Shannon O'Kane

B.A. Economics; Lake Forest College, IL

Armed with a strong work ethic and determined mindset, Shannon began her professional experience interning on the trading floor at the Chicago Board of Trade.  Following a desire for balance, she spent seven months volunteering and traveling throughout eastern and southern Africa and learned that nothing stretches the mind and carves depth into your perspective like stepping into the unfamiliar and living with only what you can carry.

Returning to Chicago, Shannon worked as a Senior Project Manager for a benefits consulting firm for seven years.  While growing professionally, Shannon was haunted by the question, “What makes you shine?”  In 2007, she traded in the suit for a barefoot office environment and volunteered for an educational non-profit in Cambodia. What started as a 2-month internship became a pivotal learning experience in Shannon’s career as she dove into office and program management and realized the immeasurable value of contributing towards a mission she felt passionate about.

Two years later, Shannon returned to the States and became part of the Dragons’ community where she found the perfect blend of her two loves – office administration and personal development through travel. Drawing from her experience exploring 34 countries over 5 continents, Shannon enjoys sharing the value of cultivating global perspectives and cross-cultural understanding with students. In her free time, Shannon loves to bike, coach soccer, roller derby, build forts with her niece and nephew, and smile as their own life journeys slowly unfold.