Shan Cooper

Founder & CEO, Journey Forward Strategies, LLC - Former Lockheed Martin Vice President & General Manager - Former Chief Transformation Officer for WestRock Company, Former Executive Director, Atlanta Committee for Progress

Shan Cooper is the Chief Executive Officer of Journey Forward Strategies. She is the former Executive Director of Atlanta Committee for Progress, a coalition of leading CEOs focused on critical economic development issues for the City of Atlanta. Prior to this, she served as Chief Transformation Officer of WestRock Company, a global paper and packaging solutions company. She is also the former Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company where she led a multi-billion-dollar, global manufacturing operation with facilities in Georgia, Mississippi and West Virginia. During her tenure at Lockheed Martin, she also served as Vice President of Human Resources, Vice President of Diversity and Equal Opportunities Programs, and Vice President of Business Ethics. Shan currently serves on the corporate Board of Directors for Intercontinental Exchange, Southern Company and SouthState Corporation. Shan was recently inducted into the 2024 JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame.

  • Shan Cooper Keynote Speaker Fee Fee range is for U.S. events, depending on location and organization type

    $10,001 - $20,000

  • Languages Spoken

    English

  • Shan Cooper Keynote Speaker Fee Fee range is for U.S. events, depending on location and organization type

    $10,001 - $20,000

  • Languages Spoken

    English

Suggested Keynote Speaker Programs

Navigating Culture in a Future-Ready Organization

The workshop is designed to: • Strengthen the understanding of the impact of culture on the workforce and the fulfillment of the strategy of the organization • Identify practices and tools needed to engage the workforce within a future-ready organization...

The workshop is designed to:
• Strengthen the understanding of the impact of culture on the workforce and the fulfillment of the strategy of the organization
• Identify practices and tools needed to engage the workforce within a future-ready organization
• Build on current strengths and identify personal growth strategies
• Cultivate techniques and strategies that drive new and innovative cultural impacts
• Accelerate organizational results and deliverables

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Navigating Change That Inspires Connection and Enables Transformation

By the end of the session, attendees will think, feel, do… • Reflect on their role and responsibility in leading change • Take action and accountability for leading the transformation of their organizations • Be prepared to show up differently to ...

By the end of the session, attendees will think, feel, do…
• Reflect on their role and responsibility in leading change
• Take action and accountability for leading the transformation of their organizations
• Be prepared to show up differently to inspire and engage their teams and our customers in the transformation of our business
• Talk about business transformation as a culture transformation, not just process updates or technology
• Adapt to the changing needs of the business by adopting new people practices (diversity of thought and approach- what got us here will not get us there)

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Board Governance and Effectiveness

This workshop was designed to ensure members of the Board of Directors understood the following:

  • The Role of the Board
  • Key Attributes of an Effective Board
  • Action Planning for Excellence

Transformative Leadership: Accelerating Leadership Readiness and Team Collaboration:

The core of this speech was to get a leadership team to understand their role in talent development and ways to get the most from the teams they lead.

What Got You Here, Won't Keep You There: Effective Leadership Transitions

This speech/workshop was designed to help newly promoted and soon to be promoted leaders understand and navigate the pitfalls and successes of moving into new role in the organization.

Seeing Yourself Through the Eyes of Others

How am I viewed in the organization? How do I want to be viewed in the organization? What does it take to be successful in the organization? How do I build my network? Who do I need to know? Who needs to knows me? These are questions that we often ask ourselves, but that tend ...

How am I viewed in the organization? How do I want to be viewed in the organization? What does it take to be successful in the organization? How do I build my network? Who do I need to know? Who needs to knows me? These are questions that we often ask ourselves, but that tend to remain unanswered or lack clarity, resulting in our feeling that we are alone on our career journey. Allies, mentors and sponsors can provide the feedback, connections, and support we need to navigate the twists and turns along the way to our desired destination. Understanding our value and knowing who we are first – in conjunction with these supporters – can provide the answers we need, accelerate our career trajectory and put us on the path to reach our desired destination. But, the journey begins with personal clarity regarding how we see ourselves and the reflections we project to others.

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About Keynote Speaker Shan Cooper

Journey Forward Strategies is a solutions- focused consulting firm that specializes in leadership development and organization effectiveness. Working with Fortune 500 corporations, private companies, and the not- for-profit sector, Shan leverages over 30 years of diverse experience and expertise to deliver sustainable results for her clients. She excels in the areas of executive coaching, leadership and culture development, as well as business transformation. Shan works at the intersect of the business and people strategies. She believes a successful business strategy is most effectively executed when a sound people strategy exists. In essence, Mission First. People Always.

Shan currently serves as a senior advisor to McKinsey & Company. Prior to her time as a senior advisor, she served as an executive coach for the company.

Shan is the former Executive Director for the Atlanta Committee for Progress (ACP). The ACP was founded in 2003 to serve as the Mayor of Atlanta’s external advisory board with a mission to provide leadership on key issues important to economic growth and inclusion for all Atlanta citizens. The committee includes more than 40 highly engaged corporate chief executive officers, university presidents and civic leaders who offer expertise in service to Atlanta and its future development.

Shan is the former Chief Transformation Officer of WestRock and was responsible for developing infrastructure capabilities and system processes needed for business growth in a fast-paced merger and acquisition environment. She also led the Recycling and Waste Services Division comprised of 22 recycling plants across the U.S, supplying materials to a diverse customer base and international markets. In addition, Shan led the Enterprise Logistics, Global Procurement, and Information Technology organizations.

Prior to joining WestRock, Shan served as the Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company. In this role, she was responsible for the 6,000 employee operations in Marietta, GA; Meridian, MS; and Clarksburg, WV, which designs, produces, modifies, and maintains military aircraft for the United States and countries around the world. Marietta programs included the C-130J Super Hercules, F-22 Raptor, P-3 Orion, C-5M Super Galaxy and the F-35 Lightning II. During her tenure, Shan simultaneously served as the Vice President of Business Ethics for the Aeronautics Division.

Prior to her role as a General Manager, Shan served as Vice President of Human Resources for Lockheed Martin Corporate, as well as the Aeronautics and Information Systems & Global Solutions Divisions. In addition, she served as the first Corporate Vice President of Diversity and Equal Opportunity Programs for Lockheed Martin.

Shan currently serves on the corporate Board of Directors for Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., Southern Company, and SouthState Corporation. In addition, she serves on the Board of Directors for Grady Health System and the Board of Trustees for Emory University. Shan is also on the Board of the Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), Georgia Historical Society, Georgia Music Accord, and is a member of the Atlanta Rotary Club and a Life Member of the Board of Councilors for The Carter Center.

Shan was inducted into the 2024 JA Atlanta Business Hall of Fame, named the 2022 National Philanthropy Day Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year and was awarded the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2021 Women of Influence Lifetime Achievement Award; named Georgia Trend Magazine’s 2015 Most Respected Business Leader; the 2015 Woman of the Year by American Association of University Women; as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Georgians in 2012 – 2016, 2020 and 2021; and as one of Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Power 100 in 2019 – 2021. She was also named one of Black Enterprise Magazine’s Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America in 2017.

Shan earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology and Religion from Emory University and a Master of Business Administration from the Roberto Goizueta Business School of Emory University. In addition, she holds an Executive Master’s Degree in Global Human Resources from Rutgers University.

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