Sharon Reed is a blogger, author, advocate, speaker, and innovative change-agent for good, with a passion for helping others find their authentic voice and realize their leadership potential. Sharon serves as Founder and Chief Empowerment Officer of the Global Girls Project™, a not-for-profit storytelling platform that elevates the importance of character and core values in the global gender conversation. She also serves as program facilitator for KPMG LLP-CREW Charlotte’s inaugural women’s leadership program, Becoming an Authentic Leader, modeled after the ATHENA International Leadership Model.

With over 15 years of experience in economic development, strategic communications, and international affairs, Sharon previously worked as a communications consultant and Global Community Champion for the United Nations (UN) Empower Women team, serving as co-architect of the award-winning social media campaign, #iamwoman, and later as project lead and co-editor of the book, Voices of Change, released at UN Headquarters during the 60th session of the Commission on the Status of Women.

Her work has been featured in the Huffington Post, Shriver Report, Women in Foreign Policy, and UN Women, among others. She has also won numerous awards for her service, advocacy and leadership work, including the ATHENA International® Women’s Leadership Award for Service and Distinguished Rotarian Award, and was recently named by the Meck Times as one of the 50 Most Influential Women in 2016.

She currently serves on the Leadership Committee of CREW Charlotte and as a member of the NC State Leaders Network for the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. She also serves on the advisory board and oversees the leadership program for the Foundation for Girls — a Charlotte-based 501(c)3 organization focused on providing mentoring, STEM, financial literacy, leadership, and skills-based training for at-risk girls.

In her spare time, Sharon enjoys writing on personal leadership development and creating inspirational art and giftware under the brand, Heart by Design™. A contributing author to three books on hope, she is also the author of Walking the Heart Path: Bite-Sized Bits of Wisdom on Living & Leading from the Inside Out, her first solo book released on March 8, 2017. She lives in Davidson, NC, with her two children, Michael and Allison.

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