Shantell Thomas

Shantell Thomas is Director of Engagement and Belonging at EverCommerce and Founder of the GRITSyall brand. Drawing on her lived experience as a Black woman rooted in her South American heritage, she seamlessly unites personal narrative with professional insight to promote racial equality and belonging. Her career-driven empathy is fuelled by early experiences navigating tech-diverse environments, which motivate her as a powerful speaker on topics such as diversity and inclusion, intentionally inclusive cultures, reverse mentoring, and the role of purpose in driving performance. Through these narratives, she connects deeply with audiences, highlighting the human stories behind systemic change.

Her early career traversed notable roles: beginning as a Marketing Assistant at Nortel Networks in 1997, through roles in partner, segment, revenue, and channel marketing at IBM, Qlik, Allscripts, Parata, Cisco, Red Hat, Blue Cross Blue Shields, and GlaxoSmithKline. In 2020, she transitioned to diversity-focused roles: North America Diversity & Inclusion Partner at Lenovo, followed by Engagement Manager and Employee Experience Business Partner at Amazon Web Services, culminating in her current leadership role at EverCommerce. Her progression reflects a deliberate pivot from product marketing to empowering people and cultures in global corporates.

Shantell’s recent achievements emphasise her influence and recognition. She served as Editor for the book, 40 Day Reset: Reflections from Girlfriends Overcoming Change & Challenge in 2024. She has delivered keynotes at iBTechCon2019, BITCON, NC Tech D&I, Cisco, the City of Fayetteville, and Young Women in STEM. Her alma mater, Saint Augustine’s University (an HBCU), honoured her as a 45 Under 45 alumna—highlighting her leadership in technology and social justice.

In conclusion, Shantell Thomas brings powerful expertise on 4Ps of Inclusion, Intentionally Inclusive Culture, Reverse Mentoring, and embedding purpose-driven performance—each grounded in her advocacy for racial equality. Her address on how lived experiences shape inclusive cultures resonates across multiple sectors. She weaves storytelling, strategic insight, and actionable frameworks, making her an ideal hire for organisations seeking to foster genuine belonging. With her track record in Fortune 500 companies and lived credentials, Thomas is both relatable and results‑oriented—a speaker who inspires transformation at every level.