Shalena (she/her) began her career as an activist and organizer inspired by her homeplace of East New York, Brooklyn. She has since infused her commitment to justice and equity into the fields of social entrepreneurship and international health rights advocacy at Echoing Green and Asia Catalyst. After supporting and convening leaders from the United States to Southeast Asia for community-driven change, Shalena began her career in executive search.
Shalena successfully diversified leadership across sectors using inclusive and equitable hiring practices. Since 2013, Shalena's placed over 50 senior leaders and coached BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and people of color) executives at all stages of their careers. She has recently conducted executive-level searches for Teach For America's and KIPP's regional leadership teams.
Shalena resides in Washington, DC, with her husband, son, and four cats. She serves as Board Co-Chair of YA-YA (Youth Activists-Youth Allies) a youth-led organizing organization based in New York City, and is an active volunteer in several DC-based organizations. Shalena is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at GWU (George Washington University) to continue her research on the evolution of work and its impact on organizations committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.