Sharon Delaney McCloud
As a Certified Diversity Executive CDE®, adjunct professor, agency owner, cancer survivor, Olympic Torch Bearer, author and communications expert, Sharon knows how to get the job done. She helps leaders & companies improve communication & executive presence to drive business results. As a member of the Global Speakers Federation and the National Speakers Association, Sharon connects with people, while at the same time, offering actionable insights. She does this through in-person and virtual presentations, webinars and live streams.
Sharon earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from Florida State University before embarking on a career as a television journalist. From the Persian Gulf War to John Glenn's historic return to space to the Super Bowl to hurricanes, floods, politics and entertainment, she has covered thousands of stories that have affected people's lives on a daily basis. Sharon also moderated gubernatorial and mayoral debates throughout North Carolina and served as a mentor for young journalists beginning their careers.
After leaving television news, Sharon founded Greenroom Communications, a video production and marketing firm, with Kim and Penn Holderness (the XMAS Jammies Family). They worked with big brands like Target, Samsung, H&R Block and Chase Bank. At one point, they even had a reality show on UPtv. In 2016, Greenroom merged with Walk West to become a full-service digital marketing agency that's landed on the INC 5000 list three times in a row.
Sharon has been featured in numerous publications, including Sheryl Sandburg's Option B digital platform, Thrive Global, Enterprising Women and co-author of the book, Keep Going, Memoirs of Strength, Courage & Perseverance. In 2019, Sharon had the opportunity to share her big idea with the world on a TEDx stage. Through Giving Vilomahs a Voice, Sharon shows us how to approach conversations with bereaved parents. This passion led to her writing a letter to the White House advocating for bereavement leave policy. That letter turned into an invitation to meet one on one with President Joe Biden in the summer of 2021 when they discussed the need for paid bereavement leave.
Sharon was born in Nairobi, Kenya and spent her early years in East Africa attending schools in Kenya and Tanzania before moving to the United States. In addition to her television career, Sharon worked for the Department of Defense's U.S.O. program and traveled all over the Middle East, Mediterranean and Europe entertaining American troops as part of an all-girl group, The Florida Girls. Sharon is very active in the community and serves on a number of Boards of Director and advisory committees for non-profit organizations in North Carolina. She's married with three kids and during her free time, you'll find Sharon planning their next family vacation. Ask her where her next trip is.
Communicate with Confidence & Impact: The Power Skill You Need Now
In an age where the spoken word is quickly being replaced by digital conversations, it's crucial to develop strong communication and presentation skills to make your mark. Communicating effectively is one of the most powerful tools any professional can have. The way you speak to someone one-on-one and in front of a group sets the foundation for how people perceive you. Do they take you seriously? Do you command their attention? Or does your vocal inflection or body language turn them off? In this content-filled session, you'll learn:
•Ways to create powerful messaging, whether it's an elevator speech or keynote address
•How body language and vocal delivery affect communication
•Steps to continue practicing techniques learnedStrategic Storytelling for Business
Humans are wired for connection. If we don’t approach communication with this notion, we won’t be able to achieve the impact that’s possible. In business, countless studies show that people connect with data when it’s presented with narrative. So, how do you extract a story from the many charts and graphs and reports that we deliver? In this session you’ll learn:
•How to create a fit between a story and your audience
•The 5 basic plots of business storytelling
•Why you need to develop a Story Bank and how to use itTransforming Lives as Healers and Leaders
Fatigue, burnout, staffing shortages...the list goes on and on for what healthcare workers face today. It's time for them to reignite why they went into healthcare in the first place. They must understand how they are being valued, respected, and honored for their compassion and commitment to serving others. But it has to go beyond platitudes on self-care and resilience. Nurses, techs, support staff and clinical leaders need a visceral spark that results in true change. As a fierce advocate for patients and healthcare workers, Sharon Delaney McCloud brings a unique perspective that motivates people to remember their "why." Sharing lessons from her days as a caregiver, bereaved parent and cancer patient, Sharon will show you how to be a catalyst to transform lives as healers and leaders.
- Having a Voice, Not Merely a Seat at the Table: Powerful Strategies to Amplify Your Impact
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 through ally-building strategies, your potential could be silenced. 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.
This program is perfect for:
• Female leaders struggling to be heard by colleagues
• Teams who strive to improve workplace communication
• Ways to amplify their voices, both figuratively and literally
• Message development tactics to strengthen their communication
• Understanding how body language and vocal delivery affect their overall communication - Elevate Your Executive Presence & Personal Brand
Did you know that executive presence skills rank 2nd in the top 20 leadership traits that make a difference in your career? Now, more than ever, present and future leaders must display C-suite readiness to deliver business results. To do this, you must amplify your influence, thought leadership and business acumen in order to lead transformational breakthroughs. This ability to align your mindshare while commanding a room, in person or virtually, is the DNA of executive presence. In this high-energy program, corporate communications professional Sharon Delaney McCloud teaches the three key elements to build your executive presence so you can make an impact on your professional and personal life.
This program is perfect for:
• Leaders from the C-Suite to mid-career
• Emerging leaders struggling with career advancement
• High-potential millennials
The audience will leave with:
• The three, key elements to build your executive presence
• The core principles to clear, concise communication
• How to manage your interpersonal style to enhance your leadership presence - Leveraging Levity in Leadership: Using Humor to Reduce Stress & Build Bonds
Face it, you've got to retain your top talent and recruit the next rock stars for your team. But now, more than ever before, you have to create an environment where people are motivated and empowered to deliver their very best work while building trusted relationships at the same time. Not an easy task. During this high-energy presentation, corporate communications pro Sharon Delaney McCloud shows you why and how you need to leverage levity and proven retention strategies in your leadership toolbox today.
This program is perfect for:
• Mid-level to Executive Leaders
• Managers
The audience will leave with:
• How levity can change the dynamic of your team
• Actionable ways to reduce stress and build bonds by using proven levity lessons & techniques
• Ways to make your team feel like they belong to your organization - Turn Your Battle Scars Into Badges of Honor: Activating Resilience & Perseverance
In these challenging times when our physical, mental and social well-being are tested continuously, it's crucial that we build a culture of resilience. In this compelling narrative, Emmy Award-winning broadcaster Sharon Delaney McCloud presents an inspirational and actionable playbook that audiences can begin using right away in their professional and personal lives. Sharon co-authored a book based on this keynote, Keep Going, Memoirs of Strength, Courage & Perseverance.
This program is perfect for:
• HR, corporate and association conferences
• Leaders of all levels
• Cancer organizations and health conferences
The audience will leave with:
• The Community Resilience Model and how to incorporate it into your life
• A deeper understanding of how to use grit and gratitude to overcome negative circumstances
• A different way to approach integrating your professional and personal responsibilities that align with who you are
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