Shantella Cooper

__NOTOC__ 
Shantella "Shan" Cooper is a Atlanta-based business executive known for her extensive experience in business operations, human capital management, transformation, community affairs, and economic development who is the founder and CEO of Journey Forward Strategies, LLC. She also currently serves as a senior advisor to McKinsey & Company, where she previously worked as an executive coach. Cooper also held the position of executive director for the Atlanta Committee for Progress (ACP), an external advisory board for the Mayor of Atlanta, where she focused on economic growth and inclusion.
Cooper is a member of the board of directors of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., having joined the board in December of 2020. She chairs the ICI Risk Committee and serves on the organization's Compensation Committee.
She also serves as the chair of the external advisory council of the Georgia Tech Research Institute.
== Background ==
Before her role at McKinsey, Cooper served as the chief transformation officer of WestRock, a paper and packaging solutions company, where she was responsible for developing infrastructure capabilities and system processes needed for business growth. Additionally, she led the recycling and waste services division and oversaw enterprise logistics, global procurement, and information technology organizations.
Prior to her tenure at WestRock, Cooper worked at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, where she served as vice president and general manager. In her capacity as general manager, Cooper oversaw operations spanning three locations: Marietta, Georgia; Meridian, Mississippi; and Clarksburg, West Virginia. These operations were primarily engaged in the design, production, modification, and maintenance of military aircraft for both the United States and international clients. Notable aircraft programs managed under her leadership in Marietta included the C-130J Super Hercules, F-22 Raptor, P-3 Orion, C-5M Super Galaxy, and F-35 Lightning II. Cooper also held leadership positions in human resources and served as vice president of business ethics for the aeronautics division.
Cooper is actively involved in corporate governance and serves on the boards of several prominent companies, including Southern Company, SouthState Corporation, and Veritiv Corporation. She also serves on the boards of Grady Health System and Emory University. She is a life member of the board of councilors for The Carter Center. She is chairwoman emeritus of the board of the Georgia Historical Society.
Throughout her career, Cooper has received numerous accolades for her leadership and contributions to the business community. She was named the 2022 National Philanthropy Day Volunteer Fundraiser of the Year and received the Atlanta Business Chronicle’s 2021 Women of Influence Lifetime Achievement Award. She has also been recognized as one of Georgia Trend Magazine’s Most Respected Business Leaders and Atlanta Business Chronicle’s Power 100.
== Education ==
Cooper holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and religion from Emory University and a Master of Business Administration from Emory University’s Goizueta Business School. Additionally, she completed the Executive Masters in Global Human Resource Leadership Program at Rutgers University.
== References ==	
Category:Exchange Board Members