Making Magic at Work: Leadership Through Curiosity, Humanity, and Connection

Some leaders focus on systems.

Others focus on strategy.

Shannon Milliman focuses on people.

And if you ask her what truly drives leadership success, her answer is simple:

“You make your own magic. People will help you, but you must make the people your friends. You have to be the helper, too.”

That philosophy has guided Shannon’s journey, from facilitating leadership training across major organizations to serving her community as Poet Laureate of Florence, Alabama. Throughout her career, she has been drawn to roles where curiosity, humanity, and connection unlock the potential in others.

A Mentor Who Saw the Possibilities

Shannon didn’t initially set out to pursue a career in learning and development. Like many professionals, her path took shape when someone else recognized something in her.

A manager who later became a mentor, Ryan Rhoads, saw her talents, skills, and possibilities and gave her a chance.

Soon, Shannon discovered something that energized her deeply, aligning her natural strengths with her work.

“I found so much joy in facilitating others to self-discovery and being there to watch and enable the magic to happen every day.”

Helping people realize their potential would become a defining theme of her leadership journey.

Seeing People Beyond Hierarchy

One of Shannon’s most formative experiences came while teaching Inclusion and Leadership classes at Kroger after becoming officially certified to deliver the curriculum.

The classes brought together employees from across the organization, from frontline team members to senior executives.

Standing in those rooms, she had a realization that stayed with her:

“I realized I had the capacity and maturity to see all people as complex, deep, and not hierarchical. All of us were contributing to similar mission and goals.”

Those experiences also pushed her to grow. Encouraged by leaders to pursue professional certifications, Shannon achieved the Association for Talent Development’s Certified Professional in Talent Development (CPTD) designation; a milestone that accelerated her development and confidence as a leadership facilitator.

But for Shannon, impact isn’t only measured by certifications or titles. Often, it happens in quieter moments.

She recalls encouraging a colleague who felt uncertain about sharing personal experiences during a work presentation. Shannon encouraged her to bring her whole self to the story she was telling.

The result was powerful.

The team was moved to tears. The project goals were achieved. And the speaker realized she could show up authentically at work, even when it felt unfamiliar at first.

“We are human,” Shannon says. “And we need to be human at work.”

Creating Systems That Help People Grow

Shannon’s leadership philosophy also extends into the systems organizations use to develop talent.

While working with the City of Portland, she built a core competency framework designed to support succession planning and leadership development.

Because the framework provided structure and clarity, leaders were able to make more informed decisions about development opportunities. The result was measurable impact; hundreds of employees were able to grow and advance in ways that might not have happened without the system in place.

Still, Shannon finds just as much meaning in everyday interactions.

“The little conversations and the small encouragements of co-workers mean a surprising amount to me,” she says. “Having meaningful conversations that encourage someone who thinks they cannot do something, but can, makes such a difference.”

Leadership Through Curiosity

Early in her career, Shannon developed a habit that continues to guide her leadership approach today.

“Sit at the ‘big wig’ tables,” she says.

Even when feeling shy or uncertain, she learned to greet people first, ask open-ended questions, and genuinely seek to understand what others value.

Being service-oriented, looking for ways to make a difference rather than waiting for opportunities to appear, has been central to her leadership style.

That same curiosity shows up in the way she facilitates conversations and problem-solving with teams.

At the City of Portland, when a massive clog in a wastewater pipe stalled progress despite multiple engineered solutions, Shannon noticed something others had overlooked.

A fisherman on the team had an idea, using a hook similar to one used while fishing.

She encouraged him to speak up.

The idea worked. The pipe was cleared.

For Shannon, the lesson was simple: when people feel comfortable sharing ideas, unexpected solutions often emerge.

To create those environments, she uses thoughtful facilitation techniques. For example, during discussions she may ask participants to write ideas on paper before sharing them; ensuring quieter voices are heard and not overshadowed by louder ones.

Leadership, in her view, is about making space for contribution.

Creativity. Joy. Listening. Apologizing.

These are the qualities she believes build trust within teams.

Learning From Setbacks

Like many professionals, Shannon’s career hasn’t followed a perfectly smooth path.

At one point, she was fired from Amazon; a moment that forced her to reevaluate assumptions about success and alignment.

“As a high-achiever and someone who believes the ceiling is limitless, it was a challenge to pivot and realize my goals, mission, and values could be different from a machine environment that consumed people.”

The experience ultimately led her toward a workplace culture where she felt more aligned with the values of collaboration and humanity.

It also strengthened relationships that remain meaningful today. Two friendships formed during that time continue to be important in her life.

Sometimes, she reflects, those difficult moments simply become background chapters in a much larger story.

Building Confidence Beyond the Workplace

For Shannon, confidence isn’t something that only develops in professional settings.

She’s intentionally pushed herself to try new experiences, running marathons despite never considering herself a runner, performing on stage, and saying “yes” to opportunities that initially felt uncomfortable.

Those experiences helped her realize that growth often comes from exploring unfamiliar spaces.

“I’ve tried more things I thought I wasn’t good at,” she says. “My capacity to grow, create, and contribute has amplified because of it.”

She also reminds herself not to define identity solely through work.

“I ensure I don’t only define myself by what I do,” she explains, “but also by what I believe, the things I care about, the joys I gain, and the perspectives I grow with.”

Poetry, Community, and Leadership

Today, Shannon’s leadership extends beyond traditional organizational settings.

She serves as Poet Laureate of Florence, Alabama, bringing poetry into places where people live, work, and gather. Through keynotes, workshops, and commissioned poems, she encourages curiosity, listening, and joy in language; helping people see that poetic expression belongs to everyone.

She is also deeply committed to community service. Through Howard’s Harbor Foundation, she works with veterans and individuals on sobriety journeys, helping them write their own stories.

“They are such good writers,” she says. “The trick is I get out of their way.”

For Shannon, storytelling and leadership are closely connected. Both involve helping people recognize their voice.

Throughout her journey, Shannon has learned that careers evolve in phases, and that each phase deserves space.

“For women earlier in their careers,” she says, “I wish I had known sooner that it’s okay to want less or more at different stages.”

Sometimes family takes priority. Sometimes career does.

“Whatever has to be, is okay.”

But there’s one message she hopes women carry forward:

“You make your own magic.”

People will help along the way. Mentors will open doors. Colleagues will support growth.

But the real spark begins when someone decides to step forward, connect with others, and offer their own help in return.

And when that happens, Shannon believes, the magic begins.