Your Leadership Roadmap—Not Someone Else’s Playbook
I partner with university advancement executives who are leading through complexity—navigating ambitious goals, competing priorities, and constant change.
Whether you're managing team dynamics, preparing for a major campaign, or stepping into a new role, your vision is clear—but the path forward may not always be.
You don’t need someone else’s playbook.
You deserve a trusted partner to help you shape a roadmap that reflects your leadership, your goals, and your organization.
My advisory services are grounded in real-world experience—from leading large advancement teams and raising transformational gifts to advising executives through leadership transitions.
You won’t get templated advice or abstract frameworks. You’ll get thoughtful guidance, strategic clarity, and a sounding board you can count on—so you can lead with confidence in the moments that matter most.
“I have never encountered a leadership and fundraising consultant as effective as Shanna. The proof is in the pudding—we have met or exceeded all of our fundraising targets. I wouldn’t just highly recommend Hocking Leadership—I would shout it from the rooftops for any organization looking to elevate their fundraising game.”
– Amber Hacker, Chief of External Affairs and Chief Financial Officer, Interfaith America
Ways to Work Together
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You’re navigating a lot.
Leading teams. Stewarding donors. Meeting ambitious goals. Answering to institutional leadership. Most days, it feels like everyone needs something from you—and there’s no space to think, let alone plan.
You may be:
Balancing competing priorities across advancement, academics, and administration.
Feeling pressure to deliver consistent results in an unpredictable world.
Determining how to communicate your value beyond the metrics.
You already have the vision. You don’t have to carry it alone.
I provide personalized, strategic support for advancement executives navigating complex organizational dynamics, bold fundraising goals, and the everyday demands of leading in all directions.
After working together, you’ll be able to:
Navigate complex institutional dynamics with greater confidence
Make strategic decisions that balance immediate needs with long-term vision
Communicate your value effectively to institutional leadership
Lead with clarity during times of transition and change
Build fundraising strategies that align with your leadership approach
Strengthen team culture to drive better donor engagement and results
I serve as your sounding board, strategic thought partner, and real-time resource (because things come up and I’m here for you).
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You want your team to collaborate more effectively. To clarify roles and goals. To solve problems together, not in silos. And to have fun.
That’s where I come in.
I design and facilitate custom retreats for advancement leadership teams that combine strategic planning with leadership development—so your team can step out of the day to day work, think bigger, and leave more aligned than they arrived.
These sessions give you time and space to:
Strengthen trust and relationships across the leadership team (many teams choose to include Hocking Leadership’s signature About Me workshop to deepen connections and build stronger working relationships)
Clarify individual roles and collective goals
Communicate more clearly and collaborate more intentionally
Make meaningful progress on strategic priorities
Tackle real challenges with fresh energy and shared purpose
And yes—have joy at work
Every retreat is designed around what your team needs most. You bring the goals. I’ll bring the structure, facilitation, and real-world advancement experience to help you achieve them.
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When your senior advancement team is navigating change, onboarding new leaders, or trying to drive results without shared purpose, even the most talented teams can feel misaligned.
You may be experiencing:
Strong individual performers who struggle to operate as a cohesive team
Communication breakdowns or friction that slows momentum
New leaders unsure how to lead in a culture they’re still learning
A desire to engage your VP and leadership team more intentionally
That’s where Team Coaching comes in.
I facilitate monthly, on-campus sessions with your senior leadership team to strengthen communication, build trust, and create a shared approach to leadership—so you can make progress on what matters most.
Each session blends:
Actionable tools and strategies to improve how your team works together
Space for real-time problem-solving and collaborative learning
A consistent rhythm for reflection, alignment, and forward momentum
Here’s what you can expect:
Practical strategies that advance team leadership and fundraising goals
Stronger communication, trust, and collaboration across your team
Purposeful integration of new leaders into the organization and culture
A leadership team that works with your VP to move the organization forward
Greater cohesion and confidence during periods of transition or growth
“Shanna Hocking brought clarity, energy, and purpose to our executive team and advancement department during a time of transition in both our organization and our profession. Because of her own experience as a fundraiser, she understands the pressure and the promise of our work, and that makes every conversation more grounded and actionable. Our team leaves each session feeling more connected to each other and the mission, more focused on roles and goals, and more confident in how to lead forward—together.”
