What People Are Saying
Priscilla Monti
Senior VP of Programs and Communication Hampton Roads Chamber
Pegine Echevarria CSP, MSW
Professional Speaker & Coach, CEO of Team Pegine, Inc.
Participant
VBA Women in Banking Conference
Pegine Echevarria CSP, MSW | Professional Speaker & Coach
CEO of Team Pegine, Inc.
I hired Shanna to be a speaker at my Power Women Gathering annual conference. Shanna was our first speaker, and she spoke on connections, networking, and the power of questions to connect. The program had content, community engagement exercise, and was fun. The attendees met each other and connected powerfully and positively. I wanted the conference to open with activities that were meaningful, helpful, and interesting. The bonus was the fun and energy I highly recommend using Shanna’s brilliance and program for your event.
I had the opportunity to work with Shanna both individually and with my colleagues as part of a professional retreat, and both experiences were profoundly rewarding with tangible results I’m still seeing daily. As a group, she taught us about communication styles, and we were able to begin using this knowledge immediately to improve our interactions with coworkers; we still use the categories as shorthand before drafting an email or starting a meeting.
On an individual level, the strengths assessment Shanna outlined for me has truly been a game-changer for my personal and professional lives. Our conversation was a series of “a-ha” moments – with her feedback and guidance, I was able to make connections between my successes and shortcomings, identifying actionable ways to use what I do well to improve the areas that need work. I feel empowered by the increased self-awareness that working with Shanna yielded, and I’m excited to see how this knowledge continues to positively influence my life.
Becca Fuhrken
Data and Membership Coordinator
The Phi Beta Kappa Society
Delainey Boyd
Lead Triennial Planner
The Phi Beta Kappa Society
Thinking through the strides I’ve made since we started our meetings last fall, I am so grateful for Shanna’s guidance and the strategies she equipped me with.
When we began, I had so many questions about how to step into a leadership role at PBK, how to support our team and navigate multiple staff transitions, and how to take on additional/new responsibilities. Now, I am much more confident in my work, I feel prepared to support myself and my team, and I am ready to manage challenges with more poise, calm, and care for myself and others.
The way Shanna approached our sessions was so masterful. She helped me think things through without telling me exactly what to do, while still offering ideas and assistance where needed. She helped me dig deeper in my talents and think through how I could push them further. Overall, I am so grateful for her guidance and support, and I hope we get to work together more in the future!
Shanna brought energy to the room. Her magnetic personality and authenticity in sharing her story got everyone feeling connected. She had participants talking, laughing, and sharing their stories, which in turn created a fun synergy amongst them. At the end of the event, many were exchanging phone numbers and making plans to meet after work hours. They truly felt like they were heard and connected over their similarities and not their differences.
Melvyn Smith
Director of Diversity and Inclusion
Genworth
Erika (Petersen) Noyes, CMP, CGMP, CGSP
Senior Meeting Planner, Professional and Scientific Associates (PSA)
Shanna brought energy to the room and got our participants talking and engaging. Her exercise on how to build your 60-second introduction was a great ice-breaker and helped everyone understand more about each other. At times people come to a networking event but don’t connect with others. Shanna helped them to pivot from networking to connecting. There were laughter, noise, and great actionable takeaways. I look forward to having her present again.
The thing about Shanna as a speaker is that she draws you in. Her relevant topics, her doable takeaways, and her infectious laughter together create an experience where you let go of any tension and want to learn. Time and again I’ve watched others feel more energized, equipped and empowered when they leave Shanna’s sessions!
Mary Foley
Business Coach for Women Entrepreneurs
Melissa Davidson
Senior Economic Development, Marketing, & Business Retention Professional
Shanna was such a pleasure to work with! She spoke at our annual Home-based Business Conference that had 175+ attendees. Shanna was amazing! Her session was so well attended that it was standing-room only. The attendees gave her rave reviews, saying they loved how she got them up and moving and fully engaged in the topic. Other attendees commented on how professional she was and how useful and relevant her information was to them and their business. I would highly recommend Shanna and can’t wait to work with her again in the future.
We had Shanna join us at our staff retreat to give pointers on making connections and
building relationships. Networking is so important in what we do and her advice was relevant, useful and entertaining. We walked away with some great tips to improve our ability to connect
and follow up. She is a bundle of energy! I highly recommend her as a speaker and networking strategist.
Jennifer Boyle
Vice President of Operations, Junior Achievement of Central Virginia, Inc
Marcia Sheehan
Founder, Charmed Cardinals
Shanna was an integral part of the success of our second Connector Conference! She really got our attendees pumped up to network. Feedback about her speech and practice was very positive. The only complaint was that there wasn’t more Shanna!
The Goochland Chamber was privileged to have Shanna as a presenter at our lunch meeting. Her presentation provided valuable information about money management and strategies. Shanna would enhance any event with her knowledge and presentation.
Bonnie Creasy
Executive Director, Goochland County Chamber of Commerce
Sandra Hayashi
Program Director Women’s Council of REALTORS® Richmond
ShannaK presented a program we called Network Connect to Women’s Council of REALTORS® Richmond in May.The objective was to improve our networking skills and to help us create our “Personal Introduction”. We spent the first half of the program creating our introduction and learning tips for creating better connections. The second half of the program was practicing our introductions in pairs and helping each other improve.
Afterwards, participants shared “Wonderful program- walked away with concrete strategy to networking” “Loved her energy” “Great Speaker”
If you are considering ShannaK as a Speaker, I highly recommend her.
Shanna brings energy into every room she enters. It’s amazing how quickly she can motivate a group to embrace one another wholeheartedly. She shows up authentically to every event, and she always takes the time to genuinely connect
Erin Leigh
President, The Neat Niche
Jaronda Miller-Bryant
Phd. Director of Engaged Scholarship at the University of Virginia, Maxine Platzer Lynn Women’s Center
Shanna is the ultimate professional and she is delightful to work with! She worked with us weeks before the event, and on multiple occasions, to make sure she was crafting the most useful and relevant workshop for our students. In our time of virtual overload and the possibility of technical difficulties on our end running high, Shanna remained calm under pressure and offered creative solutions to ensure the event could move forward. Students loved her energy and their feedback requested she come present again in the near future!
