The Power of Human-Fueled Leadership: Shannon Bumgarner's Journey

By creating spaces where authenticity thrives and connection drives innovation, Shannon Bumgarner is transforming leadership culture one relationship at a time.

In the world of industrial leadership, Shannon Bumgarner operates with purpose and precision. As Airside Channel Support Leader at Trane Technologies, her responsibilities demand technical expertise, strategic vision, and a deep understanding of operational effectiveness. But what truly sets Shannon apart isn't found on her impressive resume—it's her approach to leadership that places humanity at the center of everything she does.

Known throughout the industry as a trusted partner who delivers strategic insights and drives operational effectiveness, Shannon has built a reputation as someone who solves problems quickly and implements innovative, sustainable solutions. She's respected for her leadership capabilities in mentoring teams, monitoring performance metrics, and spearheading process improvement initiatives. Yet her greatest contribution may be as a thought leader in creating inclusive workplaces through human-centric leadership principles.

Forged in Fire: The Making of a Human-Centered Leader

For over two decades, Shannon has navigated the complex terrain of male-dominated industries, transforming challenges into stepping stones that have shaped her distinctive leadership philosophy. Two pivotal experiences stand out in her journey. First was her participation in a Women's Leadership Program that introduced her to a guiding motto she still references daily: "How will you show up today?"

"It matters how you show up for others and for yourself," Shannon explains. "How you show up is critical to your personal leadership brand and how you advocate for the change you want to see in your world."

The second transformative period came during the tumultuous years from 2020 to 2022, when she experienced the loss of her father, navigated the COVID pandemic, confronted systemic racism, weathered major organizational changes at her employer, and pivoted her career significantly.

"These years taught me the power of human-fueled leadership in all aspects of our lives," she reflects. "It shifted me from hiding my empathy to embracing it as a superpower—to allow myself to fully see and enjoy my colleagues as their entire beautiful human selves."

Like many women in technical fields, Shannon has faced the persistent challenge of feeling she didn't belong. Early in her career, a male colleague suggested she was taking a spot that could be filled by someone "more fitting"—likely a male. To overcome such bias, she worked harder to demonstrate her competence, sought out allies who believed in and advocated for her, and critically examined her own unconscious biases.

Over time, Shannon's definition of success has undergone a profound transformation. Where she once defined success by her promotional track and job titles, she now finds fulfillment in helping others rise.

"Today my focus is not on a 'hand up' for the next level, but on a 'hand back' to help the next generation rise," she shares. "I now understand how blessed I am to have the opportunity to create a supporting environment for someone newer in their career, set the tone of what human-centric leadership can look like, and clear a path for women in STEM so their experience can be smoother and more fulfilling."

Q: What unexpected strengths did you discover within yourself during challenging career transitions?

A: My biggest strengths that I have discovered about myself have been two things:

I am a connector of dots, people, and processes. This strength has allowed me to create a supportive network that crosses company/industry boundaries and many dimensions of diversity. When I need a different perspective, it is at my fingertips. Being a connector has also allowed me to leverage skills and experiences across diverse roles to create sustainable and agile strategies. To successfully pivot your career, you need to leverage all your experiences to find a different way to success with your team.

Resiliency with a side of stubbornness. This came from an early lesson from my mother. When the going got tough, she gave me a defined period of time for my "pity party" and then taught me to draw my strength for whatever was next. Her invaluable lesson taught me there would be hard times, but I had everything I needed to keep moving forward and making a difference.

Building Bridges and Breaking Barriers

In her work mentoring women, Shannon has witnessed two transformations that particularly inspire her: the "light bulb" moment when someone discovers their purpose, and when women truly understand their own power. "For the women I have had the privilege to mentor, many feel insecure and unsure of their own strength," she says. "When you see them truly own and tap into their strength, it is like bright sunlight lit up a dark room."

Her engineering background profoundly influences her approach to building supportive networks. "Engineers are problem solvers at heart," she notes. "Puzzles are much stronger than the individual pieces. If we want our puzzle to create a functional, beautiful picture then we must extend our reach to touch and lock arms with other women."

To create inclusive spaces where women can authentically thrive, Shannon emphasizes two key strategies: curiosity and connection. "When you are truly curious about anything related to someone, you automatically show that you care," she explains. "The most powerful three little words you can use are, 'Tell me more.' These three words open the door to learning, inclusion, and belonging."

Q: When mentoring women navigating male-dominated industries, what wisdom do you share about balancing authenticity with organizational expectations?

