, and executive coaching for federal agencies, achieving measurable outcomes in engagement, transformation, and operational excellence. I served as chief speechwriter and coach to the first female intelligence community agency director, and was recognized with multiple awards for exceptional program leadership and communication support. I led a 40+ person team and developed IP-sharing frameworks benefiting thousands of employees.

Education

University of Arizona Global Campus

Doctor of Philosophy, Organizational Development and Leadership

NOTE: program and degree was conferred at the University of the Rockies

Gonzaga University

Graduate Coursework, Communications and Leadership

Marymount University

Master of Arts, Psychology

Kent State University

Bachelor of Arts, Psychology