Professional Speaker, Facilitator, Broadcaster
Travels from: Raleigh, North Carolina
Topics: Leadership, Communication, Women in Business, Inspirational, Cancer
I help people communicate with confidence and impact.
Bio
Sharon Delaney McCloud is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, cancer survivor, Olympic Torch Bearer, author and communications expert who inspires audiences on resilience and finding your voice. Through her professional development practice at Walk West, a full-service marketing agency, Sharon works with C-Suite executives and emerging leaders at global organizations on developing their message and delivering it with confidence and impact. In particular, building women’s executive presence is Sharon’s passion and one of her most popular programs and keynotes. Prior to launching her company, Sharon spent 20 years as a television journalist covering everything from NASA to politics to the Super Bowl at stations across the country. She has been featured in numerous publications, including Sheryl Sandburg’s Option B digital platform, Enterprising Women and is a co-author of the new book, Keep Going, Memoirs of Strength, Courage & Perseverance.
Keynotes
Having a Voice, Not Merely a Seat at the Table: Powerful Strategies to Amplify Your Voice
In group settings, men are 75% more likely to speak up than women. And when a woman does speak up, it’s statistically probable that her male counterparts will either interrupt her or speak over her. What does this mean? It means, even in the professional world today, if you’re not ready to fight to be heard, the silence will kill you. In this engaging, actionable session, Sharon will explore tactics and techniques to amplify your voice figuratively (and literally) and hone your message to make certain that your voice is heard – so that you truly have a voice, and not just a seat, at the table.
Building Executive Presence
Women make up 57% of college graduates and earn 63% of master’s degrees in the United States. Yet female leadership in C-Suites, politics and elsewhere comes nowhere close. Why is that? In numerous surveys, top executives point to being perceived as leadership material as essential to being promoted into leadership positions. Aligning mindshare with the ability to command a room is the DNA of executive presence. In this high energy, interactive keynote, Sharon teaches the three key elements to build your executive presence, whether you’re an emerging leader or looking to advance into the C-Suite.
Turning Battle Scars Into Badges of Honor – How to Build Resilience in the Face of Adversity
Emmy Award-winning journalist, cancer survivor and bereaved mother Sharon Delaney McCloud presents a compelling and inspirational narrative on lessons she’s learned from the highs and lows of life as a working mother. As a type-A orchestrator by nature, Sharon shares how she sought balance after a tragic loss and now embraces grit and gratitude to face each day with a new outlook. Attendees will learn practical ways to immediately build their resilience so they can turn their battle scars into badges of honor.
Video
Onesheet
Testimonials
“Sharon is such an authentic speaker – she weaves great practical advice in with captivating and funny stories that let you know that every bit of advice she is giving you is real and actionable. She is inspiring and relatable – the entire audience hung on every word she said.” – Natalie Perkins, President, Clean Inc.
“In a room full of high-powered, high-energy female executives, Sharon commanded, navigated and engaged the room with ease. She wove together excellent content and an appropriate amount of humor, and attendees left with multiple tangible takeaways to strengthen their communication and networking skills.” – Jake Fehling, Movement Mortgage
“Sharon’s presentation for the Elevate Signature Luncheon was a breath of fresh air, and it was very timely that she shared her wisdom on “Becoming Wonder Woman in the Board Room,” amid International Women’s Day. Sharon both inspired and empowered our community by sharing actionable insights such as the need for Executive Presence, the importance of becoming a life-long learner, and the inherent need to be bold – and move other women forward. Sharon is a testament to the meaning of true leadership. She is using her power for good by sharing the important lessons she’s gleaned throughout her career – helping others to succeed in the workforce of tomorrow; a value that we also embody at Ellevate Triangle NC.” – Katie Detwiler, President of the NC Triangle Chapter of the Ellevate Network