SHAKA SENGHOR
Los Angeles
Summary
Dynamic leader with a proven track record at Navan, excelling in communication strategy and team motivation. As President of Shaka Senghor Inc, I empowered individuals through transformative storytelling and resilience workshops, while coaching executives to foster inclusive cultures. Recognized media personality, adept at engaging diverse audiences and driving impactful change.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
President
Shaka Senghor Inc
Los Angeles
06.2018 - Current
- Founder and President of a multi-platform personal development and thought leadership company dedicated to helping individuals and organizations unlock resilience, authenticity, and personal freedom.
- Author and Creative Director behind Writing My Wrongs, Letters to the Sons of Society, and How to Be Free: A Proven Guide to Escaping Life’s Hidden Prisons — three globally recognized works that explore redemption, leadership, and transformation.
- Keynote Speaker for Fortune 500 companies, universities, and conferences including Google, Apple, Airbnb, Meta, and Andreessen Horowitz, delivering talks on resilience, leadership, and the psychology of freedom.
- Executive Coach and Strategic Advisor to business leaders, entrepreneurs, and changemakers — guiding high-performance individuals to overcome limiting beliefs, lead with empathy, and build purpose-driven cultures.
- Workshop Designer and Facilitator, leading immersive experiences on resilience, storytelling, and emotional intelligence for executives and teams across industries.
- Consultant and Cultural Strategist advising corporations on inclusive leadership, employee wellbeing, and brand storytelling through the lens of authenticity and redemption.
- Media Personality and Public Voice featured on Oprah’s SuperSoul 100, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, The Daily Show, and TED Talks (1.8M+ views).
- Brand Architect for The Hidden Prisons Project — a cross-platform ecosystem combining a newsletter, book club, and digital learning experiences aimed at transforming personal and organizational culture.
- Leader of Corporate Partnerships for bulk book integrations, internal development programs, and executive offsites designed around the How To Be Free framework.
- Creative Producer and Storytelling Mentor, collaborating with filmmakers, artists, and tech innovators to translate stories of resilience and freedom into multimedia platforms.
VP Corporate Comm
Navan
11.2022 - 07.2023
- Mentored senior staff, fostering leadership and professional development within the organization.
- Facilitated company-wide communication to ensure alignment on strategic objectives.
- Created effective communication strategies between management team members and employees at all levels of the organization.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors for services, products and supplies.
Head of Sales and Success Culture
Navan
Palo Alto
02.2021 - 10.2022
- Developed and executed strategic sales plans to drive revenue growth.
- Led and mentored sales teams to enhance performance and collaboration.
- Collaborated with marketing teams to align sales strategies with promotional efforts.
Head of DEI
Navan
Palo Alto
07.2020 - 01.2021
- Worked successfully with diverse group of coworkers to accomplish goals and address issues related to our products and services.
- Collaborated closely with team members to achieve project objectives and meet deadlines.
- Worked with cross-functional teams to achieve goals.
PRESIDENT/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
MIND BLOWN MEDIA
06.2017 - 08.2020
- Provide leadership to staff with emphasis on the senior level to further develop the executive team and ensure company is in accordance with its mission/goals
- Oversee the implementation of the human resources policies, procedures, and best practices in accordance with appropriate legislation and regulations
- Manage the creative process from concept to completion
- Oversee profitability, deliverables, timelines, and budgets to translate marketing objectives into clear creative strategies
- Oversee the investment of funds and managed associated risks, supervised cash management activities, executed capital raising strategies to support expansion
- Directed strategic initiatives to enhance brand visibility and market presence.
- Collaborated with creative teams to develop innovative multimedia campaigns.
- Oversaw budgeting and financial planning for diverse media projects.
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
THE ANTI-RECIDIVISM COALITION
Los Angeles
05.2018 - 06.2019
- Collaborated with community stakeholders to enhance support services for returning citizens.
- Led strategic initiatives to reduce recidivism through innovative program development.
