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    Rayona Sharpnack

    CEO and Founder

    Institute for Gender Partnership and Institute for Women’s Leadership

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.She is the founder of the Institute for Women’s Leadership and the Institute for Gender Partnership.
    • 2.Her pioneering work in "Gender Partnership" has helped organizations foster effective collaboration between men and women.
    • 3.She is the author of the book "Trade Up: 5 Steps for Redesigning Your Leadership & Life from the Inside Out".
    • 4.Through her institutes, she has trained over 20,000 professionals across the United States, Australia, and Canada.

    About Rayona

    Who is Rayona Sharpnack?

    Rayona Sharpnack is a visionary CEO and founder of both the Institute for Gender Partnership and the Institute for Women’s Leadership (IWL). For over 25 years, she has been at the forefront of advancing gender equality, which she refers to as "Gender Partnership." Her pioneering work, primarily through IWL, has spanned the United States, Australia, and Canada, establishing her as a significant figure in leadership development and organizational change.

    Sharpnack’s dedication stems from a career that uniquely blends diverse experiences, from education and professional sports to business. This varied background allows her to bring a comprehensive and practical perspective to her coaching and educational endeavors. She is recognized for her ability to simplify complex theoretical concepts into actionable insights, empowering leaders to achieve impactful results in both their professional and personal lives.

    What is Rayona Sharpnack known for?

    Rayona Sharpnack is widely acclaimed for her groundbreaking contributions to leadership development, with a particular focus on gender partnership and advancing women in leadership roles. She is the architect of the Institute for Women’s Leadership, founded in 1991, which initially concentrated on equipping women with essential leadership skills and attitudes through intensive workshops. Her work evolved to encompass "Gender Partnership," a concept she actively promotes within Fortune 500 companies and various associations.

    Her reputation is built on a track record of transforming organizational cultures by fostering environments where men and women collaborate effectively. Sharpnack’s principles emphasize "100% responsibility" and "solution-oriented behavior," guiding organizations toward enhanced financial performance, increased productivity, and greater innovation. She has directly impacted over 20,000 professionals through her programs, with clients including leading Fortune 500 firms such as Pfizer, Gap Inc., Hertz, Cardinal Health, Teva Pharmaceuticals, Microsoft, Procter & Gamble, and Hewlett-Packard.

    What is Rayona Sharpnack's background and experience?

    Rayona Sharpnack’s extensive background underpins her expertise as a seasoned educator, coach, and mentor. Her career began in education, and she also gained experience in professional sports before transitioning into the business world. This diverse professional journey has provided her with a unique perspective, which she applies to mentoring executives across a wide spectrum of organizations, from Fortune 500 companies and government agencies to emerging businesses and non-profit organizations.

    In 1991, Sharpnack established the Institute for Women’s Leadership, aiming to provide intensive workshops for women leaders. By 1995, her insights led to the realization that true progress in gender equality required a broader approach, culminating in her focus on Gender Partnership. Her work has since expanded globally, influencing leaders and organizations in the US, Australia, and Canada. She has developed and delivered leadership programs for prestigious institutions including Harvard University, Stanford Business School, U.C. Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, and the Canadian and Australian Federal Governments.

    What topics does Rayona Sharpnack speak and write about?

    Rayona Sharpnack is a prolific speaker and author whose work primarily addresses leadership development, gender partnership, and fostering high-performance organizational cultures. Her written contributions include the influential book Trade Up: 5 Steps for Redesigning Your Leadership & Life from the Inside Out, which distills her extensive experience into actionable guidance for personal and professional growth. She has also contributed to significant anthologies such as Goddess Shift: Women Leading for a Change, alongside prominent figures, and Enlightened Power: How Women Are Transforming the Practice of Leadership.

    Sharpnack

    Background & Perspective

    Background

    Rayona Sharpnack is a visionary leader and the founder of both the Institute for Gender Partnership and the Institute for Women’s Leadership (IWL). Her career path, which includes experience in education and professional sports, provides her a unique, practical perspective in her coaching and teaching. In 1991, Sharpnack founded IWL to equip women with essential leadership skills. Her focus evolved by 1995 to "Gender Partnership," a broader approach to advance gender equality, which she has since promoted in Fortune 500 companies and associations globally.

    Areas of Expertise

    Sharpnack is a leading expert in leadership development, with a special focus on gender partnership and advancing women leaders. She is recognized for her ability to translate complex theories into practical, actionable strategies for leaders. Her principles of "100% responsibility" and "solution-oriented behavior" have helped organizations improve financial performance, productivity, and innovation. She has mentored executives in Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and non-profit organizations.

    Publications and Speaking

    Rayona Sharpnack is a sought-after speaker on leadership, gender partnership, and organizational culture. She has delivered leadership programs for prestigious institutions such as Harvard University, Stanford Business School, and U.C. Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. She authored the book Trade Up: 5 Steps for Redesigning Your Leadership & Life from the Inside Out. Additionally, she has contributed to the anthologies Goddess Shift: Women Leading for a Change and Enlightened Power: How Women Are Transforming the Practice of Leadership.

    Areas of Expertise

    Leadership DevelopmentGender PartnershipWomen's LeadershipOrganizational CultureExecutive CoachingHigh-Performance TeamsDiversity & Inclusion

    Research Topics

    LeadershipOrganizational DevelopmentDiversity & Inclusion

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