Shawanna Lawrence

Leadership Coach

About

I believe the heart of every great organization is its people and I build cultures where they don’t just work, they thrive. As an HR leader, I turn ideas into strategies that spark engagement, fuel innovation, and grow strong, connected teams. From reimagining recruitment to redefining workplace culture, I lead with empathy, intention, and a deep commitment to creating spaces where everyone feels seen, valued, and empowered to contribute their best.

Country

United States

City

Rochester

Industry

Management Consulting

Skill

Plan Design, Policies & Procedures, Project Management, Microsoft Excel, Data Analysis, HR Metrics, Employee Learning & Development, HR Strategy, Applicant Tracking Systems, HR Transformation, Benefits Administration, Human Resource Development, Career Development, Legal Compliance, Budgeting, Strategic Human Resource Planning, Coaching, Workforce Planning, Personnel Management, Onboarding

Experience

Leadership Coach

2020-4 - Present · 6 yrs 6 mos

Passionate about making a positive impact, I believe that effective leadership coaching goes beyond skill development—it’s about empowering individuals to lead with purpose, authenticity, and integrity.

VP for People and Culture

The Strong

2024-4 - 2026-2 · 1 yr 11 mos

With a focus on workforce planning, culture building, and HR modernization, I bring expertise in: Strategic HR leadership & organizational development Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (IDEA) initiatives Talent acquisition and retention strategies Employee engagement and performance management Change management and internal communications Compliance, policy design, and HRIS optimization

Human Resources Executive

Rochester Housing Authority

2017-1 - 2024-4 · 7 yrs 4 mos

Rochester, New York, United States

As a seasoned HR executive, I've led comprehensive People Operations initiatives aimed at aligning organizational objectives with strategic talent management practices. Highlights of my experience include: Developing and implementing personnel policies in alignment with organizational objectives and Board directives. Overseeing Human Resources staff, ensuring effective administration of HR functions. Establishing department accountabilities and executing HR strategies encompassing talent acquisition, staffing, compensation, benefits, training, employee relations, and compliance. Collaborating with senior leadership to align HR strategies with organizational goals in staffing, recruiting, and retention. Serving as Chief Negotiator in collective bargaining negotiations, ensuring alignment with organizational objectives and financial parameters. Administering collective bargaining agreements and maintaining a comprehensive compensation plan. Fostering employee effectiveness through training, development, safety, and counseling programs. Supervising Civil Service, Labor Relations, and other HR functions, reporting to Executive Directors and Board of Directors. Ensuring compliance with equal opportunity and affirmative action laws, collaborating with other exempt positions.

Recruiter

URochester Medicine Home Healthcare

2015-4 - 2017-1 · 1 yr 10 mos

Responsible for Optimizing employer brand by engaging employees on social media. Designed and updated recruiting procedures for improved efficiency, and tracked recruiting metrics (time-to-hire, cost-per-hire) for data-driven decisions. Implemented new sourcing methods, including social recruiting.