Shantell Thomas is a woman deeply rooted in her Southern heritage, born in South Carolina and now residing in North Carolina. Her ability to connect with others on a human level has played a significant role in her successful technology marketing career, which has involved working with major corporations like IBM, Avalara, Cisco, and Lenovo. Beyond her mainstream corporate role, Thomas is passionate about expanding her contributions to the technology industry by engaging in Diversity & Inclusion work.

Not only is Thomas a seasoned technology marketer, but she is also a storyteller. She has channeled this talent into creating her brand, GRITSyall. Through this platform, she shares her personal experiences and spotlights other women who embody the values of a GRITS (Girl Raised In The South). Her storytelling style is unique and effective. She uses her own life as a mirror to inspire others to move toward their destiny, regardless of the path they must take to get there.

Thomas' journey and the insights she has gleaned from it have afforded her the opportunity to contribute at major conferences such as iBTechCon2019, BITCON, NC Tech D&I. She has also been a Keynote Speaker for the City of Fayetteville and was recognized as a "45 Under 45" Alumni at her alma mater, Saint Augustine's University. Recently, she shared her career journey on the "Out of the Fire" podcast, hosted by Trisha Fraley.

At fifty years of age, Shantell's life extends beyond her professional pursuits. She is a college graduate, and a mother of three boys. When not engaged in her work or activities related to her brand GRITSyall, she, like most mothers and wives, spends her evenings trying to figure out what's for dinner!

Diversity & Inclusion, Diversity Topics, Culture, Workplace Diversity, Inclusion, Social Justice, Storytelling, Marketing, Technology, Black History Month, BLM, North Carolina, Black Heritage, Women, Workplace Issues, Workforce Wellness, DEI Women's History Month, Social Activism, Female Leadership, Influential Women,