LeTonya Shaw
5.0
(5)
Navigate Career Transitions with a Former HR Exec | Stand Out & Land
Studied at Cornell College
Works at Exit Ventures
Successful clients at
Not currently taking new clients
LeTonya’s Career Coaching Qualifications
Coaches professionally
Experience level: Director
60+ people coached for Career Coaching
LeTonya has helped clients get into these companies:
As a former HR leader, I bring 20+ years of corporate and Fortune 500 experience and a clear understanding of what actually drives hiring decisions. I’ve been on the inside advising leaders and evaluating talent so I know what organizations are looking for and where candidates tend to get stuck. Today, as the Founder of Exit to Excel, I work with mid-career and executive professionals to help them get clear on their direction, articulate their value, and make confident career moves. My approach goes beyond resumes and focuses on clarity and positioning. Leveraging my AI expertise, I also incorporate AI as a thinking partner, using it alongside real-world insight to help clients translate their experience into clear, compelling positioning that leads to meaningful outcomes.
LeTonya can help with:
AI Automation
AI Fundamentals
AI Outreach
AI-Powered Job Search
Career Planning
Cover Letters
Freelancing
General Exploration
Interview Prep
Job Search Strategies
Leadership
Networking Strategy
Personal Branding
Professional Networking
Resume Review
Salary Negotiation
Skill Building
Work Experience
Founder/CEO
Exit Ventures
February 2025 - Present
I help mid-career and executive professionals navigate layoffs, leadership transitions, and career reinvention with clarity, confidence, and strategic advantage. After more than two decades as a Fortune 500 HR executive advising leaders through restructures, workforce transformations, and high-stakes talent decisions, I founded Exit to Excel to bring insider hiring strategy directly to professionals navigating career change. Today, I work at the intersection of career strategy, leadership positioning, and AI-enabled job search execution — helping clients move from uncertainty to intentional career momentum. Through my signature Clarity to Confidence™ framework, I design structured career positioning and decision-making systems that help professionals articulate their value, maintain momentum during transition, and compete effectively in an AI-shaped job market. My approach combines real hiring insight from global organizations with modern AI strategy to help professionals: • build visibility and outreach systems that create opportunity • translate experience into compelling leadership narratives • prepare for high-stakes interviews and career decisions • use AI as a thinking partner while maintaining their authentic voice I do not simply teach prompts — I design strategic systems that enable long-term career advantage.
Director, M&A Integration
Cognizant
December 2021 - December 2022
Directed HR operations for NA Digital Business Operations serving 3,500+ associates across 9 business units, managing enterprise-scale workforce transitions, organizational restructuring, and change management initiatives during period of significant industry and media scrutiny. ► Managed HR execution of major workforce reduction at Phoenix location (1,000+ employees)—led strategic communications plan including townhalls and 1:1 follow-up during 2-3 month notice period to ensure operational continuity; managed separations with zero grievances through transparent communication and change management. ► Improved and managed bench period process for large-scale workforce reduction affecting 2,000+ employees—streamlined transition workflows for non-management staff (5-week period to secure internal roles), enhanced employee communications, and coordinated separations across multiple sites with zero grievances; maintained organizational stability through major restructuring. ► Co-led integration and retention strategies for 1,700+ rebadged and newly acquired personnel across multiple M&A activities—built engagement and retention channels for high-performing, business-critical talent; achieved 95%+ retention of critical rebadged personnel through structured onboarding and career path clarity. ► Managed COVID-19 response and Return to Office (RTO) initiatives—executed protocols for office-to-home transitions, case management (241 cases), safety compliance, and phased return-to-office plans; maintained business continuity while prioritizing employee safety during unprecedented organizational challenge. Workforce Management, Reduction in Force and +3 skills
Retention Coordinator
Cognizant
February 2017 - December 2021
Strategic HRBP and subject matter expert for BPO Practice, advising executive leadership on HR strategy, M&A integration, and talent management across diverse business units (healthcare, financial services, insurance, communications, technology, media). ► Led integration and retention strategy for 1,700+ rebadged and newly acquired personnel across multiple acquisitions and accounts—achieved 95%+ retention of critical talent through structured onboarding, engagement initiatives, and career path clarity; recognized as Healthcare Digital Operations Support Function Leader of the Year (2019, 2020). ► Managed separation and transition of 800+ rebadged employees during first 18 months—coordinated offshoring and automation initiatives, managed client chargebacks, and maintained positive employee relations and business continuity throughout organizational restructuring. ► Built and scaled HR team from 3 to 6 direct reports—hired HR manager, integrated payroll and HRIS functions, and developed team capability to support acquisition integration across healthcare and other business units; received Emerging Leader Global HR Award (2019) for demonstrated leadership excellence. ► Served as trusted advisor to M&A and rebadge team—provided HR guidance and led employee engagement activities (townhalls, 1:1s, communications) for accounts beyond direct responsibility; drove consistency in integration practices across multiple BPO client accounts. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) and +3 skills
