Organization: S Mpact Consulting

Sheelah is a visionary social entrepreneur and strategic consultant whose work spans over 25 years across nonprofit, philanthropic, public, and private sectors. As Lead Strategist of S Mpact Consulting, she partners with organizations dedicated to building resilient food systems, advancing climate justice, and fostering Black and Indigenous food sovereignty. Her expertise in strategy, program design, and leadership development has supported thousands of farmers, ranchers, food workers, and land stewards in creating sustainable, equitable food systems.

Inspired by her father, a food sovereignty activist, grocery-store owner, and restauranteur, Sheelah co-founded Fresh Moves, an award-winning mobile produce market that became a national model for addressing food access and community building. The initiative, featured in The Nation, NPR, The Huffington Post and The Atlantic Cities, demonstrated innovative approaches to combating structural racism in food systems.

In philanthropy, Sheelah managed a $35 million portfolio for Gulf Coast rebuilding efforts at the Oprah Winfrey Foundation. Her work consistently focuses on disrupting the status quo by building self-determined communities and dismantling patterns of oppression. As a trusted facilitator and strategic advisor, she has guided numerous organizations and leaders in enhancing their impact.

Sheelah holds a Doctor of Naprapathy from the National College of Naturopathic Medicine, an MBA from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, and a BS from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her proactive leadership style and ability to manage complex, multidimensional relationships have established her as a respected voice in social transformation and community-rooted economic development.