Shonda Sammons is a partner and Program Leader with the sister organization of 21st Century, 21st Century Agriculture Leadership. With over 30+ years of experience, she works with employers and employees to provide coaching, guidance, and leadership development. In addition to her highly engaging facilitation style, Shonda converts individuals into enterprising champions and assists companies in identifying in-house talent and matching employee skill sets to job responsibilities.

Originally from Indiana, Shonda has called Kentucky home for the last 23 years. After graduating from Austin Peay State University with a Bachelor of Science in Agri-Business, Shonda held many financial services roles but always knew she wanted to own her own business. She established Advocate Builders in 2013 and has remained an integral part of her company. She is also the author of a tracking program that offers the ability to manage advocate relationships and to track cross-sells and referrals company-wide. She is an adjunct professor at West Kentucky Community and Technical College.

She also specializes in Corporate Culture Development, Customer Service, DISC and Motivators, EQ-i 2.0,

EQ 360, and Performance Management.

• How real-world leadership development is being shaped by cross-industry ag exposure.
• The power of collaborative learning and lifelong professional trios.
• How investing in early- and mid-stage professionals builds trust and strengthens culture.
• Why mentorship—done right—matters deeply for organizational longevity.
• Shonda’s golden nugget