– Roberta Albert, Vice President for Institutional Advancement, Teachers College, Columbia University
What people are saying…
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“I have a thousand important items on my plate at work, and coaching was an opportunity to step back to consider how to do this work more effectively. Shanna offered specific suggestions on what to say and how to manage challenging workplace scenarios that I could immediately apply to real-life cases. Shanna’s insights on leading people allowed me to more deliberately make choices that strengthen my team.”
-Vice President, Enrollment, Liberal Arts College
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“Shanna kept us organized, motivated and goal-oriented. Her fundraising coaching was the best that I have ever experienced. Shanna had a suggestion for every possible donor scenario that was completely on target. I felt like she was sitting next to me at the donor meetings when we talked about the campaign and philanthropy.”
– Shari Pochapin, Campaign Co-Chair and President Emerita, Sutton Place Synagogue
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“When you’re serving in a VP role, it’s really important to have outside counsel, particularly from someone like Shanna who is working across the industry with different VPs and with different organizations. It’s been so helpful to talk things through with her and know that she’s going to be honest with me and present different viewpoints about how to solve a potential issue. Working with Shanna has increased my confidence in my abilities as a VP. I think she’s exceptional.”
– Carol Packard, Vice President, Development and Alumni Relations, Lehigh University
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“Working with Shanna as a leadership coach gave me the confidence to lead authentically while navigating a highly complex work environment. I am now better positioned to advocate for my team and myself, lead high stakes conversations internally and externally, and communicate clearly and compassionately. I highly recommend her services to any C-suite leaders looking to achieve their personal and professional goals.”
– Jessica L. Miley, Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer, Children's Hospital Orange County Foundation
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“What Shanna does is a gift and a craft. More than just a skilled facilitator, Shanna uniquely understands leadership and advancement. She engaged the full team in our discussions and inspired each team member to step into their leadership. I can already see the value of what she created for our team in how my team members work following the retreat.”
Vice Dean of Development and Alumni Relations, Penn Nursing
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“Shanna listened closely to the goals I had in mind and developed an interactive presentation that engaged the entire team to think deeply about how they can lead from where they are and have an impact on our organization. She also led a workshop with the managers to define our values and outline how we will measure success in the coming year. I am grateful to Shanna for helping our team build a strong foundation for fundraising success.”
– M. Roe Fellows, Vice President, Development, New York University
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“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’s been in similar situations herself. We’ve had a successful fundraising year and much of what we’ve been able to accomplish correlates to the support provided to us by Shanna.”
– Heather Culp, Chief Philanthropy Officer, University of Maryland Medicine Philanthropy
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“I have never encountered a fundraising consultant as effective as Shanna. The proof is in the pudding—we have met or exceeded all of our fundraising targets. Shanna brings high-level strategic insights to every conversation, plus practical on-the-ground solutions. I wouldn’t just highly recommend Hocking Leadership—I would shout it from the rooftops for any organization looking to elevate their fundraising game.”
– Amber Hacker, Chief of External Affairs and Chief Financial Officer, Interfaith America
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“Shanna’s expert facilitation, as well as understanding of the unique nature of a business school, created an open, engaged, and collaborative dialogue for our leadership team retreat. Her ability to synthesize different perspectives and offer feedback in real time is an asset. She also made it a point to learn each participant’s name and position in the organization, which led to a personal touch in the discussions.”
– Manoj Malhotra, PhD., Dean, College of Business, Lehigh University
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“Shanna was a delight to work with for UMB's Fifth Annual Women's History Month Symposium! Shanna offered the audience helpful career advice and clear strategies on relevant topics including self-confidence, leadership, and work-life balance. Shanna's passion and inspiration for women's empowerment was definitely a highlight of our daylong event!”
– Paulette Harris-Gross, Program Manager, Office of the President, University of Maryland, Baltimore
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“Shanna is dedicated to helping women lead their workforce and feel empowered to show up each day with confidence. She helped me develop my own leadership style and create an environment where my team wants to succeed. She is always on your side—cheering from the stands—but she also pushes you to rise above the noise and push through challenges that can hold us back from accomplishing the end goal. I am forever grateful to have had the opportunity to work with her.”
– Sarah Bernstein Solomon, Chief Development Officer, Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia
