For Shannon Whitt, some of the most meaningful signs of success can be found in the careers of people she mentored after they began as interns answering phones and packing boxes.

Whitt, chief of staff of the Alabama Republican Party, has watched young people enter the organization with little political experience, learn how the process works and move on to careers at the White House, the Secret Service, Capitol Hill and federal agencies.

“It’s like your children; it’s so exciting to see them work hard and then excel in their craft,” Whitt said.

During a recent trip to Washington, D.C., she planned to visit a former intern who now works at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and has earned several promotions.

“I’d like to think I played a small piece in that,” she said.

That commitment to recognizing potential, sharing knowledge and helping others grow is among the reasons Whitt was selected as one of YHN Media Group’s 2026 Women of Impact. Entering its eighth year, the annual recognition honors Alabama women whose leadership, service and accomplishments are making a tangible difference in their organizations and communities.

Learning from every role along the way

Whitt’s path to leadership began after she graduated from Hewitt-Trussville High School and attended Jefferson State Community College, where she earned a degree in office administration with a specialty in technology.

Her career has included administrative work, customer and product support, training, project management, donor relations, finance and event planning. Each position helped prepare her for the responsibilities she carries today.

Whitt spent seven years as an administrative assistant for American Court Reporting Co., where she coordinated responsibilities for an office of 25 employees. Her work included scheduling and confirming depositions for more than 20 court reporters, managing payroll and accounts and organizing printed depositions and exhibits.

In 2006, she joined SCHOOLinSITES, a company providing a cloud-based communication platform for schools and school systems. During more than 12 years with the company, she worked in customer and product support, sales management, training, special events and project implementation.

The leaders who shaped her

One of the people who influenced her most during that time was Doris Moody, who remains a close friend.

“Doris Moody taught me what hard work means and how important personal relationships and connections are in business,” Whitt said.

In 2018, Harold Sachs hired her to join the Alabama Republican Party. Sachs, who has since passed away, left a lasting impression on Whitt’s understanding of leadership and the kind of workplace she wanted to create for others.

“He loved Jesus, loved people and really pushed people to do work they loved,” she said. “He created the healthiest work environments, and I learned many leadership skills from him that I strive to uphold today.”

From financial director to leading the staff

Whitt initially served as the party’s financial director and spent six years overseeing its finance and event operations. Her responsibilities included donor relations, billing, collections, volunteer training, vendor contracts and budgets for large events. She also communicated with elected officials, helped produce newsletters and took on whatever work was needed to support the organization’s chairman.

In late 2024, Whitt moved into the party’s top staff leadership role and now serves as chief of staff — an achievement she considers one of the highlights of her career.

“I have been in several leadership roles, but the chance to manage and motivate such a great staff has been exciting,” she said.

Teaching people the ‘why,’ not just the ‘how’

Whitt said the Alabama Republican Party includes nearly 500 party members across the state, five full-time employees and several interns and field staff members. Managing those different groups requires organization, patience and an ability to help people understand how their work contributes to a larger goal.

Whitt does not want those around her to learn only how to complete a task. She wants them to understand the reason behind it.

“I try to stop and explain to people why we do what we do or why we’re doing something a certain way, so they learn the process and not just the ‘how,’” she said.

She also believes personal and professional growth depends on being willing to learn from others.

“We are a combination of the five people we spend the most time with,” Whitt said. “Making sure I spend time with people smarter than me and with more experience than me is so important.”

‘Working hard and being a resource’

Her faith provides the foundation for both her leadership and her belief in the importance of her work.

Whitt said she believes Alabama families benefit from conservative laws and leaders. While acknowledging that neither political party is perfect, she said the Alabama Republican Party supports many of the biblical principles she considers necessary for strong families and communities. She pointed to the freedom to worship, parents’ ability to decide what is best for their children and limiting government overreach as principles she considers essential.

Her description of what brings purpose to her work is simple: “Working hard and being a resource to those who depend on me.”

Those people include not only her co-workers and party members but also her family.

Making sure the people who matter ‘get the best of you’

Whitt has three teenagers at home and understands how quickly the demands of political work can grow, especially as an election or major event approaches.

“The political world is definitely cyclical,” she said. “When we’re leading up to an event or election, it can be so very busy.”

She often arrives at work early so she can be available when her children get out of school or have afternoon activities. That balance has not always been easy, and Whitt is open about having to reconsider where she gives her time and energy.

Her advice to the next generation of women leaders reflects the lessons she has learned through that experience.

“If the Lord has placed a calling on your life, He will equip you to do it,” she said. “A calling to an important leadership role can look like a lot of different things: a mom, a Sunday school teacher and a company executive.”

For Whitt, leadership is not limited to a job title or a position of authority. It can be found wherever someone accepts responsibility for caring for, guiding or encouraging others.

“It’s important to keep a perspective on what is important,” she said. “Make sure that the people who mean the most to you get the best of you. I’ve struggled with this, and it’s taking a while to get things back in perspective.”

A legacy measured by the people she helped

Whitt hopes to be remembered as a boss who cared about her employees and helped cultivate their individual talents. She wants the people who worked with her to know that she encouraged them through difficult periods and was willing to step in when they needed help finding joy in their work again.

“I want to be known for loving the Lord and loving others, for encouraging people when they were down, and for digging in and helping people find their joy in their job,” she said.

The interns who packed boxes and answered phones before moving into careers of their own offer evidence that Whitt’s influence is already reaching beyond her office. Their success reflects the kind of legacy she hopes to leave — one measured not simply by the positions she held, but by the people she helped along the way.

Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].