Purl Advisors

⚡️Leading the Authentic Leader revolution⚡️

What I do:
• Guide leaders to succeed authentically without compromising who they are
• Transform fear-based business practices into relationship-driven approaches
• Normalize human-centered leadership in a tactics-obsessed world
• Create systematic approaches for leaders who want to go from good to great and great to amazing

Client Transformations:
📣 "My business has taken a full 180 in 10 weeks working with Shannon."
📣 "She was able to quickly empathize with us over our fear of being like 'used-car salesmen' and help us sell authentically while maintaining our values."
📣 "Shannon provides emotional support throughout my founder journey while helping me achieve measurable results."
📣 "My team now experiences intentional grace and authentic leadership that actually drives performance."

Current Services:
🫆 1:1 coaching
🫆 Strategic advising
🫆 The Real Table
🫆 ELT Development
🫆 Rising Leader Community
🫆 Speaking

Core Philosophy:
When people show up authentically, they create deeper trust, stronger relationships, and more sustainable results. The revenue follows because authenticity builds the foundation for everything else.

Chief Executive Officer

Wingspans

Strategic advisor to CEO of award-winning career navigation platform serving 60,000+ adult learners through storytelling-based career exploration. Leading market expansion, organizational scaling, and strategic growth initiatives for U.S. Department of Education FutureFinder Challenge finalist and the Implementation Impact Prize from the Tools Competition.

Strategic Leadership:
• Market expansion strategy to scale college partnerships and employer relationships across healthcare, manufacturing, tech, and construction sectors
• Sales team talent acquisition and go-to-market strategy development
• Company vision and strategic planning for sustainable growth in EdTech market

Operational Excellence:
• Foundational process development including HR playbook and organizational manual creation
• Key customer relationship management and partnership negotiations
• Product development strategy alignment with market needs and user growth

Growth Impact:
Working directly with founder/CEO to transform a Brown University-born startup into a scalable platform that's reimagining career navigation for adult learners nationwide.

Chief Strategy Officer (Fractional)

Dextego

Strategic advisor and investor for AI-powered sales coaching platform serving enterprise B2B teams. Providing expertise across product development, go-to-market strategy, talent acquisition, and market positioning.

Key contributions:
• Go-to-market strategy and product development guidance
• Marketing and positioning strategy for enterprise sales market
• Active prospect introductions and market advocacy
• Keynote speaker at Dextego '25: "The Power of Impactful Storytelling"

Advising a fast-growing sales technology company provides direct insights into the authentic leadership challenges faced by scaling B2B organizations.

Go-to-Market Advisory Board Member & Investor

Women in Sales

Women in Sales is focused on elevating, empowering, and promoting women within the sales profession. 

To realize this vision and create more equitable sales teams in the future, we recognize that everyone needs to be part of the conversation and contribute towards the progress. Through facilitating conversations and sharing resources focused on enabling sales professionals, we can help mold the future of sales to be more inclusive.

Executive Member

Leading global event strategy for high-performing women in sales and sales leadership. I curate speakers, design transformational experiences, and facilitate leadership panels for sales executives worldwide.

Key responsibilities:
• Plan and host events globally (in-person and virtual) for women sales leaders and their teams
• Curate executive speakers and facilitate panels
• Create unique networking experiences that foster authentic professional connections
• Lead wellness integration (yoga/mindfulness) for high-pressure sales environments

Head of Events

Techstars

Recognized as All-Star Mentor (top 1% of Techstars mentors globally) for exceptional guidance to startup founders. I mentor entrepreneurs through critical scaling decisions and authentic leadership challenges.

Work focuses on helping founders stay true to their vision while adapting to rapid growth demands, manage investor pressure without compromising values, and build teams that reflect their authentic leadership style.

This direct advisory experience with high-growth startups provides real-time insights that enhance my coaching methodology.

I am honored to work with the amazing Founders in Boulder, CO, Denver, CO's Workforce Development Program, and The Ohio State University's Columbus, OH accelerator program(s).

All-Star Mentor (Top 1% Recognition)

Managed operations for startup accelerator cohort of 11 companies, providing front-row seat to daily founder coaching and venture capital ecosystem. Weekly exposure to authentic leadership challenges faced by growth company founders - from managing investor pressure while staying true to company values to scaling teams without losing culture.

This immersive experience deepens my understanding of the exact leadership struggles my coaching clients navigate.

Program Operations Associate I Startup Ecosystem Catalyst

Pavilion

Active member of elite go-to-market leadership community, contributing insights on authentic leadership and sustainable growth strategies.

Fractionals United

Active member of leading community for senior fractional leaders. Engaging with C-suite fractional executives on leadership challenges, business development, and authentic leadership approaches in flexible work models.

