Hi! I’m, Shaté L. Hayes, a learning producer, consultant, speaker, and writer who’s passionate about unlocking human potential.

After graduating with a BA in Psychology from Spelman College, I started my career in Los Angeles as a professional dancer and choreographer. I performed extensively throughout the U.S. and China and choreographed and produced dozens of productions including industrials, concerts, musicals, and more. In 2018, I served as assistant choreographer for Tony award-winning Dallas Theater Center's and AT&T Performing Art Center's production of Hairspray: The Broadway Musical. Critics have called me “a talent to watch” and my movement has been described as “alone worth the price of admission.”

I earned an MFA in dance and spent several years serving as an adjunct dance professor. I’ve taught and mentored students of all ages and from all walks of life on issues such as self-confidence, professional development, and career trajectory.

I’m all about people and performance—my background in psychology and the arts colors everything I do.

Since my performance career, I’ve authored several books such as The Freelance Dancer’s Roadmap as well as 100+ career and business articles published in Dance Magazine, Pointe, Dance Teacher, and Dance Business Weekly among others. In 2015, I founded The Working Dancer, an online career resource for aspiring and early career artists. Through that platform and my work in the community, I’ve contributed to numerous panels, conferences, and podcast discussions focused on purpose and career building.

I then went on to build a high performing career learning team at a market leading edtech company for over 5 years. I drove the production of a high volume of digital content, learning programs, corporate videos, and live virtual events. From there, I became an executive at a non-profit leading the delivery of technical, career, and community programs for working adults from historically excluded populations.

Now, as Founder & CEO of Career Steward, I have the pleasure of using all my background and past experiences to…

  • Write stories to help mission-driven creatives and organizations win jobs or clients.

  • Speak to university, corporate, or community audiences on a range of professional development topics.

  • Coach creative professionals to make a living doing what they love.