Today we’d like to introduce you to Mary Shannon.
Hi Mary, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
When I was preparing for retirement after 25 years with a multi-billion-dollar corporation, I asked myself a simple question: “Now what?” I was proud of the work I’d done and grateful for the chance to slow down, travel, volunteer, and lead worship at my church. There was no pressure to chase the next big thing—until there was.
Some moments felt like a nudge from fate. I had helped organize Kansas City’s first Procurement Roundtable, uniting supplier diversity program leaders to align leadership, resources, and opportunity. I served two terms as co-chair of the National Minority Supplier Development Council’s Working Group, and I was recognized as a Black Achiever in Business and Industry. Still, the idea of winding down didn’t sit right with me—there was work I wasn’t done.
So I took a leap. In 2018, I founded Connectus Worldwide, a professional business consulting firm focused on supporting Minority, Woman-owned, Veteran, and LGBTQ+ Business Enterprises, and partnering with majority organizations seeking to connect and do business with small/diverse businesses. The belief behind Connectus is simple and powerful: when entrepreneurship engages the entire community, opportunity and growth multiply.
The journey has been about transforming experience into impact. We deliver pre-application for certification support, coaching and development, and access to corporate and government networks. It began here—in my community—because I know the ripple effects of inclusion extend beyond individual businesses to cities and regions.
Naming the company, Connectus Worldwide, reflected the connective tissue at the heart of my work. The Tree of Life logo, a gift from the women of my church, embodies renewal, energy, health, and a bright future. Even though Connectus is a new venture, I don’t view it as a startup so much as a repurposing of decades of expertise into something timely and essential for underserved communities.
The story isn’t just about a career shift; it’s about choosing to lead with purpose, to lift others, and to prove that it’s never too late to pursue a passion that serves the greater good. I hope my story inspires others who are weighing a similar path to take bold steps toward their own next chapters.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My road to Connectus Worldwide wasn’t a straight line. After 25 years in a multi-billion-dollar corporation, stepping into entrepreneurship meant redefining success and risk. The first big obstacle was credibility: could a small, minority, woman-owned firm genuinely help large corporations rethink procurement practices? I leaned into relationships, built credibility with a clear vision, and demonstrated impact through pilot projects and a transparent metric structure. Those early engagements taught me that numbers tell stories—numbers paired with real client outcomes resonate.
A second challenge was access to capital. Funding and growth posed another set of tests. Prioritizing cash flow, I explored diverse funding paths and strategic partnerships, staying aligned with our mission to uplift underserved communities. Each hurdle reinforced the discipline of balance—keeping our mission front and center while pursuing scalable growth.
Another hurdle was balancing growth with meaningful community impact. It was tempting to chase bigger engagements, but I chose to deepen work with minority, woman-owned and Veteran business enterprises, and to partner with majority organizations who wanted to do business more inclusively. Each obstacle became a lesson in focus: listen first, prove value quickly, and scale thoughtfully.
Current landscape: we’re expanding our national reach with a Midwest focus, strengthening our ability to connect diverse businesses with major organizations. The obstacles I faced became the compass guiding Connectus Worldwide toward a more resilient, impact-driven future.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Connectus Worldwide, LLC?
Connectus Worldwide, LLC is a minority, woman-owned certified business consulting firm founded in 2018 to empower Minority, Woman owned, Veteran, and LGBTQ+ business enterprises and to connect them with major organizations eager to diversify their ecosystems. We specialize in pre-application for certification support, leadership and development coaching, and access to corporate and government networks. We work with businesses that want to expand their economic opportunities into public and corporate markets, starting with a clear understanding of client needs, target markets, and certification pathways, and then mapping out navigational strategies for the corporate landscape.
Majority organizations have a strong business case for a formal Business Diversity program. Connectus Worldwide collaborates with clients to analyze opportunities for integrating a Diversity program into corporate strategy, delivering a measurable ROI that benefits the bottom line.
What sets us apart:
• Strategic sourcing and procurement experience in Fortune 100 environments
• Electronic pre-application for certification, in a secure, encrypted setting to upload required documents to the certifying agency
• Access to key corporate and government contacts
• Business Diversity program development and execution
What readers should know: Connectus Worldwide is an inclusive, values-driven catalyst for sustainable, community-centered growth—enhancing corporate vision with proactive, solutions-oriented partnerships.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
What I like best: The sense of community and collaboration here. Kansas City is a city that embraces diverse business voices, which aligns with Connectus Worldwide’s mission to connect minority- and women-owned enterprises with supplier-diversity program leaders—and my advocacy work in Washington, DC demonstrates how regional leadership can influence nationwide opportunities.
What I like least: The funding volatility that can make it hard for small and diverse businesses to plan long-term. I’m working to change that through stronger supplier-diversity partnerships and better access to capital.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.connectusww.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mary-shannon-934b34
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6mAUAzyg5Y