Member

Strategic advisor to CEO on leadership and organizational strategy for premier fractional executive community. Provided counsel on scaling operations, leadership development, and community engagement strategies.

Advisory Board Member

Sol Bound Adventures

Founded corporate wellness and team building company from a mission of bringing innate joy back to the surface and reintroducing organizations to the "art of play." "Those who play together, stay together" Creating tailored corporate experiences that expand as wide as imagination.

Mission & Philosophy:
• Founded from love of facilitating happiness in the world and belief that teams could benefit from reintroduction to authentic play and connection
• Created comprehensive corporate experiences combining activities, sun (sol), laughter, rest, great nourishment, and meaningful team connection
• Designed programs for all ability levels with dedicated staff tailoring each experience to specific team needs and dynamics

Business Development & Client Services:
• Market to corporations seeking engaging team building and wellness experiences that prioritize joy, connection, and authentic play
• Conduct discovery sessions with companies to uncover goals and customize experiences aligned with their team dynamics and objectives
• Allow organizations the freedom to focus on growth, bonding, and enjoying nature together while handling all logistical details

Program Development & Leadership:
• Plan, market, and lead corporate retreats throughout the United States featuring hiking, biking, nature walks, white water rafting, kayaking, and ropes courses
• Develop and deliver specialized workshops including corporate yoga programs designed for diverse ability levels
• Teach "Yoga at Work" programs for corporations nationwide through both in-person and virtual classes

Strategic Impact:
Created innovative corporate wellness model addressing growing demand for joy-centered, authentic team experiences that restore energy while building stronger, more connected organizations through the transformative power of play.

BombBomb

Led revenue strategy and 36-person cross-functional team across Inside Sales, Enterprise Sales, Partnerships, Revenue Operations, Customer Success, and Support. Implemented systematic leadership approaches that drove measurable business transformation.

Leadership & Team Building:
• Built Inside Sales team from 1 to 4 employees with strategic focus on transactional growth
• Scaled Customer Success team from 3 managers to 7 managers + 1 Director
• Led organizational restructuring and process optimization across revenue operations

Business Transformation Results:
• Expanded managed customer base from $4M to $14.5M ARR (260% growth)
• Reduced monthly churn by 7% through systematic process improvements
• Successfully converted key contracts to multi-year terms with price optimization
• Implemented foundational sales methodologies including MEDDICC, Challenger Sales, and value-centric selling

Systems & Process Innovation:
• Designed and deployed standard operating procedures across revenue teams
• Created scalable onboarding and customer success frameworks
• Established speed-to-lead processes that improved conversion metrics

Chief Revenue Officer

PINATA

Led revenue strategy and operations for enterprise TaskFlow platform serving front-line sales, marketing, and logistics teams from startups to Fortune 100 companies. Navigated company through critical restructuring following Silicon Valley Bank collapse.

Crisis Leadership & Restructuring:
• Led executive team through 75% workforce reduction following SVB collapse
• Restructured Sales and Customer Success teams with focus on new verticals and KPIs
• Presented to Board of Directors on revenue strategy and company stabilization efforts
• Preserved enterprise customer relationships and revenue continuity during organizational crisis

Revenue Growth & Operations:
• Refined ICP (Ideal Customer Profile), messaging, personas, and sales methodology for enterprise workflow automation market
• Restructured go-to-market strategy targeting alcohol, food/beverage, beauty, health, finance, distribution, staffing, and retail sectors
• Optimized demo processes and customer acquisition methodology for TaskFlow platform
• Doubled runway in 6 months through strategic restructuring and operational efficiency

Strategic Impact:
Transformed revenue operations for enterprise workflow optimization platform serving Fortune 100 companies, ensuring business continuity and growth trajectory despite external financial crisis affecting the entire venture capital ecosystem.

You're tired of being told there's only one way to succeed.

Every guru has a framework. Every consultant has a playbook. Everyone wants you to follow their exact system, even when it doesn't feel like you.

You're a founder or leader who's built something meaningful by following your instincts. But now you're wondering: Do I have to become someone else to get to the next level?

Here's what I know after 20+ years scaling businesses: The leaders who create lasting success don't copy someone else's playbook. They amplify their own.

I help founders of growing companies and individual leaders turn their authentic strengths into systematic approaches that scale.

Through business transformations and 1:1 coaching, we reverse-engineer what's already working for you and build systems around your natural leadership style.

The result?
⚡ You lead like yourself. Your team connects with the real you. Your business grows in a way that energizes rather than drains you.
⚡ You don't have to choose between being authentic and being successful. When you operate from your genuine strengths, you get better results AND feel better doing it.

