it’s a pleasure to meet you

I’M SHAKEIA KEGLER-GRAY

♦ 

I started in government contracting at 18, while servig active duty in the U.S. Navy, managing a $400K operating budget in aviation ordnance and earning a flag letter of commendation for purchasing. After eight years of service, I founded GovLia, a learning management system for government contracting. I built it to close the gap for women-, minority-, and veteran-owned businesses trying to access government contracts.

My first product crashed during a pilot. I rebuilt by selling before building: I pitched government buyers with mockups, closed contracts, and used that revenue to build a platform government agencies relied on. Over eight years, GovLia helped businesses win more than $100M in government contracts, and I sold the company in 2025.

Today I lead programming for 157 alumni founders and 2,000+ entrepreneurs at Pharrell Williams nonprofit Black Ambition. Through ClearPath to Contracts, I help small businesses become contract-ready and help organizations build supplier readiness programs.

On stage, I talk about what that road actually takes. Things work out. Not immediately, but eventually.

Speaking topics

The Resilience Bootcamp (signature keynote)
Resilience isn’t just bouncing back. It’s pivoting, sitting in stillness, healing, rebuilding, and showing up anyway. Lessons from the Navy, a failed first product, a company exit, and motherhood.

From Service to Startup
What the military teaches you about building a business, and what it doesn’t. For veteran organizations, transition programs, and ERGs.

Purpose + Profit Alignment
How to build a social impact business that’s also a sustainable one, using the framework I developed from eight years as a founder.

Opening Doors to Government Contracts
How small and diverse businesses break into public-sector work, and how buyers can build supplier ecosystems that last. (Want this as training rather than a talk? Visit ClearPath.)

Formats: keynotes, panels, fireside chats, workshops