Shannon McGhee

Shannon is a seasoned nonprofit and civic leader with deep experience in scaling programs, securing philanthropic support, driving earned revenue, and building cultures grounded in equity, innovation, and community impact. Before joining SEED SPOT, she held senior leadership roles at mHUB in Chicago, including Vice President of Programs and Engagement and Director of Community Impact and Engagement. In these roles, she managed $3.9 million in annual revenue, increased membership to near full capacity, oversaw a team supporting hundreds of founders annually, and stood up a $3.5 million initiative to launch and expand programs focused on underrepresented and neighborhood-based entrepreneurs. She also led the creation of mHUB’s milestone-driven curriculum and digital tools that improved clarity, traction, and outcomes for early-stage ventures.

Across her career, Shannon has brought a human-centered, equity-driven approach to entrepreneurship and economic development. Her work at World Business Chicago, Hawthorne Strategy Group, and FleishmanHillard supported community campaigns, health access initiatives, small business programs, and job creation strategies that connected people to resources that had historically been out of reach. She has been an active spokesperson for inclusive innovation, representing organizations on national stages and cultivating cross-sector partnerships to expand opportunity.

Shannon has been recognized by Crain’s Chicago Business as a Notable Woman in Manufacturing and a Notable Executive in HR and DEI. She serves on the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning’s Regional Economy Committee and participates in committees focused on equitable business support and tech inclusion. She holds a degree in Journalism from Butler University.