Her Story
About Dr. Sharon
I started in the fashion industry over two decades ago, but everything crashed when I lost everything I owned to a hurricane that came through New York, along with the loss of my husband leaving and me becoming a single parent. I put fashion aside and went back to school with a vengeance to become a teacher, but then switched gears. My major became counseling with a minor in psychology, and I got a master's and a doctorate, then went back again and got a doctorate in education. I started teaching in the colleges and still do that, teaching undergrad and graduate courses in counseling and psychology at a couple of universities. But now my concentration is in speaking all over the world, especially to women, helping them to just rise from their situations and become whole. My grandmother always said the garment isn't done until the inside is finished, and I utilize that to help women realize they can't be completely whole if their insides are broken. My current husband encouraged me to go back into the fashion world, and I jumped in last year. In April, I had my first unveiling of my collection, and then I got accepted to Fashion Week, so I'll be going to New York Fashion Week in September as a designer. I design evening and bridal very creatively because I learned from an amazing grandmother how to do this. I'm bringing all the parts together under one umbrella - my speaking, the books that I write, the coaching services I offer to women, and the fashion - all helping women to rise in faith, leadership, in their purpose, in their lives. I'm also an ordained pastor on the board at my church, and I mentor 12 women who show up at my home once a month.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Dr. Sharon
01What do you attribute your success to?
The main thing I attribute my success to is being able to raise my children and watch them become influential people themselves. The second is having all of these grandchildren - I have 6 of them, my husband has 6, so combined we have 12 - and watching them rise to the occasion as the legacy for all of this is amazing as well. And just the way that I live my life now, I think it's my best life ever. I'm just grateful that I didn't fall apart throughout those other seasons, but I kept going.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
My grandmother always said the garment isn't done until the inside is finished. I utilize that wisdom in everything I do now to help women realize they can't be completely whole if their insides are broken. That principle from her has shaped how I approach my speaking, coaching, fashion, and everything - it all lines up with that now.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's difficult to start a business - it's not for the faint at heart. Write the vision for whatever it is that you plan to do. Write it very clearly so that not only you can read it, but whoever comes behind you can read it and carry it. Because sometimes you don't get to see the full thing come to pass, but if you write it clearly, someone else can carry it and bring it to that next level that it needs to be. Make it clear what the vision is. Think it through thoroughly, and sometimes we base our thoughts of a business on making money, and money makes us feel like we're successful, but there's so much more to success than money. My advice is just write it down, make it clear to yourself and to others what exactly it is that you were called to do on this planet that will make a difference.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Making a difference is most important to me. At first, it was visibility - you want everybody to see you and what you're doing - but I really want to make a difference to whoever is reading or watching or whatever. My reason would be to change a life, you know? Change a life and just make a difference in somebody's life. That's why I do what I do on this earth.
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