Iona University Alumna Shenan Reed ’97 Returns to Share Career Insights As General Motors' First Global Chief Media Officer
Speaking at the LaPenta School of Business as part of the “View from the C-Suite,” Reed reflected on her career journey and the impact of an Iona education
New Rochelle, N.Y. – Shenan Reed ’97, General Motors' first Global Chief Media Officer, recently returned to Iona University to share her inspiring career journey and leadership insights as part of the “View from the C-Suite” speaker series.
Reed, who transferred to Iona from the University of Houston with dreams of performing on Broadway, credits her time in New Rochelle with helping to chart her path forward.
“It’s so funny that I work in advertising, because I saw an ad for Iona in the newspaper, and it said, if you're a transfer student and need some extra help, we’re here,” she said. “So I picked up the phone and had a conversation with somebody. And what an amazing moment that was, because the school was incredible. The speed with which they helped me figure it all out, transfer my credits, and then figure out my path – it was really amazing.”
Reed went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Speech Communications with a minor in Fine Arts in 1997. Embracing her passion for musical theater, she was an active member of the Iona Players, immersing herself in the arts and campus life as a commuter student.
“One of the things that was amazing for me was that those clubs and those communities allowed me to connect with other students. That totally shaped me,” she said.
Today, as a C-suite executive at General Motors, Reed is responsible for shaping the company's global media strategy and leading a team focused on advancing media practices. Previously, her impressive background includes serving as senior vice president and head of media at L’Oréal. In addition, along with her husband, she also co-founded Morpheus Media, a digital marketing agency representing high-profile clients such as The New York Times, Chanel, and Tiffany & Co., just to name a few.
A lifelong car enthusiast, it’s Reed’s role at General Motors, however, that really brings her career – and life – full circle.
“I came home from the hospital in a ’66 Chevelle SS 396 convertible in a General Motors love seat, which was the General Motors car seat back in 1973,” she explained passionately. “And we’ve had General Motors vehicles that we’ve been tinkering with as project cars basically my entire life.”
She even rode to her wedding in a 1969 T-Top Corvette – red, of course – that she and her father began renovating when she was just 9 years old.
“My journey has not been one that was particularly planned out, but I think that's actually been a great thing for me, because I've been open to all of those conversations and opportunities,” she said of her journey to General Motors. “Be open to take those risks.”
Reed also emphasized the importance of mentorship, both formal and informal, and encouraged students to build their own “personal board of directors.”
“Surround yourself with people you can go to for advice on different things – whether it’s marketing, finance, or work-life balance,” she said. “Always be curious. Ask for 10 minutes of someone’s time and have one question prepared. Those small moments can shape how you think about your career.”
Her parting advice to students?
“Life is too short to work for bad humans.”
Watch Now: A View from the C-Suite with Shenan Reed '97
About View from the C-Suite
A key element of the business education at Iona’s LaPenta School of Business is access to career professionals who offer perspective, advice and opportunities to Iona students.
Through regularly scheduled talks, Iona alumni come back to campus frequently to share the most valuable lessons they’ve learned over the course of their careers. These intimate conversations allow current students the opportunity to network and learn from successful Iona alumni from a wide variety of industries.
Past “View from the C-Suite” speakers include an impressive roster of executives and alumni from top companies such as Visa; HEINEKEN USA; UnitedHealthcare Specialty; Le Creuset of America; Citrin Cooperman; Bloomberg; and Steve Madden.
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of nearly 4,000 students and an alumni base of more than 50,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2025, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 5 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review recognized Iona’s on-campus MBA program as a “Best Business School for 2024.” Iona also offers a fully online MBA program for even greater flexibility. In July 2021, Iona announced the establishment of the NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences, which is now principally located on Iona’s Bronxville campus in collaboration with one of the nation’s top hospitals. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.