Executive Leadership Advisory for VPs and Senior Leader Onboarding Coaching

Goal: In 2023, University of Maryland Medicine Chief Philanthropy Officer Heather Culp started in a newly created role overseeing philanthropy for both the University of Maryland Medical Center and the University of Maryland Baltimore’s School of Medicine. She wanted a thought partner to help her navigate this unique and complex role as well as develop and align a cohesive team between the two entities that could drive fundraising success.

Strategy: Heather hired Shanna Hocking of Hocking Leadership to be the strategic advisor and sounding board she could turn to as she faced various challenges and opportunities in her role. After hiring two senior leaders, Heather engaged Shanna to provide leadership coaching to ensure they had the support they needed to onboard successfully. Heather also brought Shanna in to provide executive team coaching to help support and align the leaders in their management of one cohesive group.

Results:

How Shanna has helped the Chief Philanthropy Officer

  • Focus on the incremental gains she’s making and keep her momentum going

  • Gain new ideas and strategies for how to navigate the complexities of her unique role

  • Stay focused on the bigger picture and not get bogged down by individual challenges

  • Gain peace of mind that she has a trusted partner to turn to whenever she needs

How Shanna has helped the New Senior Leadership Team

  • Successfully onboard into their new roles and be further ahead in six months than they would’ve been without support

  • Work through challenges and questions and develop their leadership skills

  • Engage with CPO more purposefully

  • Better collaborate with each other around their individual responsibilities and work

“Shanna is my one-stop shop for mentoring, coaching, team development, thoughtful strategic advice, and encouragement. She’s well-versed in fundraising and understands the nuanced environments, challenges, and opportunities facing us because she has been in similar situations herself. We’ve had a successful fundraising year this past year, and much of what we’ve been able to accomplish correlates to the support provided to us by Shanna. Her thoughtfulness, skill in connecting authentically, and ability to ask the right questions are some of the many reasons I view her as a top coach and consultant in this space.”

Heather Culp

Senior Vice President and Chief Philanthropy Officer, University of Maryland Medicine Philanthropy