About Rev. Shannon Smadella, MBA
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About Shannon Smadella
Rev. Shannon Smadella is an award-winning executive, social impact strategist, and ethical leadership advocate whose work spans corporate consulting, nonprofit governance, global health innovation, and organizational strategy. With more than two decades of experience, she supports leaders and organizations navigating complexity, growth, and responsibility in rapidly evolving systems.
Shannon’s work bridges sectors — including corporate, media, mental health, nonprofit, and emerging health innovation — with a focus on ethical governance, psychological safety, and human-centered leadership. She has led strategic operations, partnerships, and cross-sector collaborations for national and international organizations, advising executives on organizational strategy, stakeholder engagement, and responsible innovation.
Her professional background includes senior roles in business strategy, marketing, and corporate development, where she has managed multimillion-dollar portfolios and supported organizations through periods of transformation and growth. She is also the founder of multiple initiatives dedicated to leadership development, ethics, and social impact.
Shannon holds a Master of Business Administration and has pursued advanced studies in leadership, negotiation, and systems thinking through institutions including Harvard University, MIT, Athabasca University, and Queen’s University. Her academic and professional work centers on ethical leadership frameworks, governance, and cross-sector collaboration.
In addition to her executive and advisory work, Shannon is a keynote speaker, ordained minister with a background in values-based service, former Miss Canada, and long-time humanitarian with more than 4,000 volunteer hours supporting national and international initiatives. Her work is grounded in the belief that leadership is a form of stewardship — shaping systems, institutions, and opportunities for future generations.
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MBA, Master of Business Administration
Certificate in Influence & Negotiation — MIT
Certificate in Higher Education Teaching & Curriculum Design — Harvard University
Women of Inspiration Award Recipient
Ordained Minister, International Metaphysical Ministry
Former Miss Canada
“Shannon Smadella focuses on showing young women that true beauty and confidence exist on the inside. She wore a dress made of burlap on the red carpet at this year’s Grammy Awards and has self-financed tours across Canada where she speaks to young women in schools…. Shannon ran a successful business in Saskatoon for six years in which she supplied more than 300 jobs to the community. She has helped donate more than $10,000 to the U of S and had set up a scholarship for commerce students….”
Human Rights–Informed Leadership
Shannon Smadella’s work is grounded in internationally recognized human rights principles, with a focus on dignity, equity, accountability, and psychological safety. She integrates these standards into leadership, strategy, and wellness practices—ensuring ethical considerations are embedded not only in policy, but in culture, governance, and day-to-day decision-making.
Her approach aligns with global human rights frameworks and guidance developed by the United Nations, including the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Through her consulting and advisory work, Shannon supports organizations in implementing human rights due diligence practices that identify, prevent, mitigate, and address potential human rights impacts across operations and stakeholder relationships.
Informed by formal training in business and human rights, as well as decades of experience in mental health, wellness, women’s rights, and disability advocacy, Shannon works with leaders to build systems that protect dignity, support inclusion, and enable long-term, responsible performance—particularly in complex and high-impact sectors.
