Today we’d like to introduce you to Shilvi Leinwand.
Hi Shilvi, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Thank you to VoyageATL for including me in this series. Atlanta has been home since I was five years old, and it holds a special place in my heart. I grew up in Marietta, am a proud Georgia Tech alumna (Go Jackets!), and earned my MBA from the Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University.
My mind is rarely still. I’m always thinking, questioning, and exploring. That curiosity has shaped every chapter of my life and career. I’ve often been the one to raise my hand when something needs to get done, whether at work, in the community, or at home.
Today, I live in Dunwoody with my incredible family. I feel deeply fortunate to have my parents, sister, and in-laws all within 30 minutes of us. My husband is my biggest champion. He is brilliant, creative, and endlessly supportive. And I’m a proud mom to two amazing daughters, ages 15 and 13. They are my greatest inspiration and the reason I chose to leave corporate life to become a founder. I wanted them to see that it’s possible to build something meaningful on your own terms, and to do it with heart, grit, and purpose
I didn’t become a founder to chase titles. I did it to close a gap I saw repeatedly. Companies were investing in strategy but struggling to bring it to life. I created Satya Advisors to be the kind of partner I wish I had when I was on the inside – someone who understands the big picture and can also roll up their sleeves to make things happen.
The top of the consulting world is still dominated by men, especially in leadership roles. As a woman in that space, I’ve built influence through trust, results, and genuine relationships. Satya is rooted in that philosophy. Every engagement is about creating value and making it a win for everyone at the table.
I surround myself with brilliant people who challenge me, push my thinking, and make the work stronger. That mindset shapes how we build teams and how we show up for our clients.
My worldview has been shaped by living abroad, immigrating to the U.S., and traveling extensively. I love understanding what makes people tick, and I bring those cultural insights and human truths into every client engagement. For me, strategy isn’t abstract. It’s deeply personal, and it works best when it honors the people expected to execute it.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Building something from scratch is never smooth, but it has been deeply worth it. From managing tight budgets to building credibility in a space where relationships often span decades, I’ve had to earn trust and prove value at every step.
I’ve led through client cutbacks, burnout, shifting priorities, and moments of doubt, especially while juggling the demands of entrepreneurship and family. Along the way, I’ve learned to ask for help and lean into the power of community. Over the last 24 years, I’ve built a personal board of advisors who keep me grounded, honest, and focused.
What I’ve learned: I thrive in complexity. I lead best when the stakes are high. And I never lose sight of the people behind the work. Every challenge has sharpened my resolve and made Satya stronger, more resilient, and more aligned with its mission to bring clarity, momentum, and follow-through to the moments that matter most.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Satya Advisors ?
Satya Advisors is a boutique advisory firm that helps organizations move from strategy to execution with clarity, speed, and staying power. Satya means “truth” in Sanskrit, and that is the ethos behind everything we do. We specialize in Strativate™, our trademarked, phase-based approach to closing the gap between “what we should do” and “how we’ll actually do it.”
But here’s the key: Strativate™ isn’t another framework your team has to learn. It’s a set of practical, guiding questions designed to unlock clarity and momentum with the people already in the room. Whether you’ve got a detailed strategy deck, a set of OKRs, or a loose vision, Strativate™ helps you connect the dots by aligning priorities, activating the right work, and making progress visible.
It’s intentionally flexible and works alongside your existing frameworks, methodologies, and deliverables. Leaders don’t need more complexity. They need tools that adapt to their context and help them move forward, especially in fast-changing environments.
Our services are equally adaptable. We offer:
– Fractional executive advisory for strategy activation, delivery, and organizational design
– PMO-as-a-Service to help companies scale program delivery without adding overhead
– Program leadership and alignment to drive cross-functional traction
– Process and systems improvement to reduce organizational drag and boost decision-making
– High-performance team enablement to help leadership teams work with more clarity, trust, and speed
What sets Satya apart is not just what we do, but how we do it. We deliver with empathy and precision, listening deeply, acting decisively, and always focusing on what drives real results. Our clients don’t just get plans, they get momentum, clarity, and a true partner who helps them navigate the messy middle.
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Don’t wait for perfect. You’ll never feel fully ready, and that’s okay. Clarity comes from movement, not over-planning.
Some of the most pivotal moments in my career began with a deep breath and a leap. Starting a business, offering a new service, or taking a seat at a bigger table always felt intimidating at first. The fear never fully goes away, but courage grows when you take action anyway.
Surround yourself with people who challenge you and cheer you on. Build your tolerance for uncertainty. Most of all, trust that you already have what it takes. Progress, not perfection, is what builds extraordinary things.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.satyaadvisors.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/satya-advisors/
- Other: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shilvi/
