SHAKA
SENGHOR

Shaka Senghor is the President/Creative Director of Shaka Senghor, Inc, having previously held the position of Vice President of Corporate Communications at Navan (TripActions), an online travel management, corporate card and expense management company valued at $9 Billion.

During his tenure at Navan, Shaka played a pivotal role in shaping the company's strategic evolution. His leadership encompassed the successful execution of a comprehensive company rebrand, the development of cutting-edge sales and success training programs, and the formulation of a robust DEI strategy.

Shaka is also a former MIT Media Lab Director’s Fellow, and a former Fellow in the inaugural class of the W.K. Kellogg Foundation’s Community Leadership Network. His 2014 TED Talk was featured in their “Year in Ideas” roundup and has over 1.5 million views.

Shaka is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Black Male Engagement (BMe) Leadership Award, the Manchester University Innovator of the Year Award, the FORD Man of Courage Award, Ebony Magazine Power 100 Honoree, and the NAACP Great Expectations Award. He was recently recognized by OWN (the Oprah Winfrey Network) as a “Soul Igniter” in the inaugural class of the SuperSoul 100, a dynamic group of trailblazers whose vision and life’s work are bringing a higher level of consciousness to the world around them and encouraging others to do the same.

He has taught at the University of Michigan and shares his story of redemption around the world with top businesses, universities, and in popular media. Today, Shaka’s priority is shifting societal narratives by creating content with deep social impact and high entertainment value.

Making the most of freedom

 
Making the most of freedom
2010

  • Sold my first book, Crack Vol.1, in the parole parking lot (first day out)

  • First speaking engagement at the U.S. Social Forum downtown Detroit (first week out)

  • First flight to Wisconsin

  • First book signing

  • First car (1996 Caprice Classic)

  • First job writing for Michigan Citizen (started writing music reviews)

2011

  • Released second book, Crack Vol. 2 (June 22, 2011)

  • Enrolled in Specs Howard School of Media and Design (Digital Media Arts)

  • My son, Sekou Akili Senghor, is born December 13, 2011

  • Nominated for Black Male Engagement (BME) Award

2012

  • Won BME Leadership Award

  • Started Live in Peace mentoring program with 25K grant

  • Began Directors Fellowship at MIT Media Lab

  • Wrote Writing My Wrongs (original version)

  • Release Live In Peace: A Youth Guide to Turning Hurt into Hope

  • Starred in a play, Mocha Monologues

2013

  • Nominated for TED Prize

  • Released Writing My Wrongs

  • Bought first home

  • Speaker at Personal Democracy Forum

2014

  • Started teaching at University of Michigan (class called Atonement Project)

  • TED Prize finalist TED Talk

  • Began Kellogg Leadership Fellowship

2015

  • Interviewed by Oprah for Super Soul Sunday

  • Won Manchester University Innovator of the Year award

  • Joined #Cut 50 as Director of Strategy and Innovation

  • Wrote and Produced my first stage play

  • Visited a German Prison

  • Co-founded Men of Courage (an organization that celebrates black men)

  • White House visit with Dream Corps

  • Signed book deal with Convergent (Penguin Random House) for Writing My Wrongs

2016

  • Became Super Soul 100 member

  • Ebony Power 100 member

  • Received NAACP Great Expectations Award

  • Received Ford Men of Courage Award

  • Moved to LA

  • Writing My Wrongs debuts on NY Times and Washington Post Best Sellers Lists

2017

  • Paperback and Chinese versions of Writing My Wrongs released

  • Met President Obama

  • Worked as consulting producer on an OWN show called Released

  • Featured in of film 13th

  • Received GLIDE’s Rev. Cecil Williams Legacy Award

2018

  • Commissioned by Geffen to write play

  • Chosen as opening Keynote at President Obama’s My Brother Keeper launch

  • Started as Executive Director at Anti-Recidivism Coalition (ARC)

  • Travelled to Ghana (first trip to an African country)

2019

  • New book deal, Letters To Son’s of Society

  • Bought new home in LA

  • Featured in Ben Horowitz’s new book, What You Do is Who You Are

2020

  • The Bet 100: 2020 Social Justice Warriors of the Year

  • Founded Redeemed Sole

  • Joined TripActions as Head of Sales and Success Culture

2021

  • Featured on Nas’ Grammy nominated album King’s Disease II

  • Appeared in Oprah Winfrey’s New York Times Best-Seller “What Happened To You?”