A: Authenticity is my top core value. My advice has been that you must seek a work environment where you can be your authentic self. It is key to your belonging as well as that of others. It is also vital to your psychological safety, mental health, and emotional wellbeing. I cannot think of a higher priority.

However, I understand a person may not currently be in that environment and one cannot just wave a magical wand for it all to change. You can, however, create an environment where you can be your authentic self. You can find "your people" anywhere. They can provide you with the safe, authentic environment you crave while you navigate your professional situation.

Amplifying Women's Voices

As host of the Empowering Women in Industry Podcast, Shannon has expanded the platform to include diverse voices and topics beyond manufacturing, embracing fields from financial services to historical preservation. This evolution has allowed both her and our listeners to learn about different topics while appreciating the commonalities that bind women's experiences across industries.

Conversations about racial equity and financial acumen have particularly challenged and expanded her thinking. From guest Vanessa Mathews, she learned that "Nothing is untouched by racism. It's systemic, its intentional, and it's built into the fabric, the DNA, of every single thing that we do." These insights have strengthened her commitment to using her privilege to make a difference for those without a seat at the table.

Q: How does storytelling through the podcast create bridges between different women's experiences across technical fields?

A: For many women in technical fields, they feel they are alone. Many times, they are. They are the only one in the room, at the table, or being an advocate for a more inclusive workplace. They need a bridge... maybe even a lifeline. And they can find that in someone else's story. I recently saw a quote from Patti Digh, "The shortest distance between two people is a story." That is what we at the Empowering Women podcast provide -- the connection via a story.

And what I hope we do is to give them the encouragement they need to keep going. To stay in that room with their own story. And to eventually share their stories with others. This sharing is an unbroken circle of safety and encouragement.

Reshaping the Future of Leadership

The feedback that has most validated Shannon's work is hearing the word "inspiration" from listeners. "Our listeners listen to these extraordinary leaders and realize they see a bit of themselves in them," she says. "The leaders are 'normal, real humans' and yet they have achieved remarkable things."

Q: How does your unique expertise shape your approach to addressing systemic barriers for women in industry?

A: My approach for women in industry has been shaped by 25+ years "in the trenches" and 10+ years in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space. What I have learned from those experiences is it takes heart, head, and hands to address systemic barriers.

Heart to center empathy and compassion in our personal leadership styles. This will shape how we identify policy gaps to create and sustain people-centered cultures.

Head to be curious and rethink how our policies and procedures support all people including marginalized groups.

Hands to act on what we learn for a more equitable system. To show up and speak out when we see outdated policies and systems that no longer serve our people and communities.

Shannon's vision for transforming workplace cultures revolves around three Cs where she believes women leaders particularly thrive: Care and compassion, Connection with people and purpose, and Competence that is diverse and includes business and financial acumen.

Looking to the future, she sees tremendous opportunities for women in leadership emerging from several converging trends: rapid technological change, the rise of AI and machine learning, and increasing dehumanization in digital communication. "The fabulous news?" she asks. "I think women are uniquely qualified to lead in this moment."

Q: What's next in your journey as a leader and advocate? What new horizons are you exploring?

A: My next frontier will be focused on human fueled leadership. Post my "human reckoning" from 2020 to 2022, I emerged acutely aware of how much humanity is missing in the workplace. We feel somehow that we must check our "human card" at the door and become a different professional persona of ourselves to succeed in the workplace. It is a huge, detrimental lie. In our humanity lies our power. I will be exploring these human aspects of our leadership while working to provide spaces, tools, and communities where we can reclaim our power and reconnect to our humanity.

Embracing Your Inner Light

To stay grounded and energized, she relies on daily spiritual practices that provide perspective, along with physical activity that boosts her energy and outlook. Her deepest fulfillment comes from seeing others rise and achieve their dreams. "To play a little part in that journey is, outside of love, the best gift I could ever receive," she says.

Q: What do you wish more women understood about their own power and potential?

A: I wish more women viewed their power as a high wattage inner light. A light that can only grow brighter when they tap into their own unique strengths and not waste their potential with others who zap energy from that light. A light that will shine brightly when they embrace their imperfections and allow it to beautifully shine through the cracks to a waiting world who needs their brilliance.

As each day concludes, Shannon takes a moment for herself—breathing, resetting, reconnecting to her purpose. She approaches each new challenge ready to show up not just as a leader but as a fully human one, illuminating the path for others to follow and extending a hand back to lift those coming behind her.

Check out more article from the Empowering Women's Digital Magazine: https://empoweringwomen.mydigitalpublication.com/volume-9/page-6