Thentia’s leadership team is a diverse and exceptional group of professionals who have brought major influence to not only the company’s direction, but to their own teams. Those teams make up Thentia’s structure, functionality, and culture and contribute to our success. In our Leadership Spotlight series, we sit down with members of our leadership team to discuss everything from the importance of powerful leadership influence in the tech industry to of course, the path that led them to Thentia.
This month, we had a chance to chat with Shauna Cole, Thentia’s VP, Delivery.
Before embarking on her journey with Thentia, Shauna worked as an Enterprise Program Manager for the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) in their PMO office. During the last three years of her time with the State of Oklahoma, she had the opportunity to oversee the contract between the State and Thentia. This is where she gained visibility into Thentia from the customer’s perspective. In June 2022, Shauna joined the Thentia team where she has since been named our VP, Delivery.
Outside of work, Shauna loves to spend time with her family who recently welcomed a new baby granddaughter named Sunni Michelle. As a family, they love to take day trips around Oklahoma where they visit places like Medicine Park and Mount Scott. Shauna also enjoys giving back to her community alongside her Life.Church family through serving the recovery community.
What is your favourite part about the Delivery side of Thentia?
My favorite part of my role as VP, Delivery is shaping the direction of how Thentia delivers to our customers, influencing how projects are executed, how the team is organized, and how resources are allocated to make a significant impact to the success of Thentia and our customers. I love leading the team at the forefront of adopting new methodologies and best practices in project management and delivery, driving innovation and improvement on how we deliver value to our customers.
How do you see technology changing in state government?
Technology in state and municipal government will evolve in several ways, with an increase in adoption of digital platforms for citizen services (such as Thentia Cloud), enhanced data analytics for policy decision making, and the integration of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence to streamline government operations. Cybersecurity measures will continue to become more critical as state and municipal governments are handling sensitive data.
Additionally, advancement in e-governance and remote collaboration tools will reshape how government agencies interact with constituents and each other. Overall the trend is towards leveraging technology to improve efficiency, transparency, and public service in state and municipal government.
Who in your career and life has inspired you to be a leader? How?
During my life I have been both inspired by great leaders and great mentors. The mentor who has inspired me the most is a dear friend of mine, she has recovered from several forms of cancer and through it all she has maintained a positive attitude and strong faith. She has helped me the most over the last few years through considering my motive. After a lot of work, tears, and trials I now find myself considering my motive in all situations, good or bad. This has opened my eyes to areas of my life and my leadership where I have been able to make significant changes to better myself.
Cultivating my leadership skills has come in many ways but the leaders whom I have followed have shown me to embrace continuous learning, to seek mentorship (and to be a mentor myself), to continue to improve my communication skills, to embrace change and remain adaptable, to understand and empathize with my team, and to lead by example.
What do you love most about Thentia’s company culture?
What I love most about our company culture is the promotion of collaboration, innovation, and a positive work environment. Thentia’s culture values diversity and inclusion, and encourages open communication, while supporting a healthy work-life balance. I thrive in an environment where I am recognized for my contributions and where a shared commitment to the values and mission are encouraged, which the Thentia culture offers.
Bonus question: What piece of advice would you share with someone who is just starting out in their career?
The advice I would give someone starting a technology career today would be to embrace continuous learning. The tech industry evolves rapidly, so staying updated on emerging technologies and trends is critical. Build a strong foundation in the fundamentals and gradually specialize. Cultivate problem solving skills, as they are valuable to any tech role. Networking is essential; connect with professionals, attend industry events, and participate in online communities. Lastly, gain practical experience through projects and internships to complement theoretical knowledge.
