Book IWD Speaker: Shiela M. Cancino

Shiela M. Cancino is a TEDx speaker, certified professional executive coach, and the creator of the Pawn to Queen™ Framework - a strategic positioning model designed to help high-performing professionals close the gap between the results they deliver and the influence they carry.

With a dynamic career spanning global leadership roles in financial services across the Philippines, Bermuda, the United States, Hong Kong, Singapore, and India, Shiela has a proven track record of directing strategic migrations and developing cross-cultural teams. She understands firsthand the challenges of navigating corporate hierarchies, avoiding burnout, and transitioning from invisible competence to intentional influence.

Beyond the boardroom, Shiela is a FIDE Woman Candidate Master in Chess, having represented Bermuda at the Chess Olympiads in Georgia and Hungary. She uniquely integrates chess strategy into her executive coaching and leadership development programs, utilizing the chessboard as a powerful metaphor for positional awareness, boundary setting, and strategic career advancement.

A deeply committed servant leader, Shiela is the founder of the 4S Share a Secret Spread Success scholarship foundation in the Philippines. In Hong Kong, she founded the Pinoy Chess Community, an initiative empowering migrant domestic workers by teaching them chess—transforming their confidence and leadership skills so they, too, can move from ”pawns to queens.” H

As a featured presenter for TEDxTinHauWomen, as well as a JCI World Public Speaking Champion, Shiela brings a rare blend of executive acumen, authentic storytelling, and strategic insight to the stage. Event organizers booking Shiela can expect a compelling, thought-provoking speaker who inspires audiences to identify their current professional stage, stop waiting for permission, and make their next strategic move.

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