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Q&A With Shantell Thomas

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Shantell Thomas
North America D&I Partner , Lenovo
Location: Durham, NC United States
Joined: Oct 6th, 2020

About (request update)

I'm a diversity marketer in technology by trade, a wife, a mom, and a promoter. I inhabit these roles and want to share the best practices I�ve gained from them all.

I fervently believe that the tapestry of our lives has interwoven pieces. This innate character is measurably responsible for my sustainability in the field of technology, with companies like IBM, Qlik, Cisco and currently - Lenovo.

More than anything, I�m a creator at heart. As the visionary behind the GRITSyall brand, I use my life as a mirror for others to move toward their own destiny � on winding, crooked or straight pathways.

These pathways have provided opportunities for me to contribute at major conferences, such as iBTechCon2019, BITCON and the City of Fayetteville as their Keynote Speaker, as well as recognition as a "45 Under 45" Alumni at my beloved alma mater, Saint Augustine's University.

By day, I am finding ways to use �Tech for Good� and, like most mothers and wives, by nightfall, I�m trying to figure out what's for dinner!

Website:

http://www.gritsyall.com

Education (request update)

Saint Augustines College class of 1997

Undergrad Major: Communication

Campus Organization:

Alpha Kappa Alpha

High School: Walterboro High School in Walterboro, SC class of 1990

Experience

I currently work with Lenovo as North America D&I Partner
I have 23 years of experience working in the Information Technology industry.

Employee Experience Business Partner | Amazon
From March 2023 to April 2024 • 1 year(s)
Led employee engagement and experience programs for 25,000+ employees in Global Services organization, designing programs and conducting sentiment analysis to enhance inclusion and belonging.

Engagement Manager, AMER | Amazon
From March 2022 to March 2023 • 1 year(s)
Managed employee engagement programs for 2,000+ remote employees in Training & Certification organization, leading Voice of Employee strategy and facilitating engagement workshops.

North America Diversity & Inclusion Partner | Lenovo
From September 2020 to March 2022 • 2 year(s)
Served as internal D&I consultant managing eight Employee Resource Groups and developing HBCU initiative that raised nearly $100K in employee contributions.

Channel Marketing Manager | Lenovo
From May 2019 to August 2020 • 1 year(s)
Led partner lifecycle management in multi-tiered ecosystem, designing company-wide recognition programs and developing marketing communication strategies.

Partner Marketing Manager | Avalara
From August 2015 to May 2019 • 4 year(s)
Developed go-to-market strategies for 14+ ERP and eCommerce FinTech partners, managing engagement programs and executing 40+ partner-focused events annually.

Program Manager, Inclusion & Collaboration | Cisco
From January 2015 to August 2015 • 0 year(s)
Designed enterprise-wide DEI and engagement programs, managing first-ever Executive Inclusion & Collaboration event and revamping Global ERG Recognition Program.

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Guestbook Comments

	Welcome, have a blessed and productive day. Tagged by Ralph White on 01/15/2022

	Hello, I hope that all is well with you. If you get a chance please visit please visit my profile where I hope I have given you some words of wisdom, to live by. Also you might want to visit my website for information on how to earn some extra money on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. Yes, I personally use this system and I promise you that you will not get rich, but the extra money comes in handy. I also realize that this type of program may not interest you and that's okay. If this is the case, share the link with someone else that might be interested. The economic arena is rough out here and is likely to get worse. This information just might be what someone may need to change their financial landscape. Tagged by Ralph White on 10/10/2020

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