Feature Interview, “Female Founders: Shanika Palm of Suitable Solutions”

A conversation on leadership, innovation, and scaling women-led consultancies through systems thinking.

Founder Feature with Shanika Palm of Suitable Solutions. A story of faith, innovation, and follow-through, this article captures the heart behind one of today’s most intentional system builders.

In this candid feature, technologist and strategist Shanika Palm shares the journey from IT executive to entrepreneur, revealing how curiosity, creativity, and courage built the foundation for Suitable Solutions—a firm dedicated to helping businesses grow with systems that fit their vision. Palm opens up about the mindset that shaped her success, her commitment to authenticity with clients, and the lessons she’s learned about risk, resilience, and reward.

In this sharp, culture-forward piece, Shanika Palm breaks down what Deion Sanders, Sha’Carri Richardson, and Nick Saban can teach business owners about branding that actually connects.

More than a marketing guide, it’s a playbook for founders who want to win with integrity, stay relevant, and build a brand that lasts.

In this feature interview, Shanika Palm shares how growing up in Detroit — a city where art and industry coexist — shaped her unique approach to innovation.

Drawing inspiration from the Motown spirit and the discipline of STEM, she explains how creativity fuels technology and how her firm, Suitable Solutions, blends both to help businesses grow with purpose.

Recognized among a distinguished group of federal innovators, Shanika Palm received the Leading for Impact: Women in Leadership Award for her measurable contributions to diversity, digital transformation, and inclusive systems innovation across the GovCon and public health sectors.

As both a speaker and small business sponsor at the FedHealthIT Women in Leadership Conference hosted at the National Press Club, Shanika and Suitable Solutions collaborated with FedHealthIT to expand representation — bringing state and municipal leaders to a traditionally federal-focused stage.

Her recognition reflects a career built on bridging public and private partnerships, scaling equitable technology adoption, and proving that purpose-driven systems create lasting public trust. (Featured at 3:17 in video)

This official GovCon Wire press release highlights the elevation of Shanika Palm to Vice President of Operations at Visual Connections, recognizing her dual leadership in both business and technology strategy.

The announcement underscores her influence in shaping operational excellence, partnership development, and strategic growth for government sector clients.

By Manuel Figallo, Jonathan McCopp, Ray Mierwald, and Shanika Palm

SAS Institute Inc. | Visual Connections, LLC
Presented at SAS Global Forum 2018, this technical paper examines trends in opioid prescribing rates within the Appalachian region, using advanced SAS analytics to identify policy and clinical insights.

The study reflects Shanika Palm’s early contributions to data-driven public health analysis and her foundation in analytics for government programs.

Suitable Solutions proudly served as a small business sponsor and speaker, partnering with FedHealthIT to expand inclusivity and representation.

Founder and Chief Solutions Officer, Shanika Palm, introduced the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Empowerment fireside chat featuring Judge Ruby Y. Clark (formerly Davis), helping bring State and Municipal leaders to a federal stage.

In 2023, Run With Ruby, LLC and The Dannon Project partnered to host the 2nd Annual Juneteenth Empowerment Luncheon, celebrating resilience, entrepreneurship, and Black excellence.

Suitable Solutions supported the event through branding, theme development, and digital and print design, delivering creative direction and materials that brought the vision — “Reaping the Rewards of Success” and T.O.R.C.H. (Transcending Obstacles and Rejection Can Create Heroes) — to life across every touchpoint.