Her Story
About Shannon
Shannon Woods is a seasoned Senior Executive Assistant & Bookkeeper at Veregy Consulting, LLC, where she recently celebrated her sixth anniversary. In this role, she provides high-level administrative and financial support, managing complex workflows that include payroll, bookkeeping in QuickBooks, invoicing, tax preparation, and vendor coordination. Her typical day begins with coffee, followed by reviewing emails and prioritizing tasks from her running to-do list, ensuring all deadlines and projects are handled efficiently. Shannon’s organizational expertise, attention to detail, and ability to manage multiple priorities make her a trusted partner to executive leadership.
Shannon’s journey into executive support and bookkeeping began over a decade ago with Al-Anon Family Group Headquarters, Inc., a nonprofit supporting families affected by alcoholism. She volunteered for five years, developing a passion for organizational work and community service that guided her professional path. Before her nonprofit work, Shannon ran her own online book business, sourcing books from nonprofits and selling them through platforms like Half.com and Amazon. These experiences honed her skills in financial management, project coordination, and effective communication.
Shannon holds a Bachelor’s degree in Liberal Arts from California State University, East Bay, and a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Public Policy from Walden University. Additionally, she earned six AA degrees from Napa Valley College in Napa, California. Originally planning to become a special education teacher, her career evolved through meaningful nonprofit work into executive operations and bookkeeping. Shannon combines strategic thinking, operational excellence, and a proactive approach, consistently driving efficiency and fostering strong working relationships across the organizations she serves.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shannon
01What do you attribute your success to?
I was born with cerebral palsy and have navigated life with a disability from the very beginning. In sixth grade, a teacher once told me I should start practicing the phrase, “Would you like fries with that?”—suggesting that was the extent of my future. Rather than accepting that limitation, I turned it into motivation. I went on to earn both my bachelor’s and master’s degrees, proving—to myself above all—that I was capable of much more.
While many people are taken aback by that experience, it ultimately became a defining moment in my life. It challenged me to rethink my path and push beyond expectations. I had initially planned to pursue a career in special education, but through my life experiences, including my involvement with Al-Anon, I chose a different direction. In the end, those words didn’t hold me back—they inspired me to build a future on my own terms.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I learned that sometimes the most powerful “advice” comes disguised as doubt. Being underestimated taught me to trust my own vision, stay resilient, and pursue goals that others might not see for me. That lesson has guided every step of my career. Find a path that brings you joy. When you love what you do, each day feels less like work and more like doing what you were meant to do.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Success as an Executive Assistant comes from being proactive, emotionally intelligent, and organized—anticipating needs, communicating with confidence, maintaining discretion, and embracing the role as a strategic partner to leadership.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Communication is key. I think communication is the biggest challenge in my field. You have to have the right kind of communication - like you have a niche for it. You have to be aligned with your C-level executives, or executives if you're working with multiple, which I am. Having that right communication and being aligned with leadership is critical to success in this role.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty, integrity, doing your very best at anything you could put your heart to, and pushing forward. These are the values that guide me in both my work and personal life. They help me stay focused and motivated, especially when facing challenges.
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