Meet Rena

Rena Henderson Mason is a trusted advisor to mission-driven board and staff leaders, helping them shape their boards for high performance and tell their unique stories. She is a ICF-Certified Coach and BoardSource Certified Governance Trainer with extensive training in high performance coaching, board development and group process facilitation. She has coached Board Chairs and Executive Directors/CEOs through a range of organizational challenges including growth, leadership transitions, strategic alliances, restructuring, turnaround and crisis.

Rena’s approach has grown from experiencing how exceptional boards build high-impact organizations and dysfunctional boards tear them apart.  Currently, Rena serves on the Board Development Committee for the Arts Alliance Illinois and National Association of Women Business Owners – Chicago Chapter. She brings broad knowledge of housing, social services and community development through her 10 years of board service with a leading supportive housing provider. Some of Rena’s board work resulted in her winning the Business Volunteer of the Year Award from the Arts & Business Council.

In addition to her board expertise, Rena’s approach is characterized by her vast experience in a range of industries. Rena has an MBA from Harvard University and Bachelor’s in Finance and International Management from Georgetown University. Prior to launching Bold Agenda, she spent over 20 years helping scale businesses through new product development, strategic planning and capital raising in the food, commercial real estate, publishing and investment banking industries. Her storytelling gifts have been further developed through the through Second City’s Comedy Writing Program and writing numerous comedic sketches, plays, screenplays and social media posts.