Reflecting on 2023
Shannon Strategies celebrated four years of business in November and I could not have imagined the amount of growth we’d experience over time. We were officially certified as a Small Woman and Minority (SWaM) owned business and received our disability inclusion training certification from Beyond Boundaries. Thanks to Noire Creative, our team started to find our voice on social media, too. Plus, we hired a graphic designer for the team!
In fact, we’re about to go through another growth spurt in the next year, branching into new projects and expanding the team. Even better, we’re strengthening our brand as a communications firm focused on clients and campaigns in the social impact sector.
Our projects this year range from a local school board race and federal issue campaign to a national book launch and new website for a statewide nonprofit. We are always finding ways for impacted communities and people to share their story because their voices need to be heard.
Here’s the thing – this company is only successful because of our team. WE are the company, not me. Our team is fully invested in dismantling systemic racism and improving the quality of life for all people.
It’s an honor to work with an amazing team of Black women who are passionate about their work and are invested in achieving more – not only for Shannon Strategies, but for themselves. Thank you for showing up as your authentic selves and being an absolute joy to work with.
And thank you to Atima, Deshundra, Kelley and Mark for being extended members of the team. Our work together goes beyond making profits. We are advancing public education, reproductive rights, care work and economic security in a way that’s making a real difference for families.
When looking at the landscape of comms firms in Virginia, very few look like us and do what we do. For a long time, I took that for granted, but I shouldn’t. Organizations want collaborators who care about their mission and prioritize work that serves our communities. We are consciously choosing campaigns that lead to transformative change.
It’s equally important to remember that those of us doing mission-driven work must commit to building equitable workplaces as well. This year brought clarity around the need for my peers – those who manage teams – to focus on being better leaders.
To be specific, I had to navigate my team through toxic client environments where microaggressions, impulsive decision-making and tokenism were present. We witnessed Black and brown staff members leave because of mistreatment. In these moments, I find it’s important to be a protector not only for my team but for others, too.
We must break cycles of trauma and harm in the workplace.
Professional development isn’t just for our staff. As leaders, we must work on our craft. We spend years working our way up into management positions but haven’t always spent an equal amount of time finding an effective style of leadership. Those of us who manage teams need to do more listening and not be afraid to be held accountable. Do the work to recognize the biases we carry. Prioritize creating healthy workplaces and advocating for the well-being of your workers (including making it easy for collective rest to happen.)
Because of the emotional labor that comes with leadership, this year emphasized the need for joy and laughter in all settings to revitalize energy, reduce stress and avoid burnout — for myself and everyone in my sphere.
As we move to 2024, I look forward to strengthening relationships with our clients and building relationships with new clients. More importantly, I want to be of service and uplift people along the way.
Sheri, Owner and Director of Shannon Strategies