Shana Sumers
SHE / HER / HERS
Affectionately known as “The Mayor,” Shana Sumers is a speaker, workshop facilitator, and community-building expert who helps professionals build authentic connections that fuel career growth, visibility, and long-term impact.
Authentic connection is the new currency of success
Popular Talks
Let Your Network Build Your Net Worth
Networking is awkward, but powerful. In this interactive session, Shana breaks down how to build authentic relationships that actually grow your career, business, and confidence. Learn how to network with intention, navigate imposter syndrome, and tap into the power of community.
Key Takeaways:
- Identify and strengthen your unique networking style.
- Build relationships rooted in authenticity and shared value.
- Overcome imposter syndrome to show up with confidence.
- Turn everyday interactions into professional opportunities.
- Create a personalized action plan to grow your network intentionally.
Authentic by Design: Building a Personal Brand That Attracts the Right People
The best networks are built when people find you and want to connect — because your presence already speaks for you. In this session, you’ll learn how to build a personal brand that makes it easier for the right people to find, support, and collaborate with you.
Key Takeaways:
- Define your authentic personal brand and core message.
- Use storytelling to communicate your values and purpose.
- Learn how visibility and vulnerability can strengthen your brand.
- Build an online and offline presence that naturally attracts opportunities.
- Create brand consistency across social media and professional spaces.
Connection Is the Currency: Designing Events That Network for You
In-person events are no longer just about content, they’re about connection. And yet, 42% of event organizers still struggle with low engagement in networking, based on data from Bizzabo’s 2025 Networking Report. In this session, Shana will show you how to turn awkward coffee chats into intentional connection moments that drive real results. We’ll explore how to build networking experiences that reduce anxiety and maximize ROI for organizers, attendees, and sponsors alike.
Key Takeaways:
- Understand why connection design is the future of event success.
- Learn frameworks to create meaningful networking touchpoints.
- Reduce attendee anxiety and increase participation through intentional design.
- Build networking experiences that drive measurable outcomes.
- Walk away with tools to transform your next event into a community catalyst.
Workshops, Coaching & Consulting
Workshops
Network With Purpose: A Social Capital Workshop
This interactive workshop helps teams and professionals build authentic networking skills through hands-on practice, personalized assessments, and real-time feedback. Participants leave with a customized action plan, proven conversation frameworks, and the confidence to turn connections into career-defining opportunities.
Building Community From the Inside Out
Designed for HR leaders, ERG chairs, and community builders, this workshop teaches you how to design and sustain thriving internal communities that drive belonging, retention, and employee engagement. You’ll walk away with a roadmap to launch or strengthen communities that reflect your organization’s values and create measurable impact.
The Authentic Brand Workshop: Show Up, Stand Out, Stay True
A hands-on session where professionals define their personal brand, craft their core message, and build a visibility strategy that attracts the right opportunities. Perfect for creatives, entrepreneurs, and anyone ready to be found by their people – without feeling performative or inauthentic.
Coaching
Shana partners one-on-one with professionals to build authentic networks, refine personal brands, and navigate career growth with confidence. Through personalized coaching, clients gain clarity on their unique value, develop strategic relationship-building skills, and create actionable plans to unlock opportunities aligned with their goals and identity.
Consulting
Shana works with organizations to design community strategies, employee resource groups, and networking experiences that drive engagement, belonging, and business impact. From auditing current initiatives to building scalable frameworks, she helps companies create cultures where connection fuels retention, innovation, and growth.
“Shana delivers impactful insights around connection, community, and belonging with the heart of a teacher. You’ll walk away with a new perspective and a clear roadmap to drive change in your organization.”
– Brian Oblinger, CEO, Brian Oblinger Consultancy
“Shana presented a few keynotes at multiple App Growth Summit events, and was also a guest on our podcast. Her energy, intelligence, and stage presence was one of the best we’ve ever had on the stage, or in the booth! Get Shana as a speaker, and your event’s speaker roster will immediately double in quality!”
– Louis Tanguay, Founder and Managing Director, App Growth Summit
“Shana is knowledgeable, confident, and with true gravitas, she consistently grabs the attention of an audience whether in-person or virtual.”
– Yogesh Chauhan, Senior Director of Sustainability, HubSpot
“Shana is a pleasure to see on stage. She is equal parts captivating and deeply knowledgeable. Her ability to distill complex ideas into clear, actionable insights leaves audiences not just informed, but truly energized!”
– Beth McIntyre, Director of Community at Bevy, Leader of CMX
“Going to a networking event with Shana is always exciting because she has this incredible way of turning what could be an overwhelming experience into something genuinely fun and uplifting. She encourages me to step out of my comfort zone, sparking real conversations and meaningful connections I wouldn’t have made otherwise. It’s never a dull time with her, because she doesn’t just bring the energy, she radiates it, and somehow everyone else in the room feels it.”
– Nicki Griffith, Flag Football Sales Representative, Riddell
“What an incredible fireside chat with Shana Sumers! We had amazing conversational chemistry—super engaging and full of energy. The discussion was thoughtful and packed with actionable tips that left the audience inspired and ready to build authentic connections. Truly a session that combined insight, fun, and community!”
– Alex Rodriguez, Sr. Manager GTM Operations, LinkedIn
Throughout her career, Shana has combined her expertise in community building with a mission to close the gaps in who gets access to opportunity.
She began leading community at HER, one of the largest queer women–focused social apps, creating spaces centered on identity, safety, and engagement. At HubSpot, she launched and grew Black@INBOUND, the company’s first professional community for Black talent, which saw over 400% growth in six months. She later led The Spot Community, a global platform for professionals and entrepreneurs from the Global Majority, shaping it into a trusted resource for belonging and professional/business development.
After years of cultivating these spaces, Shana recognized a deeper truth: professionals don’t just need more connections – they need impactful ones. Her work now centers on redefining how we connect, communicate, and thrive in our careers. From conference stages to group workshops, she teaches audiences how to build social capital in ways that feel natural, aligned, and sustainable.
With high energy, humor, and a grounded approach, Shana inspires audiences to lead with their authentic selves and create networks that reflect who they are, not just what they do. Her talks leave professionals with practical tools to connect confidently, reduce the stress of networking, and unlock opportunities that align with their values and identity.
Beyond the stage, Shana co-hosts the Bad Queers Podcast, bringing honesty, humor, and culture-shifting conversations to the forefront of the LGBTQ+ experience. Whether speaking, facilitating workshops or building communities, Shana’s work reminds people that authentic connection isn’t just the key to success – it’s the foundation for belonging.
Let’s collaborate to ensure a transformative experience.