Shawna’s Story

In her role at the College of the North Atlantic in Qatar, Shawna Garrett managed a team of 25 people from diverse life experiences and cultural backgrounds, all of whom reported to Shawna directly.

With so many perspectives and ideas, Shawna needed a clear vision to empower her team and bring everyone together.

She began working with Jenn Wicks, PCC, a leadership and executive coach based in Newfoundland, Canada.

Coaching inspired Shawna to reimagine her team’s structure by identifying and investing in the development of a handful of emerging leaders. These individuals were ultimately empowered to take on new leadership roles within the team, transforming Shawna’s group from a flat structure to one with an additional layer. This change process didn’t just improve team operations—it also enhanced communication, deepened trust, and increased team members’ satisfaction with their work and their roles.

Partnering with Jenn also equipped Shawna with actionable tools and skills that she was able to bring back to her team as she evolved into a manager and leader who uses coaching skills in the workplace.

Shawna’s story illustrates the power of coaching to drive positive change in organizations by inspiring creativity and communication, deepening trust, increasing individual and team empowerment, and building the foundation for a strong coaching culture.