Shawntera M. Hardy is a seasoned tri-sector leader with a 20+ year history of driving operational excellence through periods of uncertainty and transformation. A champion for inclusive economies, she has built four impactful companies and led high-profile public and private organizations. Through her strategic advisory firm, Amethyst Advisory Group, she provides strategic counsel to leaders and organizations looking to thrive in disruption, reimagine processes, and dismantle outdated ways of thinking. Shawntera co-founded and led two previous startups through successful exits. Plural, a global venture-backed legislative intelligence company focused on leveraging AI to automate access to state and federal legislative tracking. And Fearless Commerce, developing high-growth resources that strengthened the capacity and connections of businesses owned by Black Women. Her prior roles span energy, healthcare, urban planning, and state government. Before becoming a full-time business owner, Shawntera was appointed by Governor Mark Dayton as the Commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Shawntera holds a BS from The Ohio State University and a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from SUNY Buffalo.