Shannon L. Ryan

Shannon began her career at Wells Fargo, where she was an investor and credit research analyst for the bank’s $100B proprietary portfolio. She then spent two years at a start-up fintech company focusing on equity research, client advisory, and business development, devising strategies for business growth and developing novel thematic equity strategies and portfolios. Shannon returned to Wells Fargo where she was tapped to build a new team of COOs, serving as COO for the bank’s $100B proprietary portfolio where she led operational and organizational strategies impacting long-range business planning, human capital strategy, and investing policies and procedures. She was also responsible for leading large cross-functional teams for bank-wide strategic initiatives and directing operational and human capital strategies to enable expense reductions, enhanced operating efficiency, and respond to changing business and regulatory environments. As a part of this work, Shannon also devised strategies and led implementation for the bank portfolio’s two largest organizational restructurings to-date.

Shannon then brought these skills to Oaktree Capital, where she served as Chief of Staff and Head of Product Operations for the Product Specialist Group where she led key human capital, operational, and technology modernization initiatives. She also held roles driving corporate culture, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging (DEI&B), and junior talent initiatives. 

Together with her mother Susan C. Ryan, Shannon founded NOVASPARK in 2023, leveraging her corporate and consulting experiences to provide differentiated approaches and solutions to championing transformational change and organizational evolution, focusing on the themes driving the continuous evolution in the workplace. Shannon specializes in her passion areas which include transformation management, DEI&B, organizational strategy, operational excellence, technology transformation strategy and implementation, strategic planning, and executive advisory.

Shannon graduated cum laude from Tulane University’s Freeman School of Business with a Finance degree and is currently continuing her education in Organizational Psychology at Harvard University’s Extension School. Shannon also leads membership programs for the Chrysalis Young Professionals Advisory Council (YPAC), a non-profit organization that helps people experiencing financial insecurity and housing instability navigate barriers to the workforce. She lives in Los Angeles, California by the beach with her dog, Olive, and enjoys live music, playing tennis, reading, and soaking up the diverse culture and food available across the LA area.