Paula R. Shannon

About Paula R. Shannon

You don\'t need a louder voice. You need a clearer one. You don\'t need more hustle. You need more discernment. You don\'t need another framework. You need to lead from your truest self.I\'m Paula Shannon, Founder of Whole Leader Lab and leadership coach and strategist for purpose-driven leaders and entrepreneurs who are exhausted from carrying so much.If you\'re the one people always turn to—but secretly wonder who\'s got you—you\'re in the right place.I\'ve lived it. With over 15 years as a C-level executive in public education, I know what it\'s like to carry more than your share. Here\'s the hard truth: Doing your team’s work for them doesn’t empower them.Here\'s what I know: Your team isn\'t incapable. You\'re just speaking YOUR language, not theirs.When your communication doesn\'t match how your team thinks and processes, they stay dependent on you. You stay exhausted. The cycle persists.How do you build a team that takes ownership so you can lead without losing yourself?I work with leaders who are: Working nights and weekends just to keep up—and can\'t take a day off without everything falling apart Giving clear direction that somehow gets lost in translation—so you\'re constantly re-explaining Watching good people underperform—and you don\'t know if it\'s them or you Trying to delegate but it keeps coming back wrong—so you just do it yourself I also work with leadership teams stuck in silos, navigating misalignment, and managing conflicting priorities—helping them cut through the noise, communicate with clarity, and align around what actually matters.This is not surface-level coaching. It\'s rigorous, identity-driven, and strategy-backed.I use evidence-based tools to help you understand not just HOW to communicate, but WHY patterns keep showing up.The result is faster, cleaner decision-making; healthier conflict; stronger accountability; and teams that follow through without constant intervention.The transformation is real:\"Her support helped me quiet the noise and focus where I could have the most impact.\" – Talia, CHRO \"Paula is the first coach who made a real difference. Insightful, intuitive, strategic—with tools I still use daily.\" – Elizabeth, PresidentIf you\'re exhausted from carrying so much, your team isn\'t stepping up the way you need them to, and you don\'t know how to change it without everything falling apart—let\'s talk. Book a Call | p••••••••@wholeleaderlab.org | wholeleaderlab.org

Experience

1. Founder & Executive Coach

   Whole Leader Lab

   Jul 2024 — Present · Tulsa, OK, US

   Whole Leader Lab wasn’t created to deliver generic leadership advice.It was built to deliver real transformation because leadership should stretch you, not break you.After 17+ years leading in complex, high-pressure roles, I saw that mission-driven leaders needed more than skills and strategies. They needed real growth rooted in presence, resilience, and purpose.Today, I help leaders and teams evolve with clarity, courage, and staying power.Signature Offers: Ignite Leadership CoachingI help leaders uncover hidden fears, triggers, and blindspots that limit their impact and resilience.By dismantling overfunctioning patterns and reactive habits, leaders reclaim calm, confidence, and influence without burning out. Ready to lead with more presence and power?[DM me or book a free consultation.] Elevate Together: Team DevelopmentHigh-performing teams don’t just collaborate—they expand impact together.Using data-driven insights and facilitated conversations, we deepen trust, sharpen accountability, and drive greater results. Want to strengthen trust and performance?[DM me or book a free consultation.] Custom Leadership RetreatsWe balance time \"above the green line\"(strategy, bottom-line focus) with work \"below the green line\"(emotional culture, team dynamics).Through guided reflection and real conversations, we deepen trust, sharpen communication, and align leadership teams for bigger impact. Need a retreat that elevates both strategy and team cohesion?[DM me or book a free consultation.]Why Work With Whole Leader Lab?17+ years of senior and executive leadership experienceCertified Executive & Leadership CoachTrusted by senior leaders across nonprofit, philanthropy, education, and social impact sectorsGrounded in evidence-based practices and real-world leadership insightsIf you\'re leading through growth, complexity, or change, and you\'re ready to lead with more clarity, humanity, and sustainable impact, let’s talk.

Education

• University of Rhode Island

  Master of Arts in Education, Providence Aspiring Principals Program

  2006

• University of Notre Dame

  Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Government and International Relations

  1993 — 1997

• University of Rhode Island

  Master of Education, Educational Leadership and Administration, General

  2007

• Lesley University

  Master of Education (M.Ed.), Curriculum and Instruction with a specialization in Literacy

  2003