Labor Relations Manager
Cognizant
February 2017 - October 2024
Led North American labor and employee relations strategy during unprecedented labor crisis—managed company's first unionization effort, three-week strike, and NLRB charges at marquee technology client account while preventing union organizing spread across client's hundreds of Cognizant accounts. Situation garnered considerable media attention. ► Navigated company's first unionization and three-week work stoppage during public labor action at client location—contained labor unrest to single account and prevented 2-3 additional union organizing campaigns across broader client workforce through strategic labor relations initiatives, proactive manager training, and employee engagement despite significant organizational and public scrutiny. ► Served as primary labor relations strategic advisor during active labor crisis—managed NLRB charge responses, provided real-time labor risk assessments to executive leadership, and successfully maintained client relationship and business continuity throughout extended strike period while mitigating operational disruptions. ► Developed and implemented Return to Office (RTO) toolkit adopted enterprise-wide—trained managers and HR teams on compliant labor practices; toolkit became standard procedure for managing workplace transitions and preventing labor organizing risk across client accounts. Labor Relations, Labor and Employment Law and +3 skills
HR Generalist - US
Sutherland
May 2011 - January 2017
Director of HR — US Operations & Sales, spearheading people strategy and organizational transformation for ~830 employees across 5 Sutherland sites (blended on-site and remote workforce). Partnered with executive leadership on talent acquisition, employee relations, change management, organizational design, and compensation. ► Transformed organizational culture in environment marked by significant employee grievances and low morale—developed and implemented comprehensive employee relations strategy that established consistent HR practices, created positive workplace culture, and reduced grievances by 23%; improvements recognized by company president (2012, 2016). ► Decreased employee turnover by 7.4% through implementation of innovative onboarding and engagement programs—built retention channels for high-performing talent, addressed root causes of attrition, and maintained organizational stability during period of significant organizational change. ► Established consistent management practices and employee-centric HR processes—developed manager toolkits, implemented performance management framework, and coached leadership on employee relations; transformed perception of HR department from administrative function to strategic business partner. Business Process Outsourcing (BPO), Acquisition Integration and +3 skills
Independent Contractor
Coach
January 2011 - April 2011
HR Generalist (Independent Contractor) — provided HR consulting on international employment law and workforce planning to support staffing strategy for new site launch; leveraged expertise in international employment regulations to ensure compliant hiring practices across multiple jurisdictions. International Law, Recruiting and +3 skills
Learning and Development
Warner Music Group
June 2009 - November 2010
Director, Learning and Development — spearheaded design and implementation of succession planning process adopted across all corporate functions (HR, Finance, Facilities) for ~20 senior leadership roles. Partnered with VP of HR to build enterprise-wide talent review framework driving organizational capability and strategic talent alignment. ► Developed and implemented organizational change management initiatives including DiSC®, New Leader Assimilation, and corporate mission/vision alignment activities—strengthened leadership effectiveness and cultural alignment across executive team. ► Designed comprehensive performance review training program and materials—provided frameworks adopted across HR, Finance, and other corporate functions; ensured consistent talent evaluation and development practices. ► Co-led corporate-wide Senior Talent review process with HR senior leadership—developed assessment criteria, facilitation processes, and succession planning tools to support strategic talent decisions for high-potential leaders. ► Served on enterprise Taleo implementation team—contributed to system design and workflow configuration for talent management and learning & development functions; created training materials and change management strategy to support user adoption and system effectiveness. ► Provided internal HR consulting on organizational development and change management strategies—supported legal, communications, and other corporate functions with HR counsel on organizational effectiveness. Organizational Learning, Organizational Development and +3 skills
Education
Cornell College
Advanced Labor Relations Negotiating a Collective Bargaining Agreement Certificate, Labor and Industrial Relations
2023 - 2023
Union Negotiations, Communication and +2 skills
Darla Moore School of Business
Master of Human Resources
5 Reviews
Overall Rating
5.0
LeTonya has helped clients get into these companies: