21. Pay it Forward

R.O.G. Return on Generosity

21. Pay it Forward: Wishes and Wisdom

“My whole philosophy is purpose, people and process. First you have to understand what you are doing, where are we going, what’s the objective, what outcome are we looking for. Making sure that messaging is clear around a purpose is key.”

Guest Info:

Veronica Sheehan is a global business leader with over 25 years of notable experience as a turnaround strategist with deep operational knowledge and leadership in mitigating risk within operations vital to revenue.

During her 16-­‐year career at Time Warner/Turner (now WarnerMedia), Veronica was chosen to lead efforts to turn around several underperforming operations by implementing innovative organizational designs, operating strategies and customer service models. In her last role at Turner, Veronica was selected to lead a new function for the media company as SVP of Global Network, Technology and Studio Operations. In this capacity, Veronica created the organizations first centralized global television operations team that supported both traditional and digital media operations. Her staff of 1,600 in the US, London, Buenos Aires and Hong Kong were responsible for the design and execution of critical revenue producing infrastructure for 160 channels in 37 languages in over 200 countries. Earlier in her career, Sheehan spent 11 years in New York City in key operations roles in several privately held television studios.

In 2016 Veronica shifted her professional focus to follow her passion for advancing the lives of woman and children. She created OCNavigators, a consulting firm that guides non-­‐ profit organizations through small and large-­‐scale organizational change and effectiveness efforts. In 2018 Veronica was recruited to the role of Chief Operating Officer for Make-­‐A-­‐ Wish Georgia; a position she is honored and humbled to hold today. In this newly developed role, she is responsible for leading the functions of Human Resources, Business Affairs, Finance, IT and Volunteer Services. Sheehan is also a Limited Partner with Valor Ventures – the first woman founded and led Venture Capital firm in Atlanta.

Lauded for her operational and technical leadership, her exceptional communication and interpersonal skills and her strategic leadership and insight she has been the recipient of numerous awards. For 8 consecutive years Cable Fax magazine named her one of the “Most Powerful Women in Technology”. Woman in Technology (WIT) named Sheehan a finalist for the Woman of the Year in Technology award in 2012. In 2011, she was awarded “Mother of the Year” by Working Mother Magazine and was also awarded the “Champion for Success” by Dress for Success Atlanta. In 2010, Woman In Cable Telecommunications (WICT) named her the industry’s “Woman to Watch”. In 2007, she was named to Atlanta Woman Magazine’s “25 Power Women Awards” list and that same year also received WICT Southeast “Red Letter Catalyst Award” for Woman in Technology.

Veronica has been an active Board Member for Start-­‐Up Runway, Make-­‐A-­‐Wish Georgia, and WICT Southeast. Veronica earned a BA in Communications and Journalism from St. John Fisher College in Rochester, NY and currently serves on the College’s President’s Advisory Council. Veronica lives in Atlanta and is the proud Mom of her adopted son Christopher…by far her most important role and title in life!

Favorite Quote:

"When you learn, teach. When you get, give." — Maya Angelou

Resources:

• Veronica Sheehan on LinkedIn
• Veronica Sheehan on Twitter (@SheehanVeronica)
• Make a Wish Foundation, Georgia
• R.O.G. Return on Generosity Episode #7 — Interview with Michal Smith, Executive Director of Cradles to Crayons, Philadelphia
• WICT https://www.wict.org/
• Lisa Calhoun, Valor Ventures https://valor.vc/author/lisa/
• Betsy Magness Leadership Institute https://www.wict.org/programs/betsy-magness-leadership-institute/
• Shannon Cassidy on YouTube
• For more information about R.O.G. Return on Generosity and host Shannon Cassidy, visit bridgebetween.com.

Credits:

Veronica Sheehan. Production team: Nani Shin, Sheep Jam Productions, qodpod