- Oversaw budget management and resource allocation for various anti-recidivism programs.
- Facilitated training sessions for staff on best practices in client engagement and support.
- Managed partnerships with governmental and non-profit organizations to expand outreach efforts.
- Managed the organization's financial resources and operations to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.
DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION & STRATEGY
#CUT50
06.2016 - 05.2018
- Develop and deliver the strategy for #Cut50's new business development/marketing, appropriate to need and responsive to opportunity, in collaboration with the Executive Director and board of directors
- Research relationships that should be developed and managed thriving partnerships with both existing and new key partners, politicians, constituents, govt. officials, media, and funders
- Oversee financial planning/reporting and establish policies and Q/A tools to provide quantifiable communicative data
- Spearhead fundraising efforts to cultivate new donors and enhance current investor relationships for #Cut50 in accordance with the Board of Directors and founder
FOUNDER
LIVE IN PEACE DIGITAL & LITERARCY ARTS PROJECT 2
04.2012 - 09.2015
- Developed a multi-media project designed to counter the culture of teen violence by helping youth process emotional trauma from their childhood and use literature, photography, and film to share their stories.
- Facilitated weekly sessions with area high school students and published an anthology of students' work.
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
BME
08.2012 - 08.2013
- Facilitated the recruitment process for thousands of members and partners into the network
- Established solid working relationships and collaborative arrangements with community groups, funders, politicians, and other businesses to help achieve organizational goals
- Communicated with stakeholders to keep them informed of the work of the organization and to identify changes in the community served by the organization
- Worked effectively across the organization to identify current funding requirements to assist in contributing to the annual fundraising target
Education
DIGITAL MEDIA ARTS - Graphic and Digital Design
SPECS HOWARD SCHOOL OF MEDIA
Detroit, MI01.2012
Skills
- Media engagement
- Communication strategy
- Team leadership
- Diversity initiatives
- Emotional intelligence
- Storytelling techniques
- Team motivation
- Coaching and mentoring
- Public speaking
- Media relations
Awards
- W.K. Kellogg Foundations Community Leadership Fellowship, 2017
- GLIDE's Rev. Cecil Williams Legacy Award, 2017
- Ebony Magazine Power 100 Honoree, 2016
- Ford Man of Courage Award, 2016
- NAACP Great Expectations Award, 2016
- Manchester University Innovator of The Year Award, 2015
- TEDX Prize Finalist, 2014
- MIT Media Lab Director's Fellowship, 2013
- Founder, The Atonement Project, 2013
- The Black Male Engagement (BMe) Leadership Award, 2012
- OWN's SuperSoul 100 'Soul Igniter' Award
Published Works
- Writing My Wrongs: A Memoir, 2016
- Reach, 2015
- Fourth City: Essays from the Prison in America, 2014
- Live in Peace: A Youth Guide to Turning Hurt into Hope, 2012
- Crack: Volume 2, 2011
- Crack: Volume 1, 2008
- Building Bridges: A Workbook for Children with an Incarcerated Parent, 2007
Websites
Timeline
VP Corporate Comm
Navan
11.2022 - 07.2023
Head of Sales and Success Culture
Navan
02.2021 - 10.2022
Head of DEI
Navan
07.2020 - 01.2021
President
Shaka Senghor Inc
06.2018 - Current
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
THE ANTI-RECIDIVISM COALITION
05.2018 - 06.2019
PRESIDENT/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
MIND BLOWN MEDIA
06.2017 - 08.2020
DIRECTOR OF INNOVATION & STRATEGY
#CUT50
06.2016 - 05.2018
DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
BME
08.2012 - 08.2013
FOUNDER
LIVE IN PEACE DIGITAL & LITERARCY ARTS PROJECT 2
04.2012 - 09.2015
DIGITAL MEDIA ARTS - Graphic and Digital Design
SPECS HOWARD SCHOOL OF MEDIA