Shannon is a board member, entrepreneur and executive leader who shares the ambition of unlocking the full potential of an inclusive economy.

Originating from the Métis homeland in Treaty 1, Shannon resides in Treaty 7. She is a proud member of the Métis Nation of Alberta.

Currently a Senior Advisor and Research Associate with the Diversity Institute she oversees the development of partnerships and delivery of  research and programming for pathways to employment, advancement and entrepreneurship with a focus on diversity, inclusion and reconciliation. Shannon has served on various committees including the Calgary Chamber Indigenous Relations Advisory Committee and PolicyWise for Children & Families in partnership with the Government of Alberta’s Ministry of Arts, Culture and Status of Women to identify local solutions to close the gender gap in Alberta in employment and entrepreneurship. She continues to work with governments, nonprofits and the private sector to lead capacity building and training to advance women and Indigenous leaders with a focus on financial literacy, digital skills and leadership. 

A former business banker, Shannon led one of Canada’s first women’s banking strategies. In that role, she created innovative funding models, including the first crowdfunding initiative for women entrepreneurs, established a sales training curriculum that readied 5,500 front line representatives across all lines of business to better understand women’s unique financial needs, and advocated for Canada’s financial sector to embrace gender intelligent business models. In 2018 she was named a UN SHEInnovator by SHEInnovates Alberta – a chapter for UN Women and in 2019 was a finalist for the Diversity Ambassador of the Year award by Women in Finance – Canada. That same year she was appointed to serve on The Government of Canada’s women entrepreneurship strategy expert panel.  In 2020 she stepped into entrepreneurship, launching Pestun Consulting Inc. and the Finance Cafe. 

As an active member in her community, Shannon currently serves as Vice-Chair of the Board of Governors of Mount Royal University in Calgary, a board member with NPower Canada and a member of the Métis Settlement Development Fund Investment Committee.  As a Métis woman, Shannon is passionate about reconciliation and the economic empowerment of Indigenous Peoples. In 2020, she created the Gifting Circle Bursary for Indigenous women entrepreneurs raising nearly $200,000 in support of advancing Indigenous women’s entrepreneurship through bursaries and scholarships across Canada’s post secondary institutions.

Areas of expertise:

• Financial literacy, digital skills and leadership growth

•  EDIA strategy development

•  Inclusive entrepreneurship and workforce

•  Indigenous economic reconciliation and Indigenous reconciliation action plans