Leadership

Leadership Redefined: How Shayla N. Atkins Is Transforming Workplace Culture—One Bold Strategy at a Time

By: Pam Perry PR

Shayla N. Atkins, PHR, LSSBB, isn’t just shifting the leadership conversation—she’s rewriting the manual.

A powerhouse in human resources, organizational strategy, and cultural transformation, Shayla is the Founder and CEO of The Atkins IMPACT Consulting Firm, a Houston-based consultancy trusted by mid-sized to Fortune 500 companies. With nearly 20 years of experience as a Fortune 500 executive and a deep understanding of global HR, diversity, and organizational development, Shayla leads with one central belief: leadership must evolve if we want to create workplaces where people truly thrive.

That’s why she launched Leadership Redefined—a movement, methodology, and now a national conference focused on reshaping outdated ideas of leadership rooted in command, control, and conformity.

From Executive to Entrepreneur with a Mission

Shayla’s shift from corporate boardrooms to CEO was born out of necessity—and vision.

“I had checked every box: great title, six-figure salary, a global role,” she recalls. “But I wasn’t fulfilled. I knew I was called to something greater.”

That calling birthed The Atkins IMPACT Consulting Firm, with a mission to help organizations align inclusive, psychologically safe cultures with measurable business outcomes. “Culture is not fluff,” Shayla emphasizes. “It’s strategy. It’s data. And it’s performance.”

And she should know—her work in traditionally high-output industries like construction, manufacturing, and oil and gas bridges the human side of leadership with operational excellence.

S.P.I.C.E. – Modern Leadership in Action

What sets Shayla apart in a saturated field is her rare ability to bring metrics and meaning together. As a Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Prosci-certified change leader, she offers clients not just frameworks, but transformation.

“Our clients aren’t guessing. We use proven strategies to boost retention, improve engagement, and create leadership pipelines that reflect the future—not the past,” she says.

Shayla’s proprietary “Lead with S.P.I.C.E.” framework (Savvy, Performance, Image, Communication, Exposure) is redefining self-leadership for women, especially those navigating corporate spaces where authenticity is often penalized.

“I’ve been the one in the boardroom who was told I didn’t have the ‘look’ or ‘executive presence,’” Shayla admits. “That lived experience drives everything we do.”

The Hidden Figures in Plain Sight

In her bestselling books, Black Women Lead with S.P.I.C.E. and Women Redefining Leadership with S.P.I.C.E., Shayla gives voice to what she calls the “hidden figures”—brilliant women of color who are climbing the ladder while carrying the invisible weight of assimilation and perfectionism.

“It’s been reported that women suppress up to 65% of themselves daily in the workplace. For women of color, that number jumps to 90%,” she explains. “That’s not leadership—that’s survival.”

Her work dares to imagine a world where inclusion doesn’t require erasure. Where leaders don’t have to hide their accents, downplay their personalities, or sacrifice their authenticity to succeed.

Not Just Consulting—A Culture Movement

In August 2025, Shayla will host her inaugural Leadership Redefined conference in Houston, TX. Designed to take attendees from inspiration to implementation, the conference equips leaders with the tools to lead with empathy, authenticity, and strategy.

“This isn’t your typical motivational event,” Shayla says. “We’re modernizing a 100-year-old leadership standard and equipping leaders to build inclusive, human-centered organizations.”

It’s a bold goal, but it’s not new for Shayla. In 2022, she was honored with the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award from President Joseph R. Biden for over 4,000 hours of community service. Her influence stretches from the SHRM Annual Conference stage to the Women in Trucking Accelerate Expo, the Women’s Energy Network, and even the Essence Festival.

And while accolades are plenty, what drives Shayla is impact.

Where Vision Meets Value

In a world where soft skills are finally being recognized as essential, Shayla’s work is ahead of its time. Her firm’s measurable, high-impact strategies speak to the needs of companies navigating workforce evolution, post-pandemic uncertainty, and generational change.

Where does she see herself next?

“I want Lead with S.P.I.C.E. to become a global standard,” she says. “I want our Leadership Redefined conference to reach thousands. But more than that—I want leaders to rise and bring others with them.”

In Shayla’s world, leadership isn’t about titles. It’s about transformation.