Sharon Thomas
Sharon Thomas is a seasoned visionary leader in the digital infrastructure industry, with over 25 years of experience spanning general management, engineering, product management, sales, and manufacturing. She currently serves as Founder of She Who Flies With Her Own Wings, where she provides travel strategy consulting for independent global travelers while also offering advisory services in data center strategy and digital infrastructure. She is based in the Raleigh–Durham–Chapel Hill area and is known for bridging high-level technical expertise with leadership development and global mobility strategy.
Prior to her entrepreneurial work, Sharon held senior executive leadership roles across major infrastructure organizations, most recently as General Manager at Hubbell Incorporated. In this role, she led a $150M modular infrastructure business focused on engineered electrical distribution systems for hyperscale data centers. She oversaw end-to-end operations including engineering, manufacturing, procurement, quality, and global customer delivery, while driving strong revenue growth, operational scaling, and innovation in modular and volumetric construction solutions. Her leadership helped position the business as a top-performing platform within the organization.
Earlier in her career, Sharon held key leadership positions at companies such as Vertiv and Johnson Controls, where she advanced innovations in cooling, power, and thermal infrastructure for mission-critical environments. She is widely recognized for her contributions to hyperscale data center development, sustainability-focused engineering solutions, and organizational transformation. A graduate of Penn State University with a degree in Engineering, Sharon is also an award-winning industry leader and active mentor, committed to advancing STEM education, empowering teams, and shaping the future of global digital infrastructure.
• AI Certified in all major brands including Cloud and ChatGPT
• Perplexity AI Certification
• MIT AI Certification
• Harvard AI Certification
• Penn State University - BS
• IMasons Education Champion Finalist
• Top 25 Women in Technology
• IM100 2022
• Infrastructure Masons (IM)
• American Corporate Partners
• STEM
• Deaf Community
• STEM Learning
• American Corporate Partners (ACP)
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the lasting impact I’ve had on the people I’ve mentored, coached, and led throughout my career. I take great pride in seeing former colleagues and students grow into successful professionals who are now making meaningful contributions in their fields, many of whom I still stay in touch with today. My experience as a sign language interpreter and educator further reinforced the importance of planting early seeds of inspiration, as several of my students went on to pursue related careers because of those formative experiences. Ultimately, I believe my greatest achievement is building a legacy centered on developing people—because when you invest in individuals and their growth, everything else naturally follows.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to prioritize building a strong, intentional network from the very beginning. Make yourself known to leaders at all levels, learn how they achieved their success, and understand how to shape your own professional brand early on—because clarity around who you are and what you bring will significantly accelerate your growth. A reliable network is essential, as you will need guidance, perspective, and support throughout every stage of your career; success is difficult to navigate in isolation. When I started in a male-dominated environment with few women to turn to for mentorship, I had to intentionally build trusted relationships and learn through experience, which made me deeply value the importance of connection. Ultimately, strong networking not only helps you navigate challenges and organizational dynamics, but also ensures that as you grow, you can uplift and open doors for those who follow.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest challenges in my field today include ongoing supply chain disruptions, complex manufacturing and delivery logistics, and the practical difficulties that arise during on-site implementation, along with the added complexity of navigating organizational politics in traditionally male-dominated environments. At the same time, there is a significant opportunity to strengthen mentoring and professional networks, which can help develop new leaders, improve access to the industry, and create a more supportive and inclusive path for those who follow.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me in both my work and personal life are putting people first, prioritizing mentorship, fostering strong teamwork, and intentionally lifting others as I grow. I believe that success is most meaningful when it is shared, and that investing in people not only strengthens teams and organizations but also creates lasting impact beyond individual achievement.
Locations
She Who Flies With Her Own Wings
324 West Amber Oak Drive, Salma, NC 27576