As a seasoned and results-driven leader, Rhiannon Clifton possesses a wealth of experience and expertise that makes her a valuable asset in the realms of executive coaching, leadership training, and strategic advice. With a proven track record of delivering business results and fostering a culture of accountability, Rhiannon has consistently led diverse teams to success by employing effective project management and program management practices.

Throughout her career, Rhiannon has demonstrated exceptional skill as a facilitator and motivator, adeptly bridging gaps between departments and locations to ensure seamless collaboration, communication, and visibility across organizations. Her expertise extends to strategic analysis, program development, marketing, talent recruitment, and leadership, allowing her to excel in building and nurturing both internal and external client relationships.

With extensive experience in managing large budgets ranging from $20,000 to $220 million and teams of up to 1200+, Rhiannon thrives in high-pressure environments, making complex decisions and driving actions that lead to tangible outcomes. Her keen ability to leverage diverse teams ensures that each member's strengths are harnessed effectively to achieve overarching objectives.

Areas of Specialization

• Strategic Planning

• Project Management

• Program Development

• Cross-Functional Management

• Marketing and Entrepreneurship

Rhiannon's career highlights include serving as the Senior Director of Integration (Chief of Staff | Co-COO) at SHIELD Illinois, where she played a pivotal role in establishing and executing key strategic priorities, maintaining operational excellence, and fostering a positive and collaborative culture. She effectively coordinated with senior leadership teams, successfully delivering organizational KPIs, and building trusted relationships with clients, partners, and stakeholders.

Her experience as the Sr Director of Operations & Client Integration at SHIELD Illinois showcased her ability to scale operations in high-growth environments. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Rhiannon oversaw the implementation of testing sites across the State of Illinois, managing over 400 new clients within a short period. Her agility and client-centric approach were instrumental in supporting organizations through challenging times.

At Futurewei Technologies, Inc., Rhiannon served as Director of External Research Partnerships | Business Development. In this role, she directed technology collaboration activities for the Central US region, fostering strategic partnerships with universities, startups, and industry partners. Her ability to analyze industry challenges and trends enabled her to identify collaboration opportunities, enhancing Futurewei's relationships with existing partners while establishing new ones.

Rhiannon's entrepreneurial spirit shines through her work as a Founder of a professional development program that offered innovative training in innovation, creativity, project management, and advertising to organizations across diverse industries.

As an educator, Rhiannon has contributed significantly to the academic world. Her roles as Adjunct Lecturer, Program Director, and Assistant Director at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign demonstrate her commitment to developing and implementing programs that enrich students' experiences and drive revenue growth for the institutions.

Education and Certifications

• Bachelor of Science in Advertising with High Honors from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

• Master of Business Administration with a Concentration in International Business from Salem International University

• Various certifications in Project Management, Leadership, and Marketing

Honors and Awards

• Chancellor's Academic Professional Excellence Award, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

• Futurewei Future Star Award, Futurewei Technologies, Inc.

• Central Illinois Business 40 Under 40, Central Illinois Business Magazine

Rhiannon Clifton's diverse skill set, coupled with her passion for driving results and fostering growth, makes her a compelling choice for executive coaching, leadership training, and strategic advice. Her focus on actionable solutions and her commitment to positive outcomes set her apart as a dynamic professional who can propel organizations to new heights.