Shonda Brooks
Executive Leadership, Ops, DEI, Governance
New York,NY
Summary
Strategic Senior Director with extensive experience in operational leadership and cross-functional collaboration. Proven success in optimizing systems, leading large teams, and driving organizational change. Committed to advancing equity and inclusive excellence through visionary leadership and operational acumen.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
4
4
Certificate
Work History
Senior Director / Chief of Staff - Office of the President
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
New York, NY
04.2024 - 03.2025
- Enhanced leadership clarity and execution as a strategic advisor to the CEO.
- Led strategic planning for mission-driven philanthropic partnerships—advancing equity, engagement, and legacy-aligned impact—Women Leaders in Philanthropy.
- Spearhead governance alignment with strategic initiatives through the Lead Fund Initiative.
- Orchestrated global stakeholder engagement, fostering high-impact partnerships.
- Directed fiscal planning, ensuring integrity, and alignment with organizational goals.
- Orchestrated cross-functional alignment through executive-level meetings, ensuring seamless integration of CEO priorities across key initiatives.
- Delivered multiple high-impact projects on time, with precision, and strategic focus.
- Led strategic campaigns in partnership with the African Philanthropy Network, elevating the organization's brand visibility and accelerating growth across African markets.
- Elevated global visibility by representing the organization at strategic international forums.
- Directed a high-performing admin team, elevating workflows, service delivery, and talent development across the organization.
Senior Director, Equity & Engagement
Global Fund for Women
San Francisco, CA
06.2018 - 03.2024
- Partnered with the CEO and COO to streamline operations and unify leadership for enterprise-level impact.
- Led executive initiatives to shape policy and align HR operations with the organization’s evolving strategic vision.
- Scaled and doubled the Fiscal Sponsorship Program, generating over $1M in new revenue, and forging strategic partnerships across Africa, the Caribbean, and MENA to advance equity-driven initiatives.
- Developed a global DEI strategy, advancing pay equity, and inclusive hiring across international teams.
- Optimized budgets and shaped policies to drive operational efficiency, align initiatives with core values, and foster a collaborative, engaged team culture.
- Negotiated high-value IT contracts to optimize resource allocation and maximize operational efficiency.
- Guided strategic hiring and onboarding, mentoring new talent to accelerate team integration and growth.
- Drove brand growth and strategic visibility by crafting targeted marketing, and leading high-impact events for global leaders.
Chief of Staff to CEO
Habitat for Humanity NYC
New York, NY
- Provided administrative support to the executive team, including scheduling meetings, preparing presentations, and organizing travel arrangements.
- Coordinated cross-departmental initiatives to enhance organizational effectiveness.
- Managed communications between the executive office, senior leaders, and other staff members.
- Established protocols for handling confidential information related to decision-making processes in the executive office.
- Reviewed contracts and other legal documents prior to signing off by executives.
Executive Roles in Operations & Strategy
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
New York, New York
- Managed executive communications and coordinated schedules for senior leadership.
- Developed strategic plans and presentations for board meetings and stakeholder engagement.
- Organized company domestic and Global South events, ensuring smooth logistics and coordination among teams. (Kenya, Senegal, and Latin America.)
- Established relationships with key global partners and vendors to ensure successful project outcomes.
Executive Roles in Operations & Strategy
Cooper Union
- Directed executive support and optimized operations across departments to drive a cohesive strategy.
- Independently managed personnel documentation systems to support agency accountability and executive oversight.
- Led strategic academic planning, advancing program evaluation, and assessment across institutional initiatives.
Executive Roles in Operations & Strategy
Elderserve Health
- Managed correspondence and communication for senior leadership.
- Organized travel arrangements and itineraries for executives.
- Facilitated communication between departments to streamline operations.
- Managed calendar of appointments for executives; scheduled appointments with internal and external contacts.
- Responsible for maintaining confidential files pertaining to executive operations.
Education
Business Studies -
Fashion Institute of Technology
New York, NYDiploma -
John F. Kennedy High School
New York, NYSkills
- Strategic planning
- Executive communication
- Diversity initiatives
- Program development
- Budget management
- Administrative oversight
Affiliations
- American Society of Administrative Professionals
- Prime Chief of Staff Network
- Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Certification
- Creating an Employee Handbook
- Agile: Project Management
- Business Decision Making
- DEI
Work Type
Full TimeWork Location
RemoteHybridImportant To Me
401k matchHealthcare benefitsWork from home optionPaid time offCompany CultureWork-life balanceTeam Building / Company RetreatsCareer advancementPaid sick leavePersonal development programsFlexible work hoursTimeline
Senior Director / Chief of Staff - Office of the President
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors
04.2024 - 03.2025
Senior Director, Equity & Engagement
Global Fund for Women
06.2018 - 03.2024
Executive Roles in Operations & Strategy
Planned Parenthood Federation of America
Executive Roles in Operations & Strategy
Cooper Union
Executive Roles in Operations & Strategy
Elderserve Health
Chief of Staff to CEO
Habitat for Humanity NYC
Business Studies -
Fashion Institute of Technology
Diploma -
John F. Kennedy High School
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