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LEADERSHIP STRATEGIST

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About Sheila

Leadership Speaker. Corporate Trainer. Upskill & Career Strategist. Author

Dr. Sheila Gilbert is a Leadership Elevation Strategist with more than 20 years of human resources and leadership development experience. As the founder of Built to Lead, she helps HR professionals become certified, confident leaders while partnering with organizations to build leadership pipelines that drive measurable results.

A dynamic speaker and corporate trainer, Sheila brings energy and practical expertise to every stage and training room. Her signature approach addresses not just competence but confidence—the often-overlooked factor that separates good leaders from great ones. Through her proprietary methodologies, she has achieved a 98% pass rate for SHRM certification candidates and helped organizations reduce turnover by 30%.

Sheila is the author of The New HR Leader's 90 Day Playbook, a practical guide for emerging HR leaders navigating their first critical months in new roles. Her work centers on one core belief: organizations thrive when they invest in developing ready-now leaders at every level.

When she's not speaking, training, or helping professionals level up their careers, Sheila is pursuing her passion for transforming expertise into elevated leadership across industries.

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Drawing from her extensive experience as a college professor and human resources professional, Dr. Gilbert understands that career development and upskilling aren't just nice-to-haves—they're your competitive advantage in today's rapidly evolving workplace.

Her work reflects a deep conviction that professionals who intentionally invest in their growth don't just keep pace; they lead the pack. True career advancement requires strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and an unyielding commitment to continuous development.

More than a coach, Dr. Gilbert is a catalyst for professional transformation. She helps individuals position themselves as indispensable assets and partners with organizations to build talent pipelines that outperform the competition.

As a dedicated upskill strategist and experienced SHRM instructor, Dr. Gilbert has empowered more than 6,500 professionals to elevate their expertise and accelerate their careers—with her SHRM certification examinees achieving an impressive 98% pass rate. Her mission is clear: help you turn your potential into your greatest competitive edge.

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