Trailblazing with Integrity: Creating a Powerful Personal Brand with Sharon Bowen
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Description
Your personal brand isn’t just about what you do; it’s about who you are and how you show up for others. Commissioner Sharon Bowen, Chair of the New York Stock Exchange, has built a career and reputation rooted in integrity, authenticity, passion, and purpose. Throughout her ceiling-shattering leadership journey, Sharon has used her platform to elevate others—myself included.
In this episode of Branding Room Only, Sharon shares insights from her trailblazing career, highlighting the impact of public service, personal relationships, and mentorship. She also unpacks what it truly means to live authentically in a world that often lacks it. Through Sharon’s story, you’ll gain a blueprint for not just achieving success, but making an impact, empowering others, and leaving a lasting legacy.
Chapters
2:12 – How Sharon defines a personal brand, how she describes herself in three short phrases, the quote that keeps her humble, and one of her hype songs
5:11 – How growing up in segregated Virginia during the Civil Rights era shaped Sharon’s life and career decisions
7:22 – Highlights from Sharon’s career path, including her introduction to Wall Street and the pivotal moment that cemented her interest in the market
14:30 – How Sharon’s personal brand helped her navigate and succeed in barrier-breaking roles
19:47 – The role of public service in brand alignment and why volunteerism (when chosen thoughtfully) is so important
26:13 – The impact of personal relationships on career success and brand-building, plus the influential people who shaped Sharon’s journey
34:07 – Advice for professionals who aspire to follow a similarly groundbreaking path
38:17 – What Sharon hopes her legacy will be and what she does for fun
41:47 – Why Sharon will never compromise on her integrity, the unique energy she brings into a room, and a final heartfelt message
Connect With Sharon Bowen
Commissioner Sharon Bowen serves as the Chair of the New York Stock Exchange, the first woman or person of color to hold that position. She was the first African American to be appointed as Commissioner of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, serving from 2014 to 2017, and was earlier appointed by President Obama to serve as Vice Chair and Acting Chair of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation from 2010 to 2014. Her groundbreaking career includes three decades working in corporate and transactional law.
Bowen currently serves on the Boards of Intercontinental Exchange, Inc., Neuberger Berman Group LLC and Akamai Technologies, Inc. She is a partner at Seneca Women, which connects and advances women in the economy. Bowen earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Virginia as well as a joint Master of Business Administration from the Kellogg School of Management and Juris Doctor from Pritzker School of Law, both at Northwestern University. During her time at Northwestern, she served as Managing Editor of the Northwestern Journal of International Law and Business. Bowen has also served as a former Executive Committee Member and Chair of the Law School Board. In 2023, she received an Honorary Doctor of Laws from Northwestern, and in 2024, the Distinguished Alumni Award.
Bowen has served as a member of the Board and Emeritus Board of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Inc., the Boards of New York City Economic Development Corporation, and Public Education Needs Civil Involvement in Learning. Her other achievements include: 2022 Women in Derivatives Luminary Lifetime Achievement Award, 2011 Diversity Trailblazer Award of the New York State Bar Association, New York City Bar Association 2007 Diversity Champion, and Metropolitan Black Bar Association 2006 Lawyer of the Year. In 2022, she was inducted into the Futures Industry Association Hall of Fame.
Mentioned In Trailblazing with Integrity: Creating a Powerful Personal Brand with Sharon Bowen
Corporate Counsel Women of Color
New York Lawyers for the Public Interest
New York City Economic Development Corporation
Principal For a Day - Pencil.org
Practicing Attorneys for Law Students Program (PALS)
Branding Room Only podcast episodes mentioned in this episode:
Building a Legacy: Insights on Leadership and Diversity in the Law with Robert J. Grey Jr.
Branding Room Only Interview With Laurie Robinson Haden: Shining Brightly - Part 1
Branding Room Only Interview With Laurie Robinson Haden: Shining Brightly - Part 2
Personal Branding Strategy Sessions
Subscribe to The Branding Room Only on YouTube
Sign up for Paula’s Upcoming Webinars
Sponsor for this episode
This episode is brought to you by PGE Consulting Group LLC.
PGE Consulting Group LLC is dedicated to providing a practical hybrid of professional development training and diversity solutions. From speaking to consulting to programming and more, all services and resources are carefully tailored for each partner. Paula Edgar’s distinct expertise helps engage attendees and create lasting change for her clients.
To learn more about Paula and her services, go to www.paulaedgar.com or contact her at info@paulaedgar.com, and follow Paula Edgar and the PGE Consulting Group LLC on LinkedIn.
