Anna Laura Sommer Photography

Anna Laura Sommer Photography

 

Purpose

I’m deeply committed to helping others achieve what they didn't know was possible through their leadership and philanthropy.

At 18 years old, I found my dream career: university fundraising. For 20+ years, I raised hundreds of millions of dollars in my beloved field, eventually working my way up to the corner office as a senior VP. Through my experiences as a working woman and leader, I saw the need to develop more leaders, build stronger workplace cultures, and help people create meaning through philanthropy, which led me to found Hocking Leadership.


Bio

Shanna A. Hocking (Shanna rhymes with Donna) is the founder and CEO of Hocking Leadership, which specializes in leadership development and fundraising strategy. Hocking Leadership’s clients include universities, national nonprofit organizations, global businesses, and family foundations. Prior, Shanna spent 20 years raising hundreds of millions of dollars and leading collaborative teams at organizations such as the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Alabama, and Duke University. Shanna is the author of One Bold Move a Day: Meaningful Actions Women Can Take to Fulfill Their Leadership and Career Potential (November 2022, McGraw Hill), which was recognized by The Next Big Idea Club as “must read nonfiction.”

Shanna’s expertise has been featured in Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg Businessweek, Harper's Bazaar UK, Entrepreneur, New York Post, Business Insider, and Today.com, among others. Her articles have been published on Harvard Business Review, Fortune, Fast Company, Chicago Tribune, The Muse, Motherly, and Forbes. She has appeared live on ABC, NBC, CBS, and Nexstar affiliate television stations across the country.

Shanna received a B.A. in Psychology from Columbia University and a B.A. in Modern Jewish Studies from the Jewish Theological Seminary.


Philosophy

I am a
student of leadership.


Best learning and reflecting:
 while running

Finding joy in:
gratitude, family, handwritten notes, and live music

How I approach life:
big city mentality and a college town heart

Viewpoint:
luck is when preparation meets opportunity
Londonsunrise.jpg
Green Park, London
One of my favorite views in the world:
 

let's continue learning together, shall we?

Sign up for my email list to get my leadership and career insights directly to your inbox.