Our Mission
We’re in business to make work more human.
Vision
The future of work is now. It’s a place where people are empowered to bring their whole self to the table and share their voice because it makes us all better; a place where diversity is welcomed and inclusion and belonging are non-negotiable; a place where business is a force for good, and innovation is the rule rather than the exception.
Core Values
Evolve Group, Inc. is people-centered and anti-racist. Empathy, humility, curiosity, and courage inform everything we say and do. We are positive disruptors committed to making work more human.
Approach
By centering Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion and championing Talent Optimization, People (HR) Best Practices, Principles of Organizational Effectiveness, Learning, and "Future of Work" Design, we aim to position clients to rise and successfully meet the challenges of leading business in a VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex, ambiguous) world.
What does it mean to be an anti-racist organization? It means we are committed to dismantling systemic barriers within businesses (including our own), industries, and communities that perpetuate social inequality and disenfranchise groups of people from access, opportunities, and rights. Is it difficult work? Yes. Can it be uncomfortable? Sometimes. Do we make mistakes and fail? Absolutely. But that doesn’t deter us from entering the arena. We are here to listen, learn, teach and challenge “the way we’ve always done it” because we need to do better.
We are dedicated to helping organizations EVOLVE (even when it’s challenging or uncomfortable), and we choose to partner with clients who are authentically committed to the process. Leadership buy-in, commitment, sponsorship, and accountability are critical.
Our approach is built on trust, first and foremost. We architect and anchor people strategies to organizational goals based on data. Laser focused on effecting positive and sustainable organizational change, we conduct assessments, analyze themes, and present findings that inform strategic planning & future interventions.
With a focus on sustainability, we are committed to building internal capacity and skill at our client organizations, so they can navigate challenges long after the engagement with our team is over.
We do this work because we want to make a difference in people’s lives, because we believe that a diverse, inclusive, and equitable organization is more effective, innovative, and competitive, and because we believe business can be a force for good.
About
FOUNDER/CEO + PRINCIPAL
Shannon Scharnberg, MA Ed, SPHR, CDE®
Pronouns (She, Her, Hers)
Shannon is the Founder/CEO + Principal at Evolve Group, Inc. overseeing all consulting, coaching, learning & development services. Shannon is a People Champion, former HR Executive & certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), certified Chief Diversity Executive (CDE®), Organizational Development & Learning Expert, Culture Architect, and a Positive Disruptor with nearly 20 years of experience across non-profit, health care, education, outdoor, B corporations, and a variety of other industries and global organizations.
I grew up in a family full of love and music, but one lacking financial resources. My parents were blue-collar, minimum wage-earning folks who often held down multiple jobs just to keep food on the table. We benefitted from social services like food stamps and Medi-Cal and the generosity of churches and other social support groups that donated food, athletic clothing, and school supplies for myself and my brothers. We didn’t have many toys, but we had musical instruments and learned to play from our father who is a talented musician.
My brothers and I eventually started our own record label and band. We wrote and produced music and toured a little. We’re famous amongst our friends and family! Our Middle Eastern mother taught us about humility, generosity, respect, and kindness and instilled a belief in each of us that we could accomplish and become anything we dreamed of despite our humble beginnings, and I believed her.
I loved learning and was the first to attend university and graduate school, to start a doctoral program, and the first woman to become a business leader and executive in my family. My grandmothers would be proud.
The Good Stuff
My family is extremely diverse. We are Middle Eastern, White, AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander), Black/African American, Hispanic/Latine, bi-racial, neurodiverse, introverts/ ambiverts/ extroverts, active military and veterans, adopted, socioeconomically disadvantaged and millionaires, blue-collar union card holders and CEOs, entrepreneurs, single parents, dog parents, aging parents, caregivers, LGBTQ+, religious and spiritual, democrats and republicans, educated in both academic institutions and the school of life. What a blessing it has been to be raised amongst these amazing humans!
