Shawntera H.

Shawntera H. has a diverse work experience that spans various industries and leadership roles. Shawntera is the Founder of PolicyGrounds Consulting since 2014. In 2017, Shawntera became the Cofounder of Fearless Commerce, an organization dedicated to supporting Black Women-owned businesses. Shawntera also serves as the Cofounder and Board Advisor of Plural, a venture-backed company focused on improving policy intelligence.

Shawntera holds several board positions, including being a Board Member for Fairview Health Services since 2021 and a Board of Trustee Member for Minnesota Public Radio since 2019. Shawntera is also a Community Advisory Board Member for the Opportunity & Inclusive Growth Institute at the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, where they provide guidance on economic and social issues.

In 2018, Shawntera was recognized as a Bush Foundation Fellow. Prior to that, they served as the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development from 2016 to 2019, leading a team of public servants and overseeing a significant annual budget.

Shawntera's earlier experiences include working as the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of Governor Mark Dayton and Lt. Governor Tina Smith, where they played a crucial role in crisis response and diversifying the state government. Shawntera also served as the Policy Director for Fresh Energy, focusing on transportation policy as a public health and equity issue.

Throughout their career, Shawntera has demonstrated a strong commitment to improving policy outcomes, promoting inclusive growth, supporting women-owned businesses, and advocating for economic opportunities for underrepresented communities.

Shawntera H. began their education journey by attending The Ohio State University from 1996 to 2000, where they earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Consumer Affairs. Shawntera then went on to pursue a Masters degree in Urban Planning from the University at Buffalo, which they completed between 2002 and 2004. In 2015, they attended Harvard Business School's Young American Leaders Program, focusing on United States Competiveness. Shawntera H. later attended Stanford University in 2019 for an Executive Program in Design Thinking.