Her Story
About Shannon
Shannon Jenkins is a UX designer, storyteller, speaker, published author, and founder of Connect Create Labs, a community-driven initiative helping people engage with technology in ways that are practical, accessible, and human.
Her work sits at the intersection of design, technology, behavioral insight, education, and community. With a background spanning UX and product design, front-end development, marketing, AI training, and content strategy, Shannon brings a multidisciplinary perspective to the way people experience and understand technology. She is particularly interested in what happens before something is built: the conversations, assumptions, relationships, and human needs that ultimately shape whether an idea succeeds.
Through Connect Create Labs, Shannon creates workshops, learning experiences, and intimate community spaces designed to help people move from uncertainty to confidence. Her work brings together founders, investors, product leaders, marketers, creatives, and technology professionals to explore ideas, build relationships, and have better conversations about the future of technology.
Shannon’s journey into technology was anything but linear. Her creative foundation began at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, where she developed an early appreciation for storytelling, performance, and visual expression. She later pursued psychology as an honors student, an experience that deepened her interest in human behavior and continues to influence the way she approaches design and innovation today. Her transition into technology eventually brought together those seemingly different worlds: creativity, psychology, technology, and a desire to understand people.
She has worked across UX design, content design, community management, marketing, and artificial intelligence, while also mentoring others and contributing to initiatives focused on technology inclusion and community development. As a speaker, Shannon has shared her perspective at technology and creative-industry events, including RenderATL, and is a TEDx speaker. Her TEDx talk, The Soil Before the Harvest, later became a published book exploring the often-overlooked work that happens beneath visible success.
At the heart of Shannon’s work is a simple belief: technology should serve people, not intimidate them. Whether she is designing a digital experience, facilitating a conversation, teaching a workshop, or bringing a room of strangers together, she is interested in creating the conditions for people to understand, connect, and contribute.
Through design, storytelling, education, and community-building, Shannon is helping shape a more human approach to technology, one that recognizes that innovation is not only about what we build, but about who we bring into the conversation.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shannon
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to being considerate and mindful. Spending time in nature reminds me that there is always a bigger picture. It encourages me to observe before I react, understand before I assume, and recognize that every person, decision, and circumstance exists within a larger context.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve received is simply, “Just ask.” I’ve learned that asking gives you permission to receive the guidance, support, or opportunities you need to grow.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering my industry is to speak up, use your voice, and learn to articulate yourself confidently. Don’t let the label of being “emotional” diminish your strength or your foundation. Remember that your foundation was built for you, and you have every right to stand firmly on it.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges is working with people who prefer black-and-white thinking or quick, fast-track solutions. In today’s “microwave society,” there is often a tendency to rely on AI or shortcuts. I’m still very much old school—I value patience, thoughtful communication, and taking the time to do things the right way.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are compassion, accountability, and awareness of how I impact others. I believe we are never moving through life alone, so I strive to make sure the ripple I create is a positive one and that I build meaningful relationships with the people around me.
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