Shalini Benson, PCC

Professional Highlights

•      Member of the federal Senior Executive Service

•      ~20 years of federal service at five agencies, including Office of Management and Budget, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Department of Energy, National Institute of Health and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

•      Nonprofit board member

•      Adjunct Faculty at Georgetown University

 Top Skills

•      Executive Leadership Coach

•      Facilitation / Training

•      Federal budget subject matter expert

 Education

•      Certificate, Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership

•      Master of Public Policy, Georgetown University

•      Bachelor of the Arts, Brandeis University

 Certifications

•      Executive Leadership Coach, Georgetown University

•      Professional Certified Coach, International Coaching Federation

•      Leadership Circle Profile practitioner

•      Reiki Levels 1 & 2

 Assessment Tools

•      Leadership Circle Profile

•      DISC

•      EIQ-2

 Previous Clients

•      Davidson College

•      University of Colorado, Boulder and Loyola University (Private clients)

•      ClimateWorks Foundation

•      Multiple Federal agencies

Creative, curious and kind coach and leader.  25+ years of experience in the federal, private and nonprofit sectors in leadership roles of progressively greater responsibility, including managing teams of 50+ people and budgets over $5 billion. Firsthand experience transforming leaders and teams to achieve their potential.  Former federal Senior Executive Service (SES) member.

 Mother of three, spouse, daughter, nonprofit Board Member, small business owner, executive leadership coach. First generation Indian American with New Jersey-born pride. Pronouns - “she” and “her.”  “SHA-lyn-ee.”

Coaching Approach

I serve my client through support, perspective, and joy. I bring to coaching my whole self – listening and seeing what my client says and does not say and a holistic, whole person perspective. I engage through conversations, questions, exercises designed at self-knowledge and mindfulness with an East meets West vibe.

 I believe the “work is in the wobble” and am here to support, challenge, and help you find your balance as you grow.

 Leadership Engagements

  • Coached in multiple industries, including academia, local and federal government, nonprofit and private sector. Experience coaching tenured professors, administrators and tenure track professors at the University of Colorado- Boulder, Davidson University and Loyola University. Federal coaching clients include Executive Office of the President, US Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Interior, Commerce, the General Services Administration and the US Botanical Garden. Over 1,250 hours of experience.

  • Experienced leader across multiple sectors, including roles as a nonprofit Vice President, private sector consultant and federal Senior Executive Service.

  • Coach affiliated with the Partnership for Public Service, CI International, MP6 Consulting, Strategy Consulting Team and SOAR Community Network

  • Adjunct Faculty at Georgetown University in coach education and training.

  • Coach / facilitator for Partnership for Public Service’s AI Government Leadership Program, Excellence in Government Fellows program (including instructional design, facilitation and coaching), Leadership Excellence for Acquisition Professionals and other leadership programs. Designed and delivered over 100 modules of training for public service leaders. Over 1,000 hours designed and delivered in all modalities – virtual, in person and hybrid. Over 200 360s debriefed.

Select areas of specialization: transitions and change, new leaders, new formal managers, leaders experiencing overwhelm