Shatanese Reese’s Stories, Lessons & Insights

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Shatanese Reese. Check out our conversation below.

Shatanese, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. Are you walking a path—or wandering?
These days, I’m walking a path, but that hasn’t always been my story. For a long time, I moved through life doing what was expected of me (yes, I’m a recovering people pleaser), excelling in roles, raising a family, holding things together (sometimes, barely), and showing up strong even on the days when I felt anything but. If you had asked me years ago whether I felt grounded in purpose, I would have said yes… but inside, I knew I was still searching.

Becoming a mother of six, navigating unexpected turns in my career, experiencing joy, loss, and grace…all of that shaped me. All of it clarified what matters. And the older I get, the more I realize that purpose isn’t something you chase; it’s something you grow into.

Today, I’m walking a path that feels deeply aligned with who I am. It’s a path where my skills, my story, and my calling finally meet. But I honor the wandering it took to get here. Those seasons taught me resilience, empathy, and how to lead from the inside out.

So no, I don’t feel lost.

But I do leave space for wandering, because that’s where God often whispers the next right step.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Shatanese Reese, an executive leadership coach, HR strategist, EQ practitioner, and the founder of Shatanese Reese Global Ltd. My work sits at the intersection of personal transformation and organizational change, because after 25 years in HR, I’ve learned that cultures don’t shift until the people within them do.

I help leaders and teams navigate conflict, strengthen emotional intelligence, and lead with authenticity. Organizations bring me in when they’re experiencing growing pains, navigating complex personalities, or building the kind of culture that people don’t want to leave. I’m known for creating psychologically safe spaces where truth can be spoken, understood, and acted upon. It’s a space where even the toughest conversations feel possible.

Personally, I’m a wife and mother of six, including our miracle baby, Josiah. My family is a huge part of my “why.” They remind me that leadership isn’t just what we do in boardrooms; it’s how we show up in our everyday lives.

Across my brand, I’m expanding into keynote speaking, voice-over work, content development, and new creative platforms that blend storytelling with leadership development. Everything I create, whether a workshop, a keynote, or a coaching engagement, is rooted in one belief:

Real leadership starts from the inside out. When people feel seen, supported, and self-aware, they lead differently. That’s when the entire culture shifts.

That’s the heartbeat of my work and the path I’m continuing to build.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
One moment that radically shaped how I see the world happened when our youngest son, Josiah, was born. His arrival was both unexpected and miraculous, and it shifted something in me that I didn’t even know needed shifting. I had spent so many years building a career, raising a family, leading teams, and holding space for everyone else that I didn’t always slow down long enough to acknowledge what I needed – spiritually, emotionally, or creatively.

Josiah’s birth forced me to pause. It taught me that life does not always follow the plan you carefully curate. Sometimes it breaks you open in the most beautiful way and invites you to see everything, your work, your purpose, your relationships – through a softer, more intentional lens.

It changed how I coach, how I lead, and how I parent. It deepened my faith. It reminded me that strength and tenderness are not opposites; they are partners. And it confirmed something I now teach every leader I work with:

The world doesn’t change because we push harder, it changes because we become more whole.

That moment reset my priorities, my pace, and my perspective. And it continues to shape the work I do today. You’d have to see Josiah in action to truly appreciate how beautiful and impactful his arrival has been on my life.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, absolutely. And I think anyone who has lived long enough, loved deeply enough, or led boldly enough has faced those moments too.

For me, the moment I almost gave up came during a season when everything felt like it was landing at once. I was navigating complex dynamics at work, supporting my family through our own challenges, and trying to hold myself together in spaces where I was expected to be the strong one. I remember sitting alone one night, exhausted in every way a person can be exhausted, and thinking, “I don’t know if I have anything left to pour out.”

What I realized in that moment, though, was that I wasn’t actually meant to keep pouring from the same place. I needed restoration. I needed boundaries. I needed to let myself be human, which can be hard when you feel as if everyone is depending on you.

And honestly, I needed to let God meet me where I was instead of trying to muscle my way through everything alone.

Sit still…and know.

That moment didn’t break me, it reoriented me.

It taught me that giving up isn’t the opposite of resilience; pretending you’re fine when you’re drowning is. And I believe our culture glamorizes hustling and bustling while trying to hold it all together. That is not true peace.

That moment showed me the value of slowing down, re-evaluating what matters, and letting some things go so I could rise again with more clarity and intention.

And now, when I coach leaders who feel overwhelmed, burnt out, or on the edge of quitting, I can meet them with compassion because I’ve been there.

I know what it feels like to be tired, not just busy.
I know what it feels like to be carrying far more than anyone realizes.
And I know what it looks like to choose yourself again after thinking you couldn’t.

So yes, I almost gave up. But that moment became the doorway to the work I do today.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
A project that’s lived in my heart for years is a women’s conference rooted in one core truth: you are a Daughter of the Mighty King. It’s the message I wish I had fully understood when I was younger, when self-esteem and self-worth felt fragile and shaped so many of my choices.

This conference would focus on identity, healing, and the kind of confidence that comes from knowing who you are and Whose you are. I believe that when a woman carries that truth, she stands taller, chooses differently, and expects to be treated with dignity.

The vision hasn’t left me. It gently taps me on the shoulder every now and then, reminding me that empowering women isn’t just part of my work – It’s part of my calling. And no matter how long it takes, I’m committed to bringing it to life when the timing is right. I know it may take time, and I’m not in a rush. I trust that when the season is right, the conference will come to life exactly the way it’s meant to.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m outdoors. There’s something sacred and special about being in nature. Whether I’m standing at the edge of the ocean or simply sitting in my backyard watching the wind move through the trees, those moments remind me to breathe. They ground me, even when life feels like it’s swirling in every direction.

Nature has a way of softening the noise and bringing me back to myself. It reminds me that stillness is not a luxury; it’s a lifeline. And in those quiet, natural spaces, I can hear my thoughts, my spirit, and God a little more clearly.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://shatanesereese.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shatanesereese/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shatanesereese/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shatanesereese/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@ShataneseReese

Image Credits
Victoria White is my photographer. She’s AWESOME! Check her out on IG.