Her Story
About Shari
Shari Carroll is a training specialist and lead instructional designer with extensive experience in learning and development for military and government contracting environments. Based in Colorado Springs, Colorado, she earned her master's degree in education from the University of St. Mary in 2010 and her bachelor's degree from the University of Hawaii in 1993. As a military spouse whose career was impacted by her husband's multiple deployments with the Army, she has created command and control trainings, supported service member transitions into the workforce, and facilitated family life programs at the Military Family Support Center in Hawaii. She is a founding member of the Alpha Gamma Delta fraternity at the University of Hawaii and has volunteered with family readiness groups and military USO organizations. Shari attributes her success to her husband's guidance, maintaining strong coworker relationships, and her empathetic, observant approach as a people person who draws out participants in training sessions. She values family first, loyalty, and her connection to service members and military spouses, and advises others to keep trying, conduct thorough research on industry needs, and stay current with trends such as AI.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Shari
01What do you attribute your success to?
My husband has steered me into areas where he sees I might need to focus. Keeping great relationships with coworkers has helped me land positions through connections. As a people person, being observant and empathetic in facilitating classes helps draw out participants who want to answer but aren't comfortable.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received is to keep trying and never give up.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
You really have to know the area that you're in and what the needs are. Do a lot of research. Keep learning and stay on top of trends like AI. You can't be complacent, and sometimes you have to go above and beyond by reaching out to recruiters.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The market is saturated with government contractors in Colorado Springs, making it hard to find positions. Outside military or government, salaries decrease drastically. Scams targeting job seekers are also a challenge.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Family first, always. Loyalty is key, and I have a very strong connection to service members and military spouses.
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