Education
“Believe in the Power of Relationships” - Sheena Collier Sheena Collier is a superconnector, convener, and strategic planner. Sixteen years ago, she moved to the Boston area to attend Harvard Graduate School of Education, after attending Spelman College in Atlanta. As a Black woman, she struggled to feel a sense of belonging at school and in the city. She didn’t know anyone or have a network, so she built one. Sheena started & joined organizations, became civically engaged, and hosted events that connected her to lots of different worlds, including education, politics, arts, community organizing, & business. She made connections that changed her life and learned techniques to navigate the city. This helped her build a broad network that she now leverages to benefit others. As Founder & CEO of The Collier Connection (TCC), Sheena is designing a portfolio of solutions that disrupt the ways that Black professionals seek information, access, and belonging in cities. TCC also specializes in helping companies to engage employees, customers, & suppliers of color through strategic events and inclusive business practices. She has 15 years of experience in education, economic development, community organizing, & event planning, and uses her ability to navigate different environments to broker partnerships within and across sectors. Sheena consults with a number of companies, most notably as the Senior Economic Opportunity Advisor at the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce. At the Chamber, she supports initiatives to engage the private sector in advancing economic inclusion. She led the creation of the Pacesetters program - a partnership of large and mid-sized companies & anchor institutions that commit to increase their spending with local, ethnic minority-owned businesses. In addition, for the past 3 years Sheena has curated Fierce Urgency of Now (F.U.N.), a City Awake festival designed to highlight the experiences, challenges, and possibilities for young professionals of color in Greater Boston. Sheena is a 2020 recipient of the Harvard Club Boston's Most Influential Women award; 2020 recipient of YW Boston's Academy of Women Achievers Sylvia Ferrell-Jones Award; 2018 recipient of the GK25 - Who is Who Millennial Leaders of Color Awards; 2017 and 2018 nominee of the Ad Club’s Rosoff Awards; and a 2016 recipient of the Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce’s Ten Outstanding Young Leaders Award. She received her BA from Spelman College and her Ed.M. from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Sheena is a proud board member of Jeremiah Program Boston & Union Capital Boston, advisory board member of Boston Harbor Now, investor in the Boston Ujima Fund, and member of the Black Economic Council of Massachusetts (BECMA). "I think I'm in my sixth life" - Sheena Collier Time Stamps 2:36 - How Sheena got to where she is now 6:02 - Moving from Non-Profit to Profitable organisations 9.06 - Starting to work with Chamber of Commerce 18:07 - "I think I'm in my sixth life" - Sheena Collier 20:50 - 2 things to do in the face of fear 26:34 - Boston While Black “Write a Personal Mission Statement” - Sheena Collier Links: Collier Connection Alongside My 9 to 5