Shannon M. Lambert

With more than 20 years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit organizations, Shannon M. Lambert has a proven track record of designing, scaling, and managing impactful, community-driven programs on a global scale. She brings cross-functional leadership experience in large, complex, global organizations driving strategies and initiatives related to programs, marketing and communications, fundraising, and operations.

During her 10+ year tenure at Smile Train, the world’s largest cleft-focused organization, Shannon optimized and informed global program operations and developed organization-wide, strategic initiatives for cleft lip and palate programs across 75+ countries. As Vice President and Regional Director for the Americas and Europe, she oversaw more than 250 hospital partnerships, leading the strategic direction and implementation plans for sustainable and scalable global health programming. Previously as Associate Vice President of International Programs at Operation Smile, Shannon managed 180+ medical programs annually, led disaster response initiatives, oversaw a global network of 5,000+ volunteers, and trained global program staff. She brings deep experience in cross-sector partnerships, having collaborated with local partners, health ministries, UN agencies, corporations, INGOs, universities, celebrities, and others. 

A Hampton Roads native currently living in Suffolk, Shannon holds a Master’s Degree in Foreign Languages from George Mason University, Bachelor’s Degrees in Socio-Cultural Anthropology and French Language and Literature from the University of Virginia, and an Executive Certificate in Nonprofit Leadership from Duke University. She is also a member of the Women’s Impact Alliance Selection Board, a yoga, wine, and travel enthusiast (45+ countries and counting!), and a proud mom. 

Thriving in diverse global contexts and driven by a passion for fostering cultural understanding, Shannon is proud to contribute to WACHR’s mission of promoting open dialogue and information-sharing on complex global topics.