Here's how I can help you:
• Subscribe to The Real T newsletter - Weekly insights on authentic leadership and revenue transformation: https://bit.ly/therealt
• Take the Authentic Leadership Audit - Free assessment to see if you're leading authentically or performing a role: https://purladvisors.com/resources
• Book a 30-minute strategy session - We'll dig into what's keeping you stuck and I'll share actionable insights you can use immediately: https://bit.ly/purladvisors

Not ready yet? No problem. Stick around for real conversations about scaling revenue without losing your soul.

Most people say "we should connect" and never follow through.


Stephanie Blair had my Leadership Conversation Cards in people's hands within 6 hours.

I met her at a conference two weeks ago. Mid-conversation, she asked about my work. I mentioned the cards. She immediately took a stack, passed them around her table that night, and then featured them in this week's newsletter to her entire audience.

No "let me think about it." No "maybe someday." Just instant, unfiltered support for another business owner.

That's not normal. We've been trained to protect our territory, hoard opportunities, see other entrepreneurs as competition. Most of us have learned to keep our cards close because we're afraid there isn't enough to go around.

⚡ Stephanie operates from abundance.

She runs Know & Flourish, where she partners with C-suite executives and go-to-market leaders navigating high-stakes transitions. The leaders who call her are facing new board dynamics they've never dealt with. Stepping into roles they're not sure they're ready for. Leading through chaos without internal advocates to reality-check their decisions.

She doesn't do the "rah-rah you've got this" coaching. She does the work that actually moves the needle: assessing what's broken, building the skills they're missing, and stepping in as interim leadership when they need someone who's actually done it before.

This week's newsletter drops something most conference advice completely misses: the real work isn't what happens in the room. It's what you do in the 48 hours after.

Her Conference Playbook (link 👇) cuts through performative networking. She's not telling you to collect more business cards or post obligatory "great conversations" updates. She's talking about showing up grounded, following through with actual intention, and building relationships that matter instead of transactional connections that evaporate by Tuesday.

And her Monday Music series? 🎶 AMAZING.... This week she featured Alabama Shakes' "Don't Wanna Fight" with a message about choosing alignment over turf wars. About recognizing when you're burning energy against each other instead of channeling it toward what actually moves everyone forward.

That's the work she does. Not the sanitized "collaboration" that companies put on posters. The real work of helping leaders navigate the messy, high-pressure moments where there's no playbook and no one to ask.

If you're leading through volatility without a sounding board, her newsletter is the reset you need. If you're facing board expectations you've never navigated before, she's done it and can show you how.

She doesn't just talk about authentic leadership. She lives it.

If you see her at a conference, say hi. She'll probably ask how she can support you before you finish introducing yourself.

That's what this is supposed to look like.

⚡Shannon Plumb⚡

Join the Authentic Leadership revolution ⚡️ • Stop following someone else's playbook • Championing leaders who refuse generic frameworks • Leadership coach + Business transformation expert

Does anyone else say a little prayer when they accept a connection request?



....just me?


.....okay then.

"My team now experiences intentional grace and authentic leadership that actually drives performance."

This stopped me in my tracks.

Because most people think you have to choose:
❓ Be kind OR get results.
❓ Be authentic OR be successful.
❓ Care about people OR hit numbers.

That's a false choice.

The leaders getting the best results? They're the ones who refuse to choose.

⚡ They build cultures where people feel seen AND challenged.
⚡ Where grace AND accountability coexist.
⚡ Where humanity drives performance, not despite it.

You don't have to become someone else to be successful.
You have to become more of who you are.

Tomorrow's post will touch on the how...now that we are all aligned on the what.

Four pounds of courage that transformed a mission 🐾


This story blew me away this week…plus look at that adorableness. Melting. 


Meet Smoky, the 4-pound Yorkshire Terrier who became one of WWII’s most unlikely heroes.

Found in a foxhole in the New Guinea jungle in 1944, Smoky went on to fly 12 combat missions and earn 8 battle stars.

But her defining moment came when engineers needed to run a telegraph wire through a 70-foot pipe at a crucial airbase in the Philippines.

The standard approach? A dangerous three-day excavation that would expose 250 ground crew and 40 planes to enemy fire.

Smoky’s approach? She ran the wire through herself in minutes, completing a mission everyone said required something bigger, stronger, more “qualified.”

This is what I see with the leaders I work with:
You’ve been told there’s one way to lead. The “proven” playbook everyone follows. The path forward requires resources you don’t have, time you can’t afford, or exposes you to risks that could derail everything you’ve built. But something about the standard approach doesn’t fit.

The most effective leaders find their way by:
	• Reframing the constraint as the advantage (Smoky’s size was the solution, not the limitation)
	• Finding the unconventional path (when the standard playbook doesn’t fit your reality)
	• Trusting what makes them different (cross-functional creativity that others overlook)

After the war, Smoky performed in 42 live television shows without ever repeating a trick. She also became the world’s first recorded therapy dog, bringing comfort to wounded soldiers for 12 years.