Transcript
Paula Edgar: Welcome to The Branding Room Only Podcast where we share career stories, strategies, and lessons learned on how industry leaders and influencers have built their personal brands. Now, let's get started with the show.
Hi y'all, it's Paula Edgar. Before we dive into today's conversation, I want to set the stage for what was a truly inspiring dialogue. My guest today, Sharon Bowen, is a pioneering force whose journey is a testament to the power of resilience, authenticity, and service.
From making history as the first woman of personal color to chair the New York Stock Exchange, to shaping policy and mentoring future leaders, Sharon has broken barriers across sectors. But beyond her remarkable professional achievements, she embodies the essence of what it means to build a meaningful personal brand. One rooted in integrity, relationships, and a deep commitment to giving back.
In our conversation today, we'll explore how she's navigated her trailblazing career, the importance of mentorship, and what it really means to live authentically in a world that's often anything but. Sharon's story is not just one of success. It's a blueprint for anyone looking to make an impact and leave a lasting legacy. So, let's get started.
Hi, everyone. It's Paula Edgar, your host of Branding Room Only, and I am beyond excited for my conversation today. Guess who I have on the podcast? Commissioner Sharon Bowen. She is the chair of the New York Stock Exchange, the first woman or person of color to hold that position. She was the first African-American to be appointed as commissioner of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission, serving from 2014 to 2017, and was vice chair and acting chair of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation from 2010 to 2014.
Her groundbreaking career includes three decades working in corporate and transactional law, and Sharon serves on the boards of Intercontinental Exchange Incorporated, Neuberger Berman Group LLC, and Akamai Technologies Incorporated. Sharon, welcome to the Branding Room.
Sharon Bowen: It's so great to see you and to be here today. Thanks so much for having me.
Paula Edgar: Thanks for being here. Let's jump in. I ask everybody on the podcast this question. What does a personal brand mean to you? How would you define it?
Sharon Bowen: So I think it's a two-way street. I think it's how I perceive myself and how other people perceive me. Hopefully they are aligned. They may not be, but I'm hoping it's one or the same.
Paula Edgar: I agree with you 100%. I call it the Destiny's Child Conundrum. If you say you're Beyonce, but you're one of the other two singers, then you gotta get to the middle point.
Sharon Bowen: Exactly.
Paula Edgar: Thinking of that, how would you describe yourself in three words or short phrases? And I know this is a hard one.
Sharon Bowen: Yeah, words. I would say a role model would be one, problem solver. Then I would say either connector/mentor/connecting people or connecting ideas.
Paula Edgar: I love it. Okay. Do you have a favorite quote or a motto that you love?
Sharon Bowen: I have probably many, but the one that keeps me obviously humble is “There but for the grace of God go I.” A lot of people think somehow I created my own destiny, my own path, not the case, just by myself.
Paula Edgar: I love that you chose that because I have a connection to that quote that most people don't know. Quickly, the first A I ever received in school period was in third grade. I had to write about that quote.
Sharon Bowen: Oh, did you get to write in third grade?
Paula Edgar: I did. I got an A. It sticks out for me because it was the first time, I wasn’t gifted and talented, it was the first time I had to write something about something else that wasn't just my opinion. I love the circularness of that. All right.
Sharon Bowen: Good. You come full circle, that's good. Yes.
Paula Edgar: When folks are going to get full Commissioner Sharon Bowen, what song is playing in your head? What is that hype song when you're about to go on stage or about to run the gavel or something fancy? What's running your head? What song?
Sharon Bowen: I have a few. I would say the one that's probably the easiest one is "I'm Every Woman." Because I'm every woman.
Paula Edgar: I love that.
Sharon Bowen: It's a love song. That's a good one.
Paula Edgar: Do you prefer Chaka's version or Whitney's version?
Sharon Bowen: Oh, you're not supposed to do that to me.
Paula Edgar: We’ll include both.
Sharon Bowen: Okay, yeah, that's the right answer.
Paula Edgar: Yes. There you go. What I found on my podcast is that when I ask people about just what they do, I get some context, but not enough. I love to ask people about where they grew up and how it shaped them. That is my question to you. Where did you grow up and how did that shape you?
Sharon Bowen: I grew up in Chesapeake, Virginia, the youngest of five kids, grew up in an all-Black neighborhood, segregated neighborhood at the time when our parents were fighting for civil rights. It was a really important period of my life for sure. I had attended an all-Black elementary school in the first year of junior high school. After Brown v. Board of Education, I was one of the ones who got [inaudible] to a high school.
