Shannon Lima grew up with a mindset shaped by hustle, curiosity, and staying grounded—even in high-pressure environments. Based in New York City, she’s spent her career navigating the fast lanes of business and strategy, always with a calm, clear voice in the noise.
She started out in client services, where she learned how to build trust, manage expectations, and get things done—skills she still relies on. Over time, she moved into operations and strategy, leading projects that demanded sharp focus and cross-team coordination. She found her rhythm in work that required her to untangle complex systems and bring order to the chaos.
“I like being the person who brings clarity,” she once shared. “Not by overexplaining—just by making things work.”
People around her noticed. Shannon became known for her balance: focused, but flexible. Quietly strong. She didn’t need to be the loudest person in the room to have the biggest impact.
Her leadership is marked by thoughtfulness and accountability. She sets high standards, but she doesn’t burn people out. Instead, she encourages progress—on the job and in life.
Outside of work, Shannon supports early-career professionals and stays active in mentoring circles. She knows the value of guidance, especially in spaces where voices like hers haven’t always been heard.
Today, Shannon Lima stands out for how she works, not just what she does. She’s not chasing spotlight moments—she’s building something real, with purpose.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My day usually starts early. I make coffee and check my notes from the night before. I’m a planner, so I use the first 30 minutes to set priorities. I work best in the morning, so I block that time for tasks that require strategy, writing, or decision-making.
I try to avoid back-to-back meetings. It’s tempting, but it kills focus. I’ve found that giving myself space between calls makes me sharper in all of them.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I write them down, and then I let them sit. If I’m still thinking about the idea two or three days later, it’s probably worth exploring.
I always start with structure. What does this idea solve? Who does it affect? If I can’t answer those clearly, I pause. Once I know the “why,” I build the “how.”
What’s one trend that excites you?
I’m fascinated by how companies are rethinking internal operations. Not just remote work—but clearer async processes, better onboarding, and real-time documentation that doesn’t require meetings.
It’s not glamorous, but it’s overdue. People build culture in workflows, not slide decks.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
I keep a “Don’t Touch” list. It’s a short list of things I know I’ll want to tweak—but don’t actually need to. That helps me avoid wasting time perfecting things that don’t move the needle.
What advice would you give your younger self?
I would tell myself to think like an owner, not a consultant. Don’t just solve the problem in front of you, ask yourself how it affects the value creation story, the exit path, and the long-term operating model. That mindset accelerates growth in this field and throughout life in general. M&A work teaches you quickly the importance of people over models. Models help assess what something is worth today, people determine the worth post-deal. I would tell myself to invest more into learning the company culture, leadership, and incentives – not just financials.
Tell us something you believe almost nobody agrees with you on?
I don’t think being “busy” is a red flag. Some people thrive on structured intensity. I do.
For me, being fully booked (with purpose) is energising. It’s not burnout—it’s momentum.
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I do a “week in review” every Friday. Just 10 minutes and I keep details in my Excel tracker.
What worked, what didn’t, what I avoided, what I overthought. Patterns show up fast when you do it weekly.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I take a walk and pause. Not for long—just enough to move around, reset, and come back ready to get the problem solved or the task complete.
I’ve learned that staring at a screen when your brain is spinning never helps. I’ll either take a walk or write by hand in a notebook. That always helps me reframe the problem.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
Proactively taking on responsibility before someone formally gives it to you. In M&A environments, things move fast and roles are rarely perfectly defined- so instead of waiting for direction, I learned to step into the white space. Whether it’s owning a workstream, designing a solution, or leading communications throughout an integration, I treated each opportunity like I was already accountable for the outcome. That mindset consistently accelerated and positioned me as someone who could lead, not just execute.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
I once overcommitted to a role that looked great on paper—but didn’t align with how I work. The systems were chaotic, leadership was unclear, and I tried to force it to work for too long.
When I finally left, I felt like I’d failed. But later, I realised I learned more about how I don’t want to work than I ever could have in a perfect-fit job. That experience shaped the kind of roles I look for now.
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
A “re-onboarding” service for people who’ve stayed at the same company for 5+ years. Not training—but a full reset: updated goals, clarity around growth, and modern systems.
People evolve. Their jobs should, too.
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
I use Notion for personal knowledge management. It’s where I store frameworks, meeting notes, team docs, and old project references.
I keep it minimal—just enough structure to find what I need without it turning into a second job.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
Book: Company of One by Paul Jarvis. It changed how I think about scale and sustainability. Bigger isn’t always better.
Podcast: WorkLife with Adam Grant. It challenges assumptions about work in a smart, human way.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
Barbarians at the Gate. It captures a historical warning about societal collapse from external threats, offering a modern business lesson on corporate greed, old-school finance, and the 1980s Wall Street culture.
Key learnings
- Setting limits around availability leads to better work and stronger trust.
- Staying curious and excited to learn new things – regardless if that’s a new digital adoption platform, Oracle, WalkMe, or something in energy or food production – love to learn everything. The broader your knowledge and more curious you are will compound and help you grow.
- Productivity doesn’t require fancy tools—structure and intention matter more.
- Leadership often shows up in how you manage pressure and how you guide and share knowledge with colleagues.