Same authenticity, different applications. That’s what sustainable leadership looks like.

Sometimes the most transformative solutions come from those brave enough to find a different way through.

Be like Smoky.

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"Trust your gut" is terrible advice for the stay-or-go decision.


Because your gut feels the same whether you're:
• Growing through discomfort, or
• Being slowly broken down

One expands you. One erodes you. Both feel uncomfortable.

I created PROVEN to cut through the confusion:
⚡ P = Pattern: Getting easier or worse? Growth improves with reps. Harm compounds with time.
⚡ R = Respect: Boundaries honored or bulldozed? Growth stretches you. Harm dismisses your "no."
⚡ O = Orientation: Aligned with your values or against them? Growth makes you more you. Harm requires less you.
⚡ V = Vitality: Energized by progress or just drained? Growth renews. Harm depletes.
⚡ E = Empowerment: Choosing this or trapped in it? Growth is a yes you own. Harm is a yes you owe.
⚡ N = Nourishment: Building you up or breaking you down? Growth says "you're capable." Harm says "you're flawed."

The difference matters:
Growth discomfort expands you while respecting your humanity.
Red flags diminish you while demanding compliance.

Your feelings are data, not destiny. Watch the patterns. Trust what you see.

Exploring this with Alexine Mudawar, Fiona Simpson, and Katie Chatterton, MBA  on Thursday, October 23. Registration 👇  (recording will be shared if you can't make it).

15 Things to Beat the Sunday Scaries 👻 


That Sunday evening dread is real.
Here's how to reclaim your weekends (or at least one day of it):


Move your body
Plan your week on Friday
Get outside for natural light
Reflect on one win from the past week
Create a Sunday ritual you look forward to
Accomplish one small task to feel productive
Write down 3 good things from your weekend
Set a "no work thoughts" boundary after 6 PM
Build a calming bedtime routine for better sleep
Skip the Sunday alcohol—it increases anxiety later
Prep one thing for Monday (outfit, lunch, breakfast)
Put your phone down—less scrolling, more presence
Reframe Monday as a fresh start, not a prison sentence
Do a "Sunday reset": tidy space, prep meals, fresh sheets
Ask yourself why—if it's intense, something might need to change

The Sunday scaries don't have to win.
Start with one or two of these and see what shifts.

What helps you end the weekend on a better note?

Industry conferences are a waste of time for senior executives.


Yup. I said it and mean it....with few exceptions.

I was in a debrief with several sharp leaders after a recent industry event.
The consensus was surprising.
It wasn't the keynotes or the content that stuck with them.

It was the lack of genuine connection.
Lots of handshakes and quick hellos 👋 in a crowded hallway.
But very few meaningful conversations.

Summed up perfectly: "It was too fluffy. They were trying to be everything to everyone, so it ended up being for no one."

Sound familiar?

This is a pattern I see with leaders who are recalibrating their instincts. You start to recognize the difference between performative networking and real community.

Your gut tells you when an environment isn't built for substance.

The real value isn't in the packed agenda or the celebrity speaker.
⚡ It's in the quiet corners where you can have an honest conversation with a peer who gets it.
⚡ It's in the small, curated groups where you can solve real problems.

The lesson is clear: Trust that feeling.

Your time is your most valuable asset. Seeking environments that facilitate deep connection isn't a luxury; it's a strategic necessity. It's where the real work gets done.

When did you realize that deeper connection was more valuable than a packed agenda? How does your calendar look this week? Packed or Impactful?

The "tough vs. caring" dichotomy is built on a false premise.

You can do both.

Here's how:
1. Redefine accountability as care: When you hold someone to high standards, you're saying "I believe you're capable of this." Lowering expectations is often the unkind choice. The grace comes in how you hold people accountable with context, support, and genuine investment in their growth.

2. Create psychological safety WITH high performance: Google's Project Aristotle found psychological safety was the #1 predictor of high-performing teams. But safety doesn't mean comfort. It means people can take risks, admit mistakes, and challenge ideas without fear. That's what enables breakthrough performance.

3. Lead from your values, not a script: Authenticity isn't about oversharing or being unfiltered. It's about aligning your actions with your actual values. People can smell incongruence from miles away. When you stop performing "leadership" and start embodying it, trust deepens and performance follows.

4. Practice radical candor: Care personally AND challenge directly. Most leaders do one or the other. The magic is in the "and". Giving honest feedback because you genuinely care about someone's success, not despite it.

5. Make humanity a strategy, not a sentiment: Understanding what motivates each person, removing obstacles, celebrating wins, addressing burnout. These aren't soft skills. They're competitive advantages that directly impact retention, innovation, and results.

Be honest: Which one of these do you nail? And which one makes you uncomfortable?

Taplio

⚡Shannon Plumb⚡'s Linkedin Analytics

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