Our Team

Shaara is passionate about advising companies on creating successful strategies on organization design, values alignment in hiring and leadership, eliminating toxic stressors in the workplace and fostering engaged and productive teams. Shaara is a frequent speaker on the role of company culture in driving employee and business success. Prior to founding The Silverene Group, Shaara held executive leadership positions at CGI, Fannie Mae, NRECA and Visa. Born in, Bombay, India, raised in Lagos, Nigeria, and educated in the UK, Shaara’s global upbringing provided the foundation for her distinctive expertise in crafting winning workplace strategies for multinational organizations. She holds an MBA from Georgetown University and serves on two non-profit boards. As a working mom, Shaara is busy on weekends cheering her teenage kids in their various activities.

Randy has spent his 25-year career working with leaders and executives worldwide in a variety of organizational settings. He works at all levels of the organization, specializing in both leadership and organization including strategy development and learning to collectively think differently to support sustainable change.  His intention when working with leaders is to create sustainable change through mindful practice. Randy believes that a leader’s ability to slow the action and reflect on one’s internal landscape is the key to leading effectively in a world often characterized by uncertainty, volatility, ambiguity, and increasing complexity. Leaders in today’s world have to become comfortable in the paradox of “being still while in motion.”

Randy has coached leaders and teams in non-profits, local and federal government, the U.S. Navy, and corporations ranging from start-ups to multi-billion dollar organizations. He is on the faculty of the Georgetown University Leadership Coaching and teaches in the Leadership Coaching program. He is a contributing author to On Becoming a Leadership Coach (2012). In addition to his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of Northern Colorado, he also has a number of certifications.

Dawn Christian is an expert at leading Belonging + IDEAS initiatives through counseling executive leaders, teams, creating organizational culture strategies, and integrating industry best practices. Dawn has over 25 years of organizational leadership and development experience. She is a trusted
advisor, having counseled global CEOs, Chief People Officers, and executive leadership teams. Prior to coming to the Silverene Group, Dawn held leadership positions at GCI Health, AstraZeneca, and Astellas.  Dawn is a Fellow at the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical
School, holds an MBA from Cornell University, a  BA in Sociology from The University of California at Berkeley, and a Diversity & Inclusion Leadership certificate from Cornell University’s International Labor Relations School. She is also a Bowman Foundation-certified Mental Health and Wellness practitioner and a fellow at the Institute of Coaching at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School. She is the President of The PRSA Board of Trustees and a founding member of The Gathering Spot DC, a member of Chief, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and a legacy member of Ellevate, Forte Foundation, INROADS, and Management Leader for Tomorrow. Dawn graduated from The Shine Hard Legacy Accelerator program and The McKinsey Black Executive Leadership Program. Her board appointments and civic and community memberships have included The Insights Association
and IDEAS Council Board of Directors. Raised in California, Dawn has studied in Brazil and Spain and has lived in various cities across the US. As a sociologist, she loves storytelling and understanding culture.  Dawn’s travels have led her to a  career committed to influencing and improving organizational leadership and culture through the practice of inclusion. Dawn Christian is a sought-after speaker, IDEAS advisor, Coach, and podcast contributor. Dawn lives in Washington, DCis a wife and mom in a blended family of 5 “kids.” One enthusiastic 5-year-old and four adults.  She enjoys live music, and traveling.

Emily is an advocate for developing systems in which people thrive. She is a dynamic, engaging trainer and facilitator committed to building high-performing and inclusive teams, cultures of collaboration, and strong partnerships that accelerate growth. Emily is passionate about developing innovative and nuanced solutions for work and social challenges.  She brings 13 years of experience in rural nonprofit social services and health care delivery, leading, managing, and evaluating innovative programs that enhance equity and access to services.

Emily earned her bachelor’s degree in liberal arts from Knox College, where she spent a year at the University of Barcelona before serving in Peace Corps Guatemala as a public health volunteer. In May 2021, Emily graduated as part of the first cohort of the Inner MBA certificate program through Mindful NYU and Sounds True, focused on developing business as force for good and creating a conscious work culture that supports all people engaged in the mission. Emily is a certified yoga instructor and bilingual in English and Spanish. She lives on the north Oregon coast with her spouse where she enjoys outdoor adventures and travel just as much as a lazy morning with good book and warm drink.

Fiona helps professionals explore new perspectives, build personal resilience and create momentum in their lives. As a coach, diversity and organization development consultant she draws on her 25-year HR career at Accenture and Lockheed Martin, where she led work on executive talent management, leadership development, succession planning, recruitment, employee engagement and D&I initiatives. At Accenture she created the LGBTQ network and ensured future sponsorship. Fiona received a MA in HR Management from Westminster University and a BA in Politics and History from Birmingham University in the UK. She has a Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University, is a Leadership Circle Certified Coach and a CliftonStrenghts Certified Coach. She is a keen cyclist, loves the outdoors and is a parent to two teens.

