The Georgia Trustees

Shan Cooper created a name for herself as the Vice President and General Manager of Lockheed Martin and Chief Transformation Officer of Westrock. With a career spanning over 30 years, she has honed a diverse skill set that she now leverages as the driving force behind Journey Forward Strategies LLC, where she delivers sustainable results for her clients. Throughout her career, her core focus has remained the intersection of business and people strategies, as she recognizes that the two are inextricably linked and must be considered and nurtured in tandem. It’s with this perspective that Shan lives out her mission to equip every person, no matter their background or role, with the tools needed to prepare for, face, and recover from adversity and steer their ship forward.

As the former Chief Transformation Officer of WestRock, Cooper played a pivotal role in developing the infrastructure and processes essential for business growth during periods of fast-paced mergers and acquisitions. She also led divisions such as Recycling and Waste Services, Enterprise Logistics, Global Procurement, and Information Technology. Prior to this, her role as Vice President and General Manager at Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company showcased her expertise in leading operations and business ethics. While at Lockheed, Shan also served as the first Corporate Vice President of Diversity and Equal Opportunity, where she led the company’s cultural transformation to a new age of inclusivity and equality.

Throughout her career, Shan Cooper has faced unimaginable change and adversity head on. She’s led organizations through challenges from tense labor negotiations to a tragic mass shooting. She has endured her fair share of personal adversity as well, oftentimes being the only woman in the room and even once being demoted. These experiences and more molded Shan into the even-tempered executive and transformational thought leader she is today and her career has been a display of proficiency and fearless leadership.

Cooper’s influence extends to various boards, including Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., SouthState Corporation, Veritiv Corporation, and Southern Company. She’s also deeply engaged in institutions such as Grady Health System, Emory University, Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI), Georgia Historical Society, and more. She currently serves as a senior advisor to McKinsey & Company, where she previously served as an executive coach for the company. Her accolades, from the National Philanthropy Day Volunteer of the Year Award to the Women of Influence Lifetime Achievement Award, underscore her contributions to business and society. Armed with degrees from Emory University and Rutgers University, Cooper continues to inspire as a transformational thought leader with an unyielding commitment to empowering individuals and organizations alike.