Background
Shalini Benson founded Wobble in 2021 after more than two decades of senior leadership across the federal government, nonprofit sector, and private consulting. This experience includes years as a member of the federal Senior Executive Service, the highest civilian rank in the U.S. government.
She has led teams up to 75 people, managed budgets exceeding $5 billion, advised senior decision-makers on policy and strategy, designed and facilitated leadership programs, and coached leaders through consequential transitions in their careers and organizations.
Wobble brings together several capabilities that are often offered separately: the listening and presence of a coach, the structure and energy of a facilitator, the instructional expertise of a trainer, and the systems-level judgment of a former senior executive. That combination is what allows Wobble to do more than deliver content or advice — it creates the conditions in which people and organizations can think more clearly, work more effectively, and develop the capacity to solve their own challenges.
Shalini is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), a Leadership Circle Profile practitioner, a DISC Workplace Facilitator, and an adjunct faculty member at Georgetown University’s Institute for Transformational Leadership. She trains and facilitates for the Partnership for Public Service’s AI Government Leadership Program and delivers training through the Association of Government Accountants and Management Concepts.
She is a first-generation Indian American, a mother of three, a spouse, a daughter, a nonprofit board member, and a friend. Her name is pronounced SHA-lyn-ee.
Wobble is a woman-owned small business.
Career Highlights
- Member, Federal Senior Executive Service (SES) — highest civilian rank in the U.S. government
- 25+ years of experience across federal government, nonprofit, and private sectors
- Led teams up to 75 people; managed budgets exceeding $5 billion annually
- Former OMB Program Examiner and Presidential Management Fellow (2002–2004)
- Managed $5B+ budget and $16B debt cancellation legislation as FEMA SES
- Led $31B budget formulation at National Institutes of Health
- Deputy Budget Director at FEMA, supervising 50+ staff
- DOE Chief of Staff, $27B portfolio
- Senior Program Analyst, Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI)
- VP of Headquarters & Operations, A Wider Circle (nonprofit)
- Director, CGI Federal; consultant at Federal Budget Summit, LLC
- Adjunct Faculty, Georgetown University Institute for Transformational Leadership
- Coach and facilitator, Partnership for Public Service (AI Gov Leadership, Excellence in Government Fellows, LEAP, and more)
- Over 1,250 hours of coaching experience; over 1,000 hours of training designed and delivered; over 200 360s debriefed
Additional Information
Education
- Georgetown University — Executive Certificate, Leadership Coaching, Institute for Transformational Leadership
- Georgetown University — Master of Public Policy, Nonprofit Management and Public Administration
- Brandeis University — Bachelor of Arts, Philosophy and Politics
Certifications and Credentials
- ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC), valid through December 2029
- Leadership Circle Profile Practitioner
- DISC Workplace Facilitator, certified by MP6 Consulting
- Reiki Levels 1 & 2
Previous Coaching Clients Include:
Executive Office of the President, U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Health and Human Services, Homeland Security, Interior, Commerce, General Services Administration, ClimateWorks Foundation, Davidson College, University of Colorado Boulder, Loyola University, and professionals across government, nonprofit, and private sectors.