We recently connected with Sharon Burstein and have shared our conversation below.

Sharon, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

Life is about choice and the choices we make good and bad, and hopefully more good. Life is also learning to believe in yourself and trust your instincts. Without risk there is no reward. You will never know how amazing you can be unless you try! Life is about doing, not simply watching, at least for me. Life is a wonderful journey and great adventure. Why simply settle for a vanilla life, when there are so many flavors to sample and experience.

The greater the risk the greater the reward.! Success does not happen by chance, it happens with change. It is not where you come from but rather where you grow from and to!

Having mentors in your life is important – always! Change takes courage and realizing that – If it is to be it is up to me.! No one can do your pushups for you. Learn to surround yourself with people who will help you soar!

Here is my varied background and bio from where I began.
Sharon Burstein is a global Leadership Image motivational speaker, award-winning author, Executive Leadership trainer and consultant. Through her companies and professional career, she has worked in all facets of strategic marketing, corporate communications, event management and public affairs with hundreds of thousands of people. Her work has been recognized as being innovative, creative and unique. She has designed campaigns and programs to enhance branding and increase market share. Throughout her career she has been responsible for creative marketing development of media, special events, public relations, television, and film, and has developed, produced and marketed diverse television programs and specials for a variety of demographic markets. She is a top global motivational speaker and trainer on Leadership, Leadership Image, Teamwork, Confidence and Success, Innovation and the creator of Leadership Summit America, Olympic Leadership Bootcamp and YOUniquely You! Putting Women First-The Power of Possible signature thought conferences, and publisher of Lake George Living Magazine.

She is President and CEO of Sharon Burstein International, LLC, a company that specializes in International Marketing Development, Motivational Speaking, Training, Leadership Coaching, and Special Events, founded in 1989. The company has worked with national and international global clients spanning diverse industries to include: corporations, associations, hospitality- resorts and chefs, countries, universities, museums, healthcare, insurance, sports, banking, government, embassy’s, education, investment firms, the arts, fashion, media and more. In 1994 she founded Neswick Court a women’s sportswear company. Sharon has been awarded several design and utility patents.

Prior to starting her own global businesses, she was Vice President of Corporate Communications a publicly traded national insurance and Healthcare Corporation. In that position she was responsible for public relations, advertising, special events and investor relations. Prior she was National Marketing Director for Eastern Exclusives in Boston, Massachusetts, advertising and marketing firm, where she created award winning marketing programs for Fortune 50 Companies. In addition, Sharon was an Adjunct Professor of Public Relations in the Communications Department at Russell Sage College in Troy, New York. She first began her professional career in education as a teacher. Sharon is the author or three award-winning books on Leadership, and motivation.

Active in the community, Sharon has been a member of: NSA – National Speakers Association, NATPE – National Association of Television Program Executives, Board of Directors – Arcady Bay Association, Fort Orange Garden Club (GCA), past member of the Board of Directors for the Northeast Association Of Professional Communicator’s (Ad Club), past member of the Board of Directors of the Estonian-American Chamber of Commerce, past member of the Board of Directors for Mohawk Pathways Girl Scout Association, Capital Repertory Theatre and Multiple Sclerosis. In addition to receiving four Nori Awards for advertising excellence, Sharon is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in the World, Who’s Who in Advertising, Who’s Who in American Women, Who’s Who in Public Relations, Who’s Who in Emerging Leaders and Who’s Who in Finance and Industry. In 2004 she received the Distinguished Alumni Award from National Lewis University for career achievement, and the 2017 Albert Nelson Marquis Lifetime Achievement Award. She is a founding member of the YWCA of Northeastern New York’s Club 1888.She has won awards for her three best-selling books, What’s Your Leadership Image, Life Snacks – 50 Tasty Motivational Messages and Life Snacks for Women – Tips to Ignite Your Spirit and Inspire Your Life, Common Threads of Friendship, written articles for diverse publications and has extensive media experience.

Sharon received a Bachelor of Arts from National Louis University in Evanston, Illinois, and completed her master’s work at Russell Sage College in Troy, New York.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Everything I do is with excellence. When you do things the right way, you can never go wrong. While I have owned my own companies for 36 years, I have come to realize that my roots to being an entrepreneur began the summer I turned 10.

I am known and have been known as a great communicator and am all about building connections with people and connecting others together. Through my signature events, I am extremely proud that I have more than and 85% return rate and a number of people attending several my signature events.

Life is learning not only to listen – but to hear. Always be confident and believe in yourself. Until you believe in yourself no one will be believe in you.

Understand what leadership is really about and how to grow your effectiveness and your teams. You need to know your Leadership Image as well, Education does not build leaders, people do. Education is a tool. Leadership is a job and title, it is what you do, your Leadership Image is who you are! You need to know your Leadership Image, as that is the key to successful leadership. That area is a differentiator working with me with to conscientiously understand and grow that element. Your Leadership Image is unique to you, just like your DNA. It accounts for more 70% of your effectiveness as a leader.

If you have multiple revenue streams in your business, would you mind opening up about what those streams are and how they fit together?

For me I have a number of income streams built on m businesses. These help me to communicate with and build greater connections and also help others. For me it is always about excellence with everything that I do, along with changing lives and building futures.

My revenue streams include my speaking around the world and am best known as America’s Leadership Image speaker, 4 award winning books, my signature events – Leadership Summit America – (year 10 will be in 20026), YOUniquely You – Putting Women First – Women’s Wellness Retreat, headed to year 9 in 2026 and now with 2 locations, Lake George, NY- July 29-August 2 and we just added Bermuda – April 23-26, 2026, I also publish a lifestyle magazine – Lake George Living, which is 3 1/2 years old and growing.

Several more books are on the way.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

In 1989, 3 months after having our daughter, I was fired from my executive job as Vice President of Corporate Communications – making 6 figures along with stock and company car. WHY? I was told by the chairman of the board who I reported to that – “A woman’s place was in the home, not working and traveling a great deal of the time.”

This ended in court and I won the case, 6 years later. A much longer story!

While this truly was paralyzing at first, it forced me to start my first company and there have been many others since. Without that situation happening, I do not think I would have launched media companies, created television programs, launched a successful manufacturing company and all of the other things above.

This taught be how to be independent, trust my gut, standup for myself and reach for the gold ring of life.

My life advice? Always be curious, try new things and be open. You will be amazed at all you can accomplish when you open your mind, set new goals, take action and keep moving the bar higher with each success. There’s no limit for what you can achieve. The key is getting started and taking the first step.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.SharonBurstein.com
• Instagram: @SharonBurstein
• Facebook: Sharon Burstein, Sharon Burstein International
• Linkedin: @Sharon Burstein
• Twitter: @SharonBurstein
• Youtube: @Sharon Burstein

Image Credits

Val Westover