Dr. Jo Anna Bennerson, PhD - Visionary Poet & Transformational Leader
Dr. Jo Anna Bennerson has developed the “Pinnacle Goddess Principles” which encapsulate over thirty years of professional business management experience, a lifetime of community service, her love of poetry and research of Greek Mythology to promote personal development, transformational leadership, as well as organizational alignment to activate success. “Pinnacle Goddess Principles” emphasize decisive actions or strategies for breaking through and then sustaining personal transformation or organizational success. Innovator of the “MaxiMini” book © concept, her book delivers maximum impact in a minimum length format.
Her extensive career moving from a certified public accountant in the financial services industry to her impact in information technology (IT) cybersecurity has enhanced risk mitigation strategies for IT systems. Conjoining her profession with her volunteer efforts: from grass roots level activities to her participating on non-profit boards of directors led her to address the gap she recognized in leadership development practices in both enterprise and non-profit entities. This led her to pursue a doctoral degree in succession planning and leadership behaviors.

She earned her PhD at Capella University in 2021, focusing on succession management. Her dissertation 21st Century Organizations – Perceived Succession Management and Leadership Style: A Quantitative Survey Study is found on Proquest. She was later the recipient of an honorary PhD and has been awarded the presidential lifetime achievement award for her far-reaching community service. She has served as an Examiner for the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award, which assesses and recognizes organizational performance excellence. As a member of Toastmasters International, she has served a club president and an area governor. 

An inspirational, motivational speaker, Dr. Bennerson has been certified by Les Brown’s Legendary Speaker Academy in 2024. Les Brown’s endorsement reflects Dr. Bennerson’s commitment to embracing the best practices that Mr. Brown has utilized for decades and seeks to pass on to a selected few. She is also a co-author in his legendary anthology.

Also known as Jo Anna Bella, Poet at Heart, she has been featured in several international best-selling anthologies. Her individual effort, a 2024 released poetry-structured novella is a work of fiction based on Greek Mythology, titled Calypso’s Longing, A Woman’s Odyssey of Love. It is based on The Odyssey and features the relationship between Calypso and Odysseus. This intriguing work of literature highlights the different cycles of love, including the emergence and re-emergence that makes someone a better person. 

While she started life as an orphan, who was then a teen-age mother and single parent, Dr. Bennerson has always valued the concept of hard work, setting and developing goals while helping others on their path. She is intent on spending the rest of her life engaged in the continued betterment of others and adding value to our global society.

Her poem, Forward March! has been lauded as an optimal motivational action cry!

With hopes to inspire you, Dr. Bennerson, aka, Jo Anna Bella, Poet at Heart, shares her favorite self-ordained quote with you, “Every decision you make is an action you take, and every action you take is a decision you make!” You can reach Dr. Bennerson at Author_joannabella@yahoo.com.