--- title: BetterUp Blog | Shonna Waters, PhD description: "Shonna began her career as an internal and external consultant across sectors and industries on issues spanning every aspect of people systems in organizations including selection, development, leadership and succession, performance management, governance, and compensation. She's served in executive leadership roles at BetterUp, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the National Security Agency. Shonna is a professor, author, leadership coach, and a Fellow of the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology (SIOP) and the Center for Evidence-Based Management (CeBMA).

Shonna received her Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology and Statistics from the University of Minnesota. She completed her certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University's Leadership Coaching Program and is an ICF certified coach." --- Search Toggle Search EN - GB [English US](https://www.betterup.com/blog) [English GB](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/) [![BetterUp](https://www.betterup.com/hubfs/bu_logo_white%201.svg "BetterUp") ![BetterUp](https://www.betterup.com/hubfs/bu_logo_black%201.svg "BetterUp") ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb) [![BetterUp](https://www.betterup.com/hubfs/bu_logo_white%201.svg "BetterUp") ![BetterUp](https://www.betterup.com/hubfs/bu_logo_black%201.svg "BetterUp") ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb) - For Business How it works [ Platform Overview Transform your enterprise with the scalable mindsets, skills, & behavior change that drive performance. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/platform) [ Powered by AI BetterUp AI weaves data, science, and coaching to unlock growth at every level. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/powered-by-ai) Products [ BetterUp Lead™ Leadership that moves your business forward. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/products/betterup-lead) [ BetterUp Manage™ Manager performance, unlocked. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/products/betterup-manage) [ BetterUp Ready™ Resilience at every level of your organisation. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/products/betterup-ready) [ BetterUp Grow™ AI coaching for everyone. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/products/betterup-ai-coaching) Solutions [ Sales Performance Transform your business, starting with your sales leaders. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/solutions/sales-coaching) [ Executive Unlock business impact from the top with executive coaching. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/solutions/executive-coaching) Customers [ Case Studies See how innovative organizations use BetterUp to build a thriving workforce. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/customers) [ Why BetterUp? 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Discover how BetterUp measurably impacts key business outcomes for organizations like yours. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/roi-of-betterup) - Resources ** ** Resources Library [ Guides & Reports Best practices, research, and tools to fuel individual and business growth. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/resources) [ Events View on-demand BetterUp events and learn about upcoming live discussions. ](https://www.betterup.com/resources/events) Blog [ BetterUp Blog The latest insights and ideas for building a high-performing workplace. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/blog) BetterUp Briefing [ BetterUp Briefing The online magazine that helps you understand tomorrow's workforce trends, today. ](https://www.betterup.com/briefing) Research [ BetterUp Labs Innovative research featured in peer-reviewed journals, press, and more. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/research) - About ** ** About [ About Us We're on a mission to help everyone live with clarity, purpose, and passion. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/about-us) [ Careers Join us and create impactful change. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/about-us/careers-1) [ News & Press Read the buzz about BetterUp. ](https://www.betterup.com/about-us/news-and-press) [ Leadership Team Meet the leadership that's passionate about empowering your workforce. ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/about-us/leadership-team) [Request a demo](https://www.betterup.com/demo-request) [ Login ](https://app.betterup.co/users/sign_in) [ Back to blog ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/blog) # Articles by Shonna Waters, PhD ## About the author ![image of Shonna Waters, PhD](https://www.betterup.com/hubfs/Blog_Author%20Headshots/HS_ShonnaWaters_325x325.png) ### Shonna Waters, PhD Shonna began her career as an internal and external consultant across sectors and industries on issues spanning every aspect of people systems in organizations including selection, development, leadership and succession, performance management, governance, and compensation. She's served in executive leadership roles at BetterUp, the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and the National Security Agency. Shonna is a professor, author, leadership coach, and a Fellow of the Society for Industrial Organizational Psychology (SIOP) and the Center for Evidence-Based Management (CeBMA). Shonna received her Ph.D. in Industrial-Organizational (I-O) Psychology and Statistics from the University of Minnesota. She completed her certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University's Leadership Coaching Program and is an ICF certified coach. no posts to display ![BetterUp Black Logo](https://www.betterup.com/hubfs/bu_logo_black%201.svg) 3100 E 5th Street, Suite 350 Austin, TX 78702 142 - 146 Old Street, London England, EC1V 9BW [![Download on the App Store](https://www.betterup.com/hubfs/Core%20Redesign/footer/Download_on_the_App_Store_Badge_US-UK_RGB_blk_092917.svg) ](https://apps.apple.com/us/app/betterup/id963755876) [![Get it on Google Play](https://www.betterup.com/hubfs/Core%20Redesign/footer/Google_Play_Store_badge_EN.svg) ](https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=co.betterup.betterup) - For Business - How it works - [ Platform Overview ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/platform) - [ Powered by AI ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/powered-by-ai) - Products - [ BetterUp Lead™ ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/products/betterup-lead) - [ BetterUp Manage™ ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/products/betterup-manage) - [ BetterUp Ready™ ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/products/betterup-ready) - [ BetterUp Grow™ ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/products/betterup-ai-coaching) - Solutions - [ Sales Performance ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/solutions/sales-coaching) - [ Executive ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/solutions/executive-coaching) - Customers - [ Case Studies ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/customers) - [ Why BetterUp? ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/roi-of-betterup) - Resources - [ Blog ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/blog) - [ BetterUp Labs ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/research) - [ BetterUp Briefing ](https://www.betterup.com/briefing) - [ What is coaching? ](https://www.betterup.com/coachingcoaching) - [ Leadership Training ](https://www.betterup.com/leadership-training) - [ Business Coaching ](https://www.betterup.com/business-coaching) - Company - [ News and Press ](https://www.betterup.com/about-us/news-and-press) - [ Careers ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/about-us/careers-1) - [ Leadership Team ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/about-us/leadership-team) - [ Become a BetterUp Coach ](https://www.betterup.com/en-gb/about-us/become-a-coach) - Contact Us - [ Contact Sales ](https://grow.betterup.com/en-gb/contact-sales) - [ Contact Support ](https://support.betterup.com/hc/en-us) - [ Legal Hub ](https://www.betterup.com/legal-hub) - [ Privacy Policy ](https://www.betterup.com/privacy-policy) - [ Acceptable Use Policy ](https://www.betterup.com/acceptable-use-policy) - [ Trust & Security ](https://www.betterup.com/trust-and-security) - Cookie Preferences - [ Modern Slavery Act Statement ](https://www.betterup.com/hubfs/BetterUp%20Inc.-%20Slavery%20and%20Human%20Trafficking%20Statement%20FY%202026.pdf) © 2026 BetterUp. 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