Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Sharon Ehrlich. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Sharon, thank you so much for joining us today. Let’s jump right into something we’re really interested in hearing about from you – being the only one in the room. So many of us find ourselves as the only woman in the room, the only immigrant or the only artist in the room, etc. Can you talk to us about how you have learned to be effective and successful in situations where you are the only one in the room like you?
To answer this question, I have to provide some context. I identify as Afro-Latina and was raised in public housing in the Bronx, New York, by working-class parents. I was the first in my family to pursue higher education and a corporate career. When I started my career, I experienced being the only person in the room with my identity. Initially, it was intimidating. I assumed that my colleagues and peers were more educated than me, more intelligent than me, and more sophisticated than me. I did what many people in a similar position do. I worked twice as hard as everyone else to prove my worth to myself and those around me. I was fortunate to have a manager who gave me valuable advice. She told me that I was responsible for documenting and amplifying my successes. This exercise took discipline. However, it helped me accomplish two things. First, my list of achievements effectively dismissed my doubts about my capabilities. It was clear that I was contributing and making an impact. Second, having an inventory of my accomplishments made it easy to discuss my performance with my leadership. I didn’t have to scramble and try to remember the ways I had added value and contributed to the organizational objectives. This exercise was a confidence booster and allowed me to participate in meetings confidently, share my ideas, and pursue stretch opportunities and promotions.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
As an ICF-certified performance coach and former IT executive with over 30 years of experience, I specialize in helping high-achieving women regain control of their careers and lives.
I understand professional women’s unique challenges, from managing imposter syndrome to balancing career growth with personal commitments. Through my Living While Leading 4-Step System, a five-month personalized coaching program, I provide private support to help women redefine their priorities and take strategic action toward their goals.
My services include comprehensive coaching programs and targeted single sessions like OWN THE ROOM, designed to help women navigate leadership spaces confidently and have their voices heard.
I’ve been there—navigating the corporate world as the first in my family—and my journey shapes the practical, genuine guidance I offer.
I provide keynote speaking and workshop facilitation for organizations focused on leadership development, fostering diverse and inclusive workplace cultures, and empowering leaders to make impactful decisions.
I support women ready to make their careers work for them, not vice versa, and organizations seeking to elevate their leadership culture.
Ready to take the next step? Contact me for a complimentary discovery by visiting https://livingwhileleading.com/work-with-sharon/.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
It’s incredibly powerful to recover and learn from failure. One can mitigate the risk of personal and professional failure. However, failure can’t be avoided. I tell my clients it’s okay to feel your feelings about a failure, whether crying or feeling down about it. But we can learn from every experience—even the unpleasant ones. Take a step back and examine your role in the situation. Rarely does a failure occur without us having contributed to it somehow. This self-examination can be brutal, but being honest with yourself helps you grow. Looking back shouldn’t be an exercise to beat yourself up. It allows you to look at all aspects of a situation with understanding and compassion. Those lessons will make you better, stronger, and more resilient.
I work with high-performing professional women who are often frustrated about the pace of their careers. Part of my engagement with them is getting them to articulate where they see themselves and why they want to be there. And then, we start to look at the decisions they have made so far to get them to an ideal position or career. We often discover they haven’t been strategic about the assignments they’ve been pursuing or the promotions they’ve accepted. In most cases, careers don’t happen; they require strategic decision-making on various levels. When one embraces the understanding that they must be strategic in navigating their career, they will experience more professional fulfillment and the confidence to understand that they have more control than they ever imagined.
Keeping your head down and working hard will not increase your visibility or amplify your contributions in the workplace. It’s fantastic to have a strong ethic and stand by the quality of your work. Still, while you are working away like a busy bee, your colleagues are getting face-time with their managers and other decision-makers within your organization. Many women don’t feel comfortable talking about their accomplishments, but if they don’t talk about them, who will? Many clients are frustrated because they are constantly overlooked for promotions or high-visibility projects. I try to challenge their understanding of what their leaders know about them, their ambitions, their contributions, etc. You can highlight the work you’re doing in various ways. At the minimum, you should be updating your direct manager on something meaningful you were able to accomplish since the last time you spoke with them. If you worked as part of a team project, draw attention to the team effort and your role in its success. Working hard is not enough. People have to know you exist, that you contribute and add value.
How can folks who want to work with you connect?
My work is focused on empowering women to assert their power and take control of their lives and careers. I would love to collaborate with anyone with a platform, such as a podcast, publication, etc., that reaches ambitious, high-performing women so that I can be a guest or contributor. I’m committed to amplifying positive messaging and would like to work with a trusted partner to impact the lives of professional women positively.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://livingwhileleading.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/livingwhileleading/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557652484016
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonehrlich1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@LivingWhileLeading-Sharon
Image Credits
Image credit: https://www.oskarschmidt.com/
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