Paula Edgar: If you think that experience of being one of the first and living alongside real change in this country, how do you think that that maybe shaped you and what you decided to do with your life?
Sharon Bowen: Yeah, so one of the reasons I always stressed the fact that I went to an all-Black school and it's the same when my brothers and sisters went and the teachers went and there was just a real sense of community and self-worth, so I think I developed a sense of confidence at a really, really early age.
Obviously, watching the resilience of my family and my neighbors go through the fight, I really valued what they did and the importance of education, especially that was totally drilled into all of us was that education is key. Just sort of the motto just my family's like, “Be the best you can be at whatever.”
Paula Edgar: I'm finding a connecting piece that I'm definitely going to put into the show notes, which is the folks who I have interviewed from the DMV area, they have said similar things. Robert Grey, Lori from [inaudible], they all say the same thing about the community piece and how being in a place where they’re amongst people who were like them was an important shaping of who they were and how they entered the world. I love that as a connecting factor. Yeah.
Sharon Bowen: I think it's true. It really, really is.
Paula Edgar: All right. I'm going to give you a really hard assignment, which is this, tell me some of the highlights of your career path. From being in Chesapeake, Virginia, until what we see in front of us now, tell me about some of that path.
Sharon Bowen: I would say when I finished high school, then decided to go to the University of Virginia, and then that was a time when I was in the fourth entering class of women, and there were very few Black students at UVA at the time, you could count this on a couple of hands. But besides meeting my husband there, which was a highlight, that would be highlight number one, the other about college was I took a course in economics and we were required to meet the Wall Street Journal every day.
That was my introduction to Wall Street. I had no idea what Wall Street was, what people did there. I wound up majoring in economics, even though initially I thought I was going to be an English major because I like to read and I like to write. But that sparked my interest in business, and so when I finished college, I did what any sane person would do. I decided to apply to business school and law school because, at that time, you had to take the LSATs and take the GMAT. You had to apply separately to each school and be accepted at each school.
I was really fortunate to get full scholarships, both the law school and the business schools at three universities. I picked Northwestern as the place, even though I'd never had been to Chicago. Chicago was one of the other schools where I was offered a full scholarship. But that was a great experience, being in a different part of the world, I'd never left Virginia before, I want to have a great internship.
I spent the summer at Goldman Sachs here on Wall Street. In fact, I tell people I've come full circle because from that summer, I actually came to the New York Stock Exchange and spent the day with one of the four specialists. This is in the day when there were actually people on the exchange and people would call it jackets and orders were written on pieces of paper, so very hectic, vibrant place and little [inaudible] to come full circle to lock in the door in a different kind of way today.
I would say that that really cemented my interest in the market. I knew I was going to come to New York and as you know, I started my practice at Davis Polk & Wardell, then I left it there and then moved on to Latham & Watkins since the fifth year and then became a partner, the first Black woman partner at Latham. Left my practice, which a lot of people say they don't know many lawyers who actually worked in law firms who enjoyed it, but I actually, I loved my partners, I loved my clients, I was fortunate to have a vibrant practice as well.
But like most markets, I was there for the dot-com burst nd I was there during the financial crisis. So when President Obama was elected the first time, one of my mentees who had been related to myself said that they went on to become a partner in another law firm but then stepped down to work on the transition team for President Obama, she called up to say, “Would you like to be involved with the demonstration?” I said, "Wow. Like, move to DC." She goes, "Yeah." I said, "No. I'm good. I love my [inaudible]. I love New York now. I'm good. I love my firm. I'm not going anywhere."
Then a few weeks later, she called back up to say, "Would you be interested in being vice chair of the Securities Investor Protection Corporation? You don't have to move to Washington. You don't have to leave your law firm." And that's because SIPC is not a government agency. It's actually created by Congress by statute. I was able to stay at my law firm and be vice chair and an acting chair at SIPC.
Obviously, that was during the time of the financial crisis, which was SIPC before that had been pretty [inaudible] for 30 years or so. It was going back in the '70s. But of course, when I was there, we had the biggest bankruptcies from the Lehman Brothers and the Madoff and MF Global so that was a really interesting time.
When President Obama won the second time, and they asked, “We really would like you to come to DC, would you be willing to be a commissioner of the client who just trained in commission?” I actually knew what that was. Having spent time at SIPC and knew the importance of the very beginning with implementing Doug Frank and implementing the rules to make sure that our marketplaces were transparent and clear.
