Hi, I’m Danielle Shelton Walczak

I launched Citrine in 2024 with a mission to help women get to the highest levels of leadership, by providing all the information and experience I know that got me to the C-suite. My “Why” for doing this, is because I believe the world desperately needs women leadership now more than ever.

I’ve had a career that expands over 35 years, and continues. I started as a law firm associate. Then I opened up my own law firm which lasted for a decade. While doing that, I became an adjunct law professor for five years. I shuttered my business, and went on to become my state bar association’s first Director of Diversity and Inclusion. I was then asked to apply to my municipality’s Civil Rights office where I became the Director of the Complaint Investigations unit. I led a team of four and managed an annual budget of $700,000, and increased my unit’s income over 300%. I was then tapped to become the deputy of strategic initiatives to my City’s Manager. In that position I led six directors which represented $6M in annual spending, with an unit overhead budget of $5M. Also in that time I spearheaded the creation of the first new city department in over 15 years. I left public service to become the first woman of color Executive Director over my state’s largest legal non-profit with five offices, 200 employees, with 18M in revenue. I accomplished all of this by the time I was 48 years old.

I had a hard fought education, lots of courage, a good work ethic, a goal, a strategy, and friends. What I did not have was built in family money or contacts. What I know is there is a clear playbook to get to the C-suite., despite what you’ve been led to believe. It’s not rocket science, and doesn’t have to be elusive. I truly believe every woman, no matter their background can get there with some help and support. That’s why I’m here.

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Danielle has degrees in Art History and Spanish, as well as a Law Degree. She’s a graduate of Colgate University (NY), and William Mitchell College of Law (MN). She lives in the United States, in the state of Minnesota with her husband and dog Finni.


My approach

We’ll start with a collaborative honest assessment of where you are professionally, and how it’s contributing to your emotional, physical and mental health. Then we’ll explore your “Why” to the C-suite. We’ll co-create a plan with needed actionable steps to get you there on your terms with your health intact.


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