Meet Dr. Savage
Dr. NaKeita Savage
Founder & Principal Consultant · Savage Strategic Solutions LLC
Enterprise transformation leader. Strategic advisor. Research-informed speaker.
Professional biography
Experience that connects strategy, people, and delivery.
Dr. NaKeita Savage is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Savage Strategic Solutions LLC, an enterprise transformation and delivery practice based in Central Florida. She brings more than 20 years of project and program experience across retail, healthcare, financial services, higher education, telecommunications, and technology.
Her career includes a decade of senior leadership at ABC Fine Wine & Spirits, where she served as Senior Director and Vice President of Project Management. In a 120+ store organization, she built enterprise PMO capabilities and partnered with executives, business leaders, technology teams, and vendors on complex initiatives spanning enterprise systems, payments, supply chain, HR, data, and digital commerce.
Dr. Savage combines practical delivery experience with doctoral research into team cohesion. Her work emphasizes clear priorities, accountable ownership, constructive communication, and preparing people for change. She helps leaders connect the decisions they make with the work their teams need to deliver.
Education & professional credentials
A foundation in leadership, business, and people.
Doctoral degree
PhD in Business Management
Specialization in Project Management
Capella University · 2025
Graduate degree
Master of Science in Human Services Management
Franklin University
Undergraduate degree
Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration
Kentucky State University
Associate degree
Associate of Arts in Liberal Studies
Kentucky State University
Professional certifications
PMP & PMI-ACP
Project Management Professional · PMI Agile Certified Practitioner
Executive education
AI Adoption: Driving Business Value and Impact
MIT Management Executive Education · 2026
Executive-education program completion
PMI Agile 2026 / National Harbor, Maryland
Sustainable Agility Starts with Cohesion
In July 2026, Dr. Savage presented at PMI Agile 2026, sharing research-informed approaches to building more cohesive and resilient project teams.
The session connected her doctoral research with practical leadership strategies involving trust, communication, shared purpose, inclusion, constructive conflict, recognition, and adapting collaboration for hybrid and remote work.
Invite Dr. Savage to speakSelected career highlights
Enterprise scope. Practical responsibility.
These highlights reflect Dr. Savage's prior employment and professional experience. They are not presented as client endorsements or completed consulting engagements of Savage Strategic Solutions LLC.
Enterprise PMO leadership
Built PMO capabilities supporting a 120+ store organization, including prioritization, governance, project-leader development, and executive reporting.
Cross-functional transformation
Led or oversaw enterprise programs valued from $25,000 to $15 million across technology and business functions.
Enterprise implementation oversight
Provided PMO oversight of a Workday implementation through go-live and hypercare, alongside merchandising, supply-chain, payments, data, and digital-commerce initiatives.
Healthcare technology delivery
Managed 34 compliance-driven application and infrastructure projects supporting upgrades of more than 390 end-of-support servers.
Research and thought leadership
Doctoral research: "The Techniques and Strategies Used by United States IT Project Managers to Foster Team Cohesion."
Past engagement · July 2026
Sustainable Agility Starts with Cohesion
Presented at PMI Agile 2026 | July 2026 | National Harbor, Maryland
Dr. NaKeita Savage explored how project managers can strengthen team cohesion through trust, communication, shared goals, inclusion, constructive conflict, recognition, and adaptation to remote work. Drawing on her doctoral research with U.S. IT project managers, the session connected research findings with situations leaders encounter in their teams.
Attendee feedback
Selected excerpts from attendee messages following the July 2026 presentation.
"Dr. NaKeita your Agile session was amazing. The music analogies were perfect for an after lunch session!!"
Michelle Brock, PMP
PMI AgileCon Attendee
"I took so much from your presentation and left feeling so inspired."
Ada Ruth Huntley, PMP
PMI AgileCon Attendee
"Fantastic session on Cohesion. You got an ally, supporter, fan. Would love to support any way I can from the opposite coast or remote!"
Brian Kleinhofer
PMI AgileCon Attendee
"From your purple shirt! Love your energy!"
David Fogel
PMI AgileCon Attendee
"Sat in your session and absolutely loved it."
Shanda Mathis
PMI AgileCon Attendee
"I loved your preso at PMI/AgileCon. Thank you!"
Christopher Reynolds
PMI AgileCon Attendee
"Loved your class (and playlist!) and would love to connect with you!"
Amanda Sevall
PMI AgileCon Attendee
Bring this session to your team or event
Dr. Savage is available for conference keynotes, practitioner workshops, and team development engagements. Reach out to discuss availability and fit.