Mark believes in investing in people:  they are the force multiplier in successful businesses that transform markets and our world. They are empowered by their own skills and the environments they create – where they engage, manage, partner, observe, wonder, execute, and renew with systems that are contagious to those around them.

With extensive engineering and product development experience at VeriSign, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and IBM, Mark’s global development and operations teams built and expanded systems that still support billions of transactions per day. He led global technology teams of 400+ and with peers teams of more than 6,000.  These teams were led by developing a clear vision, navigating operational realities, and delivering proven results through pragmatic organizational change.

Mark has a Masters in Electrical Engineering from Rice University and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC), with well over 3500 hours helping develop 1,000+ leaders and hundreds of teams. To provide a solid foundation for the next generation of leaders, he also teaches and coaches in multiple MBA programs.

Mark’s passion is using proven processes to help leaders develop empowered, cohesive, high-performance teams that deliver breakthrough results. He has led Leadership Workshops for over 75 teams of up to 25 leaders over the last 15 years. He also uses inspiring musical timepieces from every decade to help leaders relate to the joys and nuances of everyday leadership through his blog, LeadingWithMusic. He plays bass in a Gospel Bluegrass band that develops teamwork.

Bhakti Karkare is a new age Learning & OD professional who on a mission to help organizations build strong talent capabilities through leadership and managerial development. 

Bhakti is a facilitator at heart and specializes in building facilitation capabilities in others. She has over 10 years of corporate experience with organizations like Amdocs and Fujitsu. She specializes in working with leaders to help them overcome people issues to build a sustainable, high- performance team culture.

Having worked with HR teams across the globe, she brings unique cultural insights to her consulting work and builds highly relevant global programs tuned to local. Bhakti holds an MBA in Human Resource Management and a Master in Labor Laws from University of Pune (India). She is also an SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP).

Bhakti lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and their 3-year-old son. In her free time, Bhakti enjoys hiking, running, and learning Indian classical music.

With a background in fine arts, Brooke is a firm believer in the necessity of utilizing both visual and verbal language to deliver meaningful messages. She is inspired by The Silverene Group’s commitment to instilling intentional culture and effective communication within organizations. After years of experience working in art galleries, a public-art nonprofit, and one of the world’s largest auction houses, she realized that the common thread in all her interests was showcasing the important work going on at purposeful organizations. With that realization, she founded her own communications agency, Social Canvas, which has allowed her to focus on helping brands refine their messaging and cultivate their audiences. Brooke holds a B.F.A. from the School of Visual Arts in New York, NY, where she majored in Visual and Critical Studies and graduated with honors.

Hannah brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the table. She has a background in Project Management with a passion for understanding businesses and their unique needs, she strives to partner with clients to develop actionable talent roadmaps that drive immediate value and foster long-term success. She believes in the power of collaboration and customization.

She received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering Technology and Hospitality from The University of Southern Mississippi and brings a unique blend of skills that enables her to analyze complex processes and find innovative solutions. Over the years, she has successfully managed multiple large federal construction projects, implementing process improvement systems that have streamlined operations and boosted efficiency. Her experience allows her to provide simple and scalable solutions, while also offering a realistic approach to managing change.

Beyond the professional sphere, she is a passionate soccer coach, an active player in the world of rugby, holds many roles in professional organizations, and is always studying to obtain new certifications. Her experiences have taught her valuable skills in leadership, teamwork, and adaptability, which she brings to every project and client interaction.  In addition, she is a proud military spouse and a mother to a vibrant tween daughter. These experiences have instilled in her a strong sense of adaptability, resilience, and empathy, which she brings to every project and interaction. Hannah understands the unique challenges and demands of a military lifestyle and is dedicated to providing unwavering support and exceptional service to our clients.

Sheryl Phillips, a leadership consultant and executive coach, has partnered with leaders for over 25 years to create more effective and forward-thinking organizations.  She works at the individual, team and system level providing executive coaching, leadership development, organizational development and strategic and business planning.    Sheryl is on the faculty of the internationally acclaimed Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching Program (since 2001) and is the (co)Director for the new Executive Certificate for Transformational Leadership.  Prior to consulting, Sheryl spent a decade as a Senior Executive, giving her a unique insider perspective on the challenges and complexities of leadership life.  Her career focus has been, quite simply, service for the sake of positive change in the world.

Sheryl provides Executive Coaching to individual leaders and leadership teams and has worked with hundreds of clients across the public, non-profit and corporate sector, in the US and internationally.  Sheryl’s coaching style has been described as insightful, a blend of persistent and patient, challenging and supportive.  She is known for her good humor, easy manner, southern charm and solid sensibilities. Sheryl holds a Master’s degree from the College of William and Mary, as well as five coaching-related certifications.