We need the diversity of each other’s gifts to overcome challenges and I am committed to changing the world in a significant way so that all the people I love feel seen, heard, included, safe and comfortable bringing their whole, brilliant selves to the table. It’s for you that I do what I do, and for you that I will continue learning, growing, teaching, and unapologetically questioning “the way we’ve always done things” because I want to leave you something better.
My Why
My Tribe: Family, friends, and colleagues who inspire me daily. I stand on the shoulders of many giants who have come before me. I’ve had the opportunity to EVOLVE and rise above because of the love, support, and advocacy of many champions along my path. My life’s work is to do the same for others.
Music and Art: Creativity is a gift and a language that helps me communicate when words alone fail.
The Ocean: I've always been drawn to the magic of the ocean. It’s the inspiration behind the company logo. Each wave evolves and is different from the next, yet inextricably connected to the whole. So, too, are humans each unique and connected to all of humanity. We are more alike than different, yet we need the diversity of each other’s gifts to rise. Sometimes we forget that.
Justice and Equity: I’ve been scrappy from the beginning- advocating for myself, others and a seat at the table. I’ve felt the hurtful “othering” that members of marginalized groups (ie: women, immigrants, socioeconomically disadvantaged families, and the LGBTQ+ community) often experience. I'm also a woman in a white-skinned body and acknowledge the privilege I have as a result. Our AAPI (Asian American Pacific Islander), BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), and Hispanic/Latine sisters and brothers have lived through unimaginable horrors, as have many other marginalized minorities. The generational trauma is real and the assaults continue to this day. I'm committed to listening and advancing thinking, feeling, learning, practice and healing (including my own) around all dimensions of diversity (ie: race, color, ethnicity and national origin, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, neurodiversity, physical and mental ability, education, religious beliefs, political beliefs, language, marital status, parental status, socioeconomic status, immigration status, veteran status and many more), and specifically focused on playing an active role in eradicating racism and racialized trauma. Breaking free can feel like a never-ending and exhausting experience- especially for those who are oppressed. If we all take bold action, we will dismantle these harmful, pervasive and sometimes invisible systems and build new ones that serve us better. Together, we can advance justice, equity and healing for all. The time is now.
What Gets Me Up in the Morning?
Shannon works at the intersections of People (HR) Best Practices, DEI advocacy and the future-of-work design. She’s streamlined efficiencies, increased productivity, hired and retained diverse, top talent ultimately turning failing businesses into success stories. Shannon has functioned as the Head of People and led the Learning Function and DEI efforts both in-house and as an external consultant. She has partnered with community-based organizations and leaders to launch initiatives to support vulnerable and marginalized communities.
There are clear connections between organizational culture, employee engagement, and the bottom-line, and Shannon has spent the bulk of her career focusing on these connections by leading enterprise-level change initiatives, championing DEI programs, developing talent, launching employee resource groups and listening campaigns, and building the internal capacity and infrastructure (people + policies + processes) to create inclusive work environments where every team member feels empowered and safe to bring their whole self to work.
Shannon holds a master’s degree in Behavioral Sciences & Gender Equity, is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and is in the process of completing a doctoral degree in Organizational Leadership & Management with an Emphasis in HRD (Human Resource Development).
Organizations will realize their full potential only when they elevate and magnify the talents of a diverse workforce. Through empathy, humility, authenticity, servant leadership, collaboration, growth mindset, high EQ, and a heart for people, Shannon supports businesses and people in reaching their full potential and achieving transformational results.
Career
“I can’t say enough about the exceptional expertise and genuine approach of DEI Consultant, Shannon Scharnberg.
Her authenticity shines through in every interaction, creating a safe and open space for meaningful dialogue. Her commitment to practical guidance is remarkable; she not only diagnoses issues but also customizes actionable steps. Shannon completed Individual Behavioral Assessments and a Team Alignment Debrief with our America’s HR Leadership Group. Not only was her assessment of the team insightful, her wealth of expert resources drives meaningful change.
The journey towards diversity, equity, and inclusion has been significantly enhanced by Shannon’s invaluable contributions, and I wholeheartedly recommend Shannon Scharnberg to any organization seeking transformation in this critical area.”