About Shawon
Building the capacity to communicate what matters.
I am a communications strategist, facilitator, and coach, helping individuals and institutions speak with clarity and conviction about themselves and the issues that matter most to them.
I work with nonprofits, foundations, and individual leaders on communications challenges that matter. The ones where the stakes are high, the audience is skeptical, or the message keeps getting lost. That might look like helping an organization find the story that holds up under pressure, facilitating a room full of people who don't agree, or coaching a leader who knows what they want to say but can't quite get it to land.
Outside of consulting, I'm the Founder and Executive Director of Vocal Justice, a national nonprofit that builds youth power and social justice literacy in schools. I also teach at Stanford's Graduate School of Business, where I work with MBA students and executives on presence and persuasion.
I'm based in the Bay Area and work with clients nationally.
Roles & Affiliations
Founder & Executive Director
Vocal Justice
Lecturer, Communications
Stanford Graduate School of Business
MPP
Harvard Kennedy School
MBA
Stanford Graduate School of Business
AB, Public Policy
Princeton University
Who I've Supported
A Healthier Democracy
Engage R&D
Friends of the Children SF Bay Area
James Irvine Foundation
trubel&co
Uprooted Academy
How I Work
My core communication beliefs
Effective communication can be learned. With time and support, anyone can become an expert at the craft.
Changing how you show up externally requires changing internally. The stories we tell ourselves shape the external ones we're able to tell.
There are many right ways to communicate. Context — about yourself and your audience — is what determines the best choice.
What People Say
From the people I've worked with.
Shawon has the ability to untangle the most seemingly complex communications challenges. He expertly guides you through naming the power dynamics to achieve the impact and effect that aligns with your values while simultaneously examining any practices that are not serving you or others. He does this all with kindness, curiosity, and humor.
I am a comms person and have done a lot of training/presentations/public speaking. I still learned a lot of new and useful tips and tools and really appreciated the opportunity to think more about how to connect and share my authentic self.
You're a fantastic instructor that I could see was actively living out the various communication tactics you were also teaching.
As a seasoned comms/media relations trainer, I thought you did a fantastic job! Loved learning about your frameworks.
The most powerful thing you can do is learn to tell the truth in a way people can actually hear.
Ready to work together?
Work With Shawon