Mona is the founder and owner of LIFT Coaching and Consulting where she provides leadership development, coaching, planning, facilitation and consulting services. Mona previously served as Chief Operating Officer for the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, where she oversaw day-to-day operations, human resources, and the staff who led marketing and communications, and community and foundation relations. She has also been Vice President and Chief of Staff at the Center for Creative Leadership and Deputy/Assistant City Manager for the City of Greensboro.
Experience
Education
Mona holds a J.D. degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law and a B.A. degree from the University of Virginia. Additionally, she completed the Municipal administration course at the Institute of Government at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Management Development Institute at Virginia Polytechnic and State University.
Professional Affiliations
Mona is a member of the Virginia State Bar (Associate), Triad Coaching Connection, the Women’s Professional Forum, and is a graduate of Leadership Greensboro, Other Voices and Greensboro Mosaic. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and serves as Chair of the Compliance, Audit and Risk Management Committee, and Governance Committee. She is a past Vice Chair. She is also a board member of North Carolina for Community and Justice and is a past Chair of the board.
In 2020, Mona was recognized as one of the recipients of the Triad Business Journal’s Outstanding Women in Business Award.
In 2019, Mona received the Gwendolyn and Dr. Alvin Blount Jr. Lifetime Achievement Award for Community Service from the United Way of Greater Greensboro.
Mona Edwards' Experience
Mona is the founder and owner of LIFT Coaching and Consulting where she provides leadership development coaching
Mona previously served as Chief Operating Officer for the Community Foundation of Greater Greensboro, where she oversaw day-to-day operations, human resources, and the staff who led marketing and communications, and community and foundation relations. She served on a variety of community based committees, and was a liaison to the Board of Directors on governance and personnel matters.
Mona has also served as Vice President and Chief of Staff at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL) where as a member of the Executive Team, she was a liaison to the President and Board of Governors, managed the Office of the President, oversaw advancement/development, and education and non-profit leadership work. As Chief of Staff, she partnered with Talent Management Department staff on employee relations and organizational culture, job searches, and special projects and events. Mona also became a CCL certified coach during her tenure there.
Previously she served as the Deputy/Assistant City Manager for the City of Greensboro. In that capacity, she was second in command for the City and was responsible for over 1100 employees via supervision of several departments.
Mona also practiced law in Virginia for five years.
Current Role
Mona has over 25 years of combined experience in leadership, nonprofits, government, education, philanthropy and law. She is the founder and owner of LIFT Coaching and Consulting where she provides leadership development coaching, and planning. LIFT Coaching and Consulting aims to help leaders (at all levels) elevate their effectiveness.
She is energized by having focused conversations with diverse types of leaders and in connecting them to key lessons from their feedback, training and experience. She encourages a holistic approach in supporting clients and assisting them in developing action oriented goals within a framework of their organization’s dynamics. Coaching is done within a context which connects to individuals’ identity, culture, and career goals.
Mona also serves as a Feedback and Executive Coach for the Center for Creative Leadership.
Photography by Lynn Donovan