Sid is an HR and talent consultant who helps clients achieve strategic talent objectives with modern human resources elements of insights, inclusion and agility. He brings over two decades of experience in technology and consulting businesses working with senior leaders in talent management, workforce planning, executive careers, mergers & acquisitions, and talent acquisition. Sid spent 16 years with Accenture in a variety of HR business partner roles. He began his career with Mercer HR Consulting and ICICI Bank Ltd in India. Sid received his MBA from the prestigious Xavier School of Management (XLRI) in India and has a Global Professional in Human Resources (GPHR) from the Human Resources Certification Institute. He lives in Northern Virginia and is passionate about pediatric liver disease and the ecological footprint.

Erica Rossi is a multi-faceted consultant specializing in strategic planning, organizational design and transformation, employee experience, team development, and communications and change management. Most of her 20+ years of experience has been in support of IT-related transformation and modernization efforts within the federal government (military and civilian agencies) and mid-size ($15M) to large ($500M) businesses. Earlier in her career, she earned a rare national “triple crown” by interning at the White House, the Supreme Court, and Congress. She holds a JD from George Mason University School of Law, an MPA from American University, and a BA in Political Science from the University of Maryland, College Park. She is also a Certified Practitioner of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator Assessment (MBTI) and FIRO, a Wiley Authorized Partner of Everything DiSC and Five Behaviors, a Prosci Certified Change Practitioner, and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP). She lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and basset hound.

Marissa Lifshen Steinberger (she/her) provides coaching and facilitation services to mission-driven individuals, leaders, and teams to elevate professional impact and enhance personal fulfillment. She has more than 20 years of experience in the education, foundation, and non-profit sectors, and understands that organizations require courageous leadership and diverse voices at all levels to be truly effective.

Marissa is passionate about empowering clients to move forward with increased satisfaction, confidence, and joy to enrich their lives and benefit the people, organizations, and causes they care about the most. As a coach, her areas of expertise include working with individuals to feel less “stuck” personally or professionally, manage work/life balance more effectively, increase impact as a supervisor, and navigate transitions more confidently. Bringing high energy, emotional acuity, and a deep understanding of group dynamics, clients consistently report that as a trainer and facilitator, Marissa provides an engaging, inclusive, and impactful experience for all participants. Originally from Dallas, Texas, Marissa now lives in the Washington, DC area with her husband and two young sons.

With a passion for innovative HR solutions and process improvement, Danielle has over ten years of experience developing and supporting the HR function in mid-to large organizations. She has worked with defense contractors Harris Corporation, General Dynamics Information Technology, Northrop Grumman, and L3 Harris technologies. Danielle has a demonstrated record of providing exceptional client centered business solutions through partnership with executives and senior leaders, in areas such as project management, training & development, and talent management. Danielle graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Virginia Commonwealth University, and received a Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from Marymount University. She currently holds both a PHR and SHRM-CP HR certification, and is a Certified Scrum Master (CSM), specializing in agile project management. In her spare time, Danielle performs philanthropic work to educate and support underprivileged children in developing nations.

Gabrielle is an Organizational Development and Human Resources Management specialist with 30+ years of experience in the private and public sectors, primarily with international organizations. She advises clients on strategic Human Resources strategies as well as facilitates retreats, leadership and management programs for emerging and current leaders. She combines her expertise acquired in various areas of talent management with a long history in conceptualizing, delivering, and evaluating programs to increase the performance of employees, managers, and teams.

Gabrielle received a BA in Psychology from Drew University and an MA in Organizational Psychology from Columbia University. She is also a Certified Performance Technologist (CPT) from the International Society for Performance Improvement (ISPI) and is certified in the use of a variety of personality assessments instruments.

Gabrielle also has a passion for working with youth and her most recent adventure is serving as a substitute teacher in high schools. Gabrielle lived and travelled in Europe and Latin America and has undertaken assignments in Asia and Africa. She is bi-lingual in English and Spanish, and conversational in German and French.

Barrhonda is a certified and credentialed executive coach by way of Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leader- ship. She spent a career at Capital One in a variety of roles, including leading the internal coaching program. She offers over 22 years of corporate business experience, over 16 years of leadership coaching and facilitation experience and a combined 5 years’ experience as adjunct faculty for Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership and Virginia Commonwealth University’s Executive Graduate Programs in the School of Business. Barrhonda holds a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology and is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC). Focus areas in her work with senior executives, emerging leaders and their teams include leadership presence, interpersonal dynamics, emotional intelligence, change management, process improvement, cross-functional team development, enhanced communication, and strategic career planning.

Barrhonda’s aim as a coach is to multiply greatness one leader, one team, and one life at a time. She recognizes that leaders are constantly on a stage and thus offers a safe and judgment-free “backstage” for leaders.  She offers a balance of asking insightful questions, exploring values, and unpacking beliefs that may be limiting.  She also serves as an accountability partner for impactful transformation. Ultimately, Barrhonda helps leaders prepare to have personal and professional proud moments while yielding significant value for their respective organizations.   On a personal note, Barrhonda is a mother and subscribes to, “living with no regrets.”