Shelley Paxton

Shelley Paxton is Chief Soul Officer, Keynote Speaker, and Bestselling Author on a mission to help leaders and organizations rewrite the script of success – from burnout to badassery.

Shelley spent twenty-six years as a highly regarded advertising and marketing executive stewarding some of the world’s most iconic brands, including McDonald’s, Visa, and Harley-Davidson. As Chief Marketing Officer of Harley-Davidson, she found herself at the top of the proverbial mountain feeling success-EMPTY instead of success-FULL. That awakening led her on a profound journey that became her mission, business, and Simon & Schuster-published book, Soulbbatical: A Corporate Rebel’s Guide to Finding Your Best Life. It also introduced her to the most important title she’s ever held: Chief Soul Officer.

As Shelley loves to say, she quit so you don’t have to. Now she’s sharing an empowering antidote to burnout, seeking, and attrition. A roadmap to redefining success in ways that celebrate humanity, wellbeing, and soul – in our lives, businesses, and culture at large.

Her inspiring work has been featured on NBC, CBS, Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Thrive Global, Business Insider, and the TEDx stage. She’s a sought-after keynote speaker who’s been called “the next Brené Brown” by Chip Conley, NY Times Bestselling Author and Former Airbnb Exec and Hospitality Disruptor.

Shelley works with culture-shifting leaders and organizations from Chief (named one of TIME’s Most Influential Companies of 2023) to MEA (the world’s first midlife wisdom school) and is a fierce advocate for mental health. She’s also obsessed with the color orange.