Whitney Putnam

Background

About Whitney Putnam

I grew up with parents who told me I could do anything. But when I stepped into church and nonprofit leadership spaces, I quickly realized there were “rules” about which rooms women were allowed in. That left me shrinking back, questioning myself, and carrying shame I was never meant to carry. It took years—and a lot of untangling—to step into the fullness of who God made me to be. That’s why I believe leadership is not about fitting into a room—it’s about reshaping it so everyone belongs. For over 15 years, I’ve served in leadership, communications, and fundraising across national nonprofits, hospitals, and ministries. Today, I serve as Vice President of Marketing & Communications for the Global Leadership Network, the organization behind the Global Leadership Summit—the world’s largest leadership event reaching over leaders in 100+ countries. In this role, I’ve had the privilege of: Designing strategies that generate up to $15M+ in annual revenue while fueling global mission impact. Partnering with world-class leaders—authors, CEOs, and pastors—to bring their content to leaders worldwide. Building high-performing teams across marketing, fundraising, and product that drive growth and impact. But beyond the metrics, my calling is clear: to help leaders—especially women—know they belong in every room they enter. Through leading my own team, as well as keynote speaking, writing, podcasting, and now You Belong in the Room gatherings, I empower leaders to: Lead themselves with resilience and clarity. Navigate conflict with courage and grace. Build bridges and eliminate silos. Select and retain the right talent. Tell better stories that inspire engagement. And step into rooms with contagious confidence that inspires others to do the same. Because when men and women lead together with courage and authenticity, the Kingdom advances. And there is so much work to be done. Let’s connect. I’d love to hear your story—and why you know you belong in the room, too.