Yolanda Shields

Position:

Adjunct Lecturer

Location:

Hazel-Pruitt Armory, Room 199

Phone:

(540) 542-6286

Email: yshields@leela-thaimassage.com

Fields of Expertise:

Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneur Ecosystem Building
Workforce Development
Business Startup
Human Resource Management
Strategic Leadership

Professional Highlights:

Dr. Yolanda Shields is a global business advisor/strategist and who has over 20 years of experience as a business leader and also does international workforce development and social entrepreneurship work in the continent of Africa and other emerging countries. She is a much sought-after speaker and trainer in the area of business startups, entrepreneur ecosystems, the gig economy, workforce development, fund development, public/private partnerships, human capital management, and social entrepreneurship. She has traveled extensively throughout the United States, France, and Africa. She holds a BA, Austin Peay State University, MBA Human Resources Management, Capella University, and “Doctor of Religious Philosophy in Christian Leadership” from Kingdom Bible College & Seminary.

She was recently appointed by Commonwealth of Virginia Governor Glen Youngkin to the State Labor and Workforce Development board. Past workforce appointments by Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam and other Tennessee Governors where she held the position of Vice-Chair of the Oversight Committee for over 15 years. She is currently a Co-chair of the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board, Board member of the Shenandoah Community Capital Fund, and Co-chair of the GO Virginia Region 8 Council member.

She has assisted over 20 corporations in the areas of business operations, funding, workforce pipeline strategy, talent development, human capital management, strategic planning, executive coaching/training, business operations, celebrity charity management, and public/private partnerships.

She is also currently a mentor/coach at the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Vanderbilt University Wond’ry Innovation Center, and TheStartup.com. Yolanda is an International Member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. Dr. Shields new book released in June of 2023 (THE GIG ECONOMY- The Future of Work). She’s also a Huffington Post Contributor.

Personal Quote:
What you do has far greater impact than what you say.” — Stephen Covey

Personal Highlights:

Sigma Nu Tau – Entrepreneurship Honor Society
Mednick Memorial Research Fellowship (2021 Shenandoah University)
Shenandoah University Adjunct Faculty of the year 2021
Published a total of 6 books