Angela D. Sharpe

I always had maybe one or two persons in the organization that would take my hand and mentor me and let me know that what I was doing was the right thing. They were helping and guiding me, always giving me something extra to do so that I would learn more. From my first job all the way through, I've always had a mentor that was there to guide me through the steps of what I needed to know, what I needed to understand, how to get from A to Z. I always worked above my position because I was always working with someone who was at a senior level, and so I was always being pulled up. I don't even think it was my path or decision that I wanted that next level. I was always pulled up to that next step because of the level of competency and my ability to analyze what's really going on and providing the right kind of information to decision makers.

I would say my best career advice was to always double check. Always go back and double-check and confirm that this is the best solution, the right answer. And always do it with a critical eye, not just assuming, but critically going in and analyzing what I did and making sure that it is the best solution, and I've thought of every other possible or potential answer.

The advice I've given is, learn your subject. Always strive to learn new things so that you can become a subject matter expert in it. When you get the information, you get the competency, and your confidence will always be there. You don't have to worry about someone saying something to make you feel less than. You'll be confident and can easily override those attacks and challenges because you know your own competency, that you are competent, and you will have all of the confidence you ever need to excel to whatever level you want. Know yourself, know who you are, and you don't have to apologize for being capable. I always knew how to take control of the conversation in interviews. I would ask them, 'Can you tell from the answers I've given you and my resume that I'm quite capable and can do this job? So are you gonna offer me the job?' I would put them on the spot. If I've answered all your questions, then why aren't you offering me the job? I would get it right on the spot, and then I would say I need to go home and think about it because this is a part of my career decision. That's the confidence you have to get. Don't wait for someone to make you feel like you're not capable, you're not qualified. You let them know, I know I'm qualified. My resume says I'm qualified. I've answered all your questions. No

My biggest challenge is that I ran into, especially in the major corporate environments, situations where they suggested that I compromise my ethics and make things look a little different in the financial aspect than it should. That was when I decided to start consulting because I didn't want to be placed in a situation where I was asked to do something that crosses the line for me. I still talk with the clients themselves and say, these are some things that are going on in the organization that are not following standard regulations and standard processes, and so I need to talk with you about what we're going to do to kind of change these things. That sometimes brought about having to change systems and retraining staff. I made that decision years ago when I was confronted that there's no amount of money for me to sell my soul or compromise my integrity. There were some difficult times where I saw things that I wasn't anticipating. I did some work with the government and became a forensic auditor. It's really difficult to be in an environment where you're having to bring that kind of bad news to the zBoard of Directors or contact the accounting firm. You have to look at how many people are being harmed because you're not telling people the truth. When you know that you've done your testing and you don't doubt that this product can be harmful and you're not telling the public, I can't in good conscience help you continue. I have to move on. When I see those situations, I write up my assessment and give it to whoever the decision makers are for them to do the right thing.

My first value is I need to always be in a situation where I can be authentic, where I'm always going to tell the truth, where I'm always going to be around people who want to do what's right, what's safe, what's better for the world, better for the company, for the community. My values are, yes, I feel it's my responsibility to mentor the next generation so that some of the mistakes that I've made I can tell them so that they can even excel faster than maybe I have or become even greater. Those are my values. I've learned a lot. I need to share it. And things that I know that are harmful, I need to share on my podcast because I'm always trying to inform, I'm always trying to educate, I'm always trying to share information so that people have the tools to make the right decisions.