DONNA L. SHERARD MPH, CMP
Silver Spring,MD
Summary
Dynamic senior executive leader with extensive experience driving organizational transformation across the health, agri-food systems, and social impact sectors. Proven track record in growing and leading a profitable strategic planning practice, advising projects valued from $60,000 to $400 million across 30+ countries in Latin America, Africa, Asia, and the United States. Expertise in guiding multidisciplinary teams through large-scale change initiatives, with strengths in project management, stakeholder engagement, and fostering cross-functional partnerships. A PROSCI-certified change management practitioner with a reputation for establishing trust within diverse communities while maintaining a people-centered approach to achieving results in fast-paced, multicultural environments.
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Advisor - Enterprise Change Management
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
Washington, DC
08.2025 - Current
- Lead change management and strategic planning advisor to agency-wide, cross-functional transition to offshore shared services hub for administrative services affecting 100+ staff in 4 departments.
- Design, implement and track communication strategy to create engagement and action among a staff of 1500+
- Develop and implement performance tracking tool to measure staff engagement and readiness
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge on leadership and change management best practices
- Facilitate workshops on change management and strategic planning for senior, cross-functional management team.
CEO/Principal Consultant
Changeable
Maryland, USA
01.2019 - 01.2026
- Founded and led profitable advisory practice generating $2.0M in cumulative revenue by securing and executing a diverse client portfolio of 15+ high value strategic planning and change management consulting engagements, including Fortune 500 companies, private foundations, government agencies, and international NGOs
- Architected services evolution from marketing strategy to integrated, cross-functional organizational development solutions, incorporating a change management and capacity strengthening service delivery model.
- Successfully led client and community engagement in over 20 countries
- Led consulting projects ranging from $60k- $300k in scope, managing all aspects of proposal development, client relationships, strategic planning and communication, consultant team management, project delivery, performance measurement and reporting.
Senior Advisor
Millennium Challenge Corporation
Washington, DC
01.2020 - 04.2025
- Senior enterprise change advisor to multiple country projects ranging in $300-400 million in size in marketing, change management strategy design and implementation, enabling successful integration of new user centered service delivery model in 4 countries. Led demand creation strategy for strategic services, securing increase in number of countries requesting services of client team by over 50%, exceeding target.
- Led targeted country support in Africa and Asia to build stakeholder and team capacity in user centered design (U/X) and demand creation, and translate into grant mechanisms and operational systems, led executive coaching strategy design and implementation through a change management framework
Senior Advisor/Team Lead
National Association for County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
Washington, DC
01.2024 - 12.2024
- Designed and spearheaded knowledge management initiative to document and analyze 4 successful state public health implementation models, creating scalable frameworks for nationwide adoption.
Senior Advisor/Team Leader
Mann Global Health (FHI360, Jhpiego)
Washington, DC
01.2021 - 01.2024
- Led design and implementation of initiative to enhance vaccine demand creation and client-centered clinical care strategies in Ghana using user centered design approaches as part of $100 million multi-country project.
- Orchestrated user centered community engagement, prototyping, training and field testing of innovative package of client targeting and counseling tools in collaboration with Ghana Health Services and implementing partners. Engaged and trained over 100 community health workers in 2 Ghanaian districts on counseling package which measurably decreased counseling time and COVID vaccine acceptance among core resistors.
Senior Advisor/Team Leader
Abt Associates - USAID Healthy Mother Healthy Baby Tajikistan
Tajikistan
01.2020 - 01.2021
- Developed comprehensive national, community-based nutrition program and multi-channel communication campaign for $18 million project to improve infant and young child feeding practices in Tajikistan. Developed go to market strategy for program that was successfully implemented in 12 regions.
- Led 10-person team of US and Tajikistan based staff and consultants while delivering high-impact program identified as promising intervention to scale in donor mid-term evaluation.
Senior Advisor
One Acre Fund
Kenya
01.2020 - 12.2020
- Led development of Ag-Nutrition demand creation strategy for public-private sector to improve growth strategies and expand markets in Kenya. The strategy and tools were adapted in 2 additional countries in East Africa.
Senior Advisor
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Seattle, WA
01.2019 - 12.2019
- Designed and implemented Foundation-wide capacity building program in behavioral strategy, training over 50 foundation senior staff members in applying behavioral thinking to grant-making
- Co-led development of Branding and Marketing Best Practices (BAM) case study series, strengthening demand-side investment capabilities across the Foundation and grantee network which was recently adapted by USAID to guide demand creation strategies for nutrition in global programs.
Independent Global Health Consultant
Independent Consultant
01.2014 - 01.2019
- Led design, implementation and results reporting and documentation of various initiatives to increase demand for health and social services and strengthen implementation capacity including family planning, HIV prevention, treatment and care services, and community-based health and maternal and child health and nutrition in multiple countries including Malawi, Eswatini, Nigeria, Ghana, Lesotho, South Africa, Bangladesh and the United States.
- Developed strategic health policies to improve public health outcomes in HIV prevention, treatment and care, reproductive health, maternal and child nutrition
- Collaborated with international stakeholders in multiple countries to enhance national health programs and strategies
- Analyzed public health data to inform program decision-making and progress tracking.
- Facilitated training workshops for healthcare professionals on social and behavior change, and strategic planning
- Cultivated partnerships with governmental and non-governmental organizations to identify strategic priorities, design programs and align budgets and human resources
- Developed long-lasting relationships with clients to ensure consistent retention and loyalty.
- Mentored junior client staff in multiple countries in health marketing, behavior change, strategic planning and professional growth.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Hampton University
Hampton, VirginiaMaster of Public Health - Population and Family Health
Columbia University
New York, New YorkSkills
- Organizational change facilitation
- Project management
- Strategic decision making
- Partnership development
- Financial performance oversight
- Public speaking
- Leadership coaching and guidance
- Performance monitoring
Timeline
Senior Advisor - Enterprise Change Management
Pan American Health Organization (PAHO)
08.2025 - Current
Senior Advisor/Team Lead
National Association for County and City Health Officials (NACCHO)
01.2024 - 12.2024
Senior Advisor/Team Leader
Mann Global Health (FHI360, Jhpiego)
01.2021 - 01.2024
Senior Advisor
Millennium Challenge Corporation
01.2020 - 04.2025
Senior Advisor/Team Leader
Abt Associates - USAID Healthy Mother Healthy Baby Tajikistan
01.2020 - 01.2021
Senior Advisor
One Acre Fund
01.2020 - 12.2020
CEO/Principal Consultant
Changeable
01.2019 - 01.2026
Senior Advisor
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
01.2019 - 12.2019
Independent Global Health Consultant
Independent Consultant
01.2014 - 01.2019
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Hampton University
Master of Public Health - Population and Family Health
Columbia University
Certifications And Board Representation
- PROSCI Certified Change Management Practitioner (CMP)
- US Small Business Administration Emerging Leader, 2023
- Board Secretary Member, ETR, 1/1/22 - Present
- Board Member, Crossroads Community Food Network, 1/1/25 - Present
- Board Member, Clemmons Family Farm, 1/1/17 - 10/1/24
- Board Vice Chair, District Alliance for Safe Housing (DASH), 1/1/16 - 1/1/21