Shannon Banks

Director Emeritus 

Shannon Banks, Managing Director of Be Leadership, is passionate about creating a better world by developing social leaders. An experienced coach, facilitator, and consultant, Shannon’s work helps companies develop leaders who understand the true value of social impact and have the skills needed to thrive in a modern work environment. Shannon spent 20 years in the technology industry, including 17 years at Microsoft where she held a variety of global leadership roles across the business and HR. She has won international awards for her work in leadership development and talent management and is a sought-after public speaker.

Shannon was the first Action Learning coach certified in the United Kingdom by the World Institute for Action Learning. Shannon frequently teaches the Action Learning Coach Certification courses held in Britain and supports other certified action learning coaches through mentoring and supervision. Shannon believes in experiential learning and social impact and uses action learning coaching to support her clients in creating sustainable cultural change.

Shannon was a WIAL Global Board Member from 2015 to 2022 and was part of the organization’s Executive Committee for 4 years. She currently serves as a member of the Institute’s Committee for Fundraising, Scholarships and Grants. She also is accredited as a PCC with the International Coach Federation.

Shannon’s work has been highlighted in publications including Action Learning: Research and Practice (Routledge 2023), Action Learning for Developing Leaders and Organizations (Marquardt et al 2009) and The Future of Action Learning (ADHR 2010), as well as numerous global conferences. Shannon also served as co-editor with Michael Marquardt for a Spring 2010 issue of Advances in Developing Human Resources titled “Theory to Practice: Action Learning.” She is co-author of the third edition of Optimizing the Power of Action Learning: Real-Time Strategies for Developing Leaders, Building Teams, and Transforming Organizations, published Spring 2018 alongside Michael Marquardt, Peter Cauwelier and Choon Seng Ng.

Shannon lives outside of London with her husband and daughter Madeline. She is active in her local community and volunteers with the Runnymede Foodbank.