Meet your Coach

Shaneka Ashman, MSW, LCSW, is a licensed social worker, wellness and mental health educator, and founder of Awakening Minds Coaching and Consulting LLC.

She brings a wealth of leadership experience as a social worker, human resource and DEIB consultant, and former psychotherapist. Having worked extensively across various organizations leading, training, counseling, and coaching others, she recognized a critical disconnect between leadership and wellness. This fueled her passion to create a coaching and consulting practice that bridge the gap by empowering high performers, emerging leaders, and organizations to cultivate awareness, authenticity, and nurture healthy performance and wellness.

She believes wellness is a pillar of leadership. Her philosophy centers on the idea that, “ you can’t pour from an empty cup,” highlighting the importance of holistic well-being and self awareness. As a wellness and mindful leadership coach, her mission is simply to support high performers and emerging leaders on their journey whether in or out the workplace while creating a ripple effect of equity, inclusion and positive change. Everyone deserves to show up as their authentic self.

Shaneka is deeply committed to social justice and addressing inequalities creating a safe space where individuals can be themselves. Her focus is also to uplift and amplify BIPOC individuals and communities voices channeling mindful wellness and leadership development. Too often, these individuals (who may look like her) potential are overlooked and or they worked tirelessly to prove themselves in systems that place visible and invisible barriers preventing progress.

Shaneka was born and raised in Jamaica although she currently lives in New England with her husband. She has been serving in the military for the last 14 years and is a veteran. She earned her Masters degree in clinical social work from Fordham University and is currently a doctoral student.

Her self care routines and hobbies are nature walks, watching the sun set or rise, listening to music, traveling and reading.