In the realm of corporate leadership, there are individuals who not only excel in their roles but also inspire and empower those around them. Dr. Shagranda Moch Traveler is undeniably one of those remarkable individuals. A Louisiana native with an impressive career path in corporate America, Dr. Traveler is the Senior Vice President, Global Head of Communications, Culture & Employee Engagement for Data and Regulatory Operations at Citi and is currently responsible for culture and communication strategies for talent in over 20 countries. With a distinguished career spanning two decades, Dr. Traveler has become synonymous with excellence, advocacy and transformative leadership.
Dr. Traveler embarked on her journey with a clear vision and unwavering determination. She started her professional career with the Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, where she led the Leadership Shreveport Bossier Development Program and was appointed to the Mayor’s Education Cabinet. She then spent two decades in the financial services industry with Citi, leading Product Marketing campaigns and talent development initiatives at the vice president level, driving double-digit growth in diverse hiring and building community support programs that exceeded 100K volunteer hours.
After completing her Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) with a concentration in Leadership from Walden University, Dr. Traveler transitioned from corporate America to complete a post-doctoral role as Executive Vice President of Advocacy, Government Relations, and Communications for Tarrant Area Food Bank. It is here where she could showcase her passion for advocacy and community empowerment. She became the first African American to serve on the organization’s executive leadership team further cementing her reputation as a trailblazer. While at TAFB, Dr. Traveler was able to pioneer initiatives that transformed how the food bank engages with its stakeholders and serves the community. Committed to making a global impact, Dr. Moch Traveler returned to Citi and accepted the newly created role she now has.
Working with people worldwide might seem a daunting task, but Dr. Traveler is not intimidated. “Regardless of how different we think we are, we have more in common than we think,” says Dr. Traveler. She continues, “I take the approach of seeking first to understand so that I can be understood. I have witnessed that the range of hidden knowledge and expertise increases exponentially when a seat at the table is extended to others.” Working with team members in New York, London, Ireland and Poland and being a mentor to someone in Peru have helped make Dr. Traveler sensitive to making incorrect assumptions about people and helped her extend patience during the trust-building process necessary to have good professional working relationships. Culture building is hard, but critical work – as employee retention and job performance are the unsung heroes of organizational success. A public and vocal champion for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, she strives to implement strategies where every employee within Data and Regulatory Operations feels seen, heard and respected.
To read the full story, click on the cover of the April 2024 issue.