Then I retired. Then when I left the SIPC, well, actually no, I retired before I went to SIPC because I had to leave my law firm to be able to take the government position. I've been blessed to be on board since then.
Paula Edgar: A couple of things come out for me from what you just said. One of them is the importance of relationships. The podcast is my love offering to the world and thinking about the importance of branding and how you show up and how people perceive you. Folks don't just call anybody to say, “Hey, do you want to be a part of XYZ?” unless you have built relationships and a brand where people know that you're reliable, you do good work, and that's what my parents would say that you're not going to embarrass them.
So, when you think about that deals and highlights that you just mentioned, is there anything that jumps out for you around the relationships, including that person that was your mentee, that helped to foster it, that helped to make all those different transitions to happen? Anything jumps out for you?
Sharon Bowen: So I think that one of the common things, and I mean that because we've been involved in some nonprofits in the past is, the concept of giving back and public service, it's always been important to me from day one. I would say that's part of the full circle moment as well.
We talked about me being a connector, so that means I know a lot of people. I will often tell people, people pay attention. I mean, when you walk in the door, they notice. Obviously, at the beginnings of my career, I was often the youngest person in the room, the only woman in the room, the only person of color in the room. Because of that, I wouldn't say that was extra pressure, but I knew people were watching.
I think that's really important for people to keep in mind in terms of like, when you build your brand, you're building it. It sticks with you for better or worse, so hopefully, it's for better and not worse.
Paula Edgar: I mean, that's a perfect transition to my next question, which is this: How do you think your personal brand helped you to navigate this, we read some of the highlights, you spoke to some of the highlights, but being a trailblazer and specifically getting to the place of becoming the first person of color male or female to chair the New York Stock Exchange.
Sharon Bowen: I think people always saw me as someone who was a problem solver, which I mentioned as part of my brand. Whenever I saw something that wasn't working right, I had a natural inclination to work to help fix it, whether we're going to talk about the Palace Program or whether [inaudible] them as a woman partner when the young women said to us, "We don't know how to develop business. No one taught us that." And so I helped to create our Women Enriching Business to help women get that skill set.
I'm known for being a problem solver in that sense. I think the other is I'm a good listener. I'm empathetic. I'm a really good listener. I think that's another part of my skill set, if you will, that did allow me to make all those things are really important to be where I'm today as well.
Paula Edgar: A hundred percent. I think that listening is so key to hear how you can add value to hear what people's priority like there's so much that you gather from being a listener. When I was an undergrad, I studied anthropology and it's the first thing that we had to learn is in order to know about culture, you have to hear, you have to hear what's being said, you have to hear what's not being said, you have to see and view. I connected that very quickly to being common and being a lawyer because that's also something that's a skill set that is important in that space too.
Sharon Bowen: It really was also probably when I was at SIPC and one of the things that we did was we had an open forum where we invited people who had lost their jobs and lost their savings, the people who have been affected by the financial crisis to come in to tell us their stories.
That was important for me and it made me a better regulator because of it and I think from that experience at SIPC, when I walked in the door as a commissioner, I even told people during my confirmation hearing, I wanted to be the voice of the voiceless, the people who didn't create the crisis but didn't have a seat at the table and now that I had that seat at the table, I wanted to be their voice as well. That listening skill also, I think, strengthens your ability to lead and to make decisions.
Paula Edgar: I think the underlying line that was in there too is empathy. It's to understand people's perspective and their experiences is that je ne sais quoi and leadership that more people need to have that I think drives what their actions are and how that we can become less just documents and paperwork and more experiences and stories.
Do you think that being referred to as a trailblazer and being a trailblazer, is it something that you even ever think about? Like “Good morning trailblazer” in the mirror? Do you think about the multiple first? Or is it just a part of your story?
Sharon Bowen: Yeah, I mean, it's part of my journey, let’s put it that way. There was a time, I mean, even taking on this role as chair of the Stock Exchange, the chair of the parent company who asked me to take this role, he said, “Sharon, people make a big deal out of the fact that you're the first woman to be in this role and the first person color. But I just want you to know that you're the best chair this exchange ever would have had.” I said, “Yeah, yeah, that I know.”
I was somewhat reluctant to wear the first. Then I thought, “You know what, it's important to be visible and important for young kids who don't know anything about Wall Street.” I didn't know anything about Wall Street, to know that they too could become the chair of the New York Stock Exchange.
The mystery that puts behind the story, I get my greatest story where students come in or we just hosted a summit for young women of color to learn about financial literacy and saving and investing, those moments allowed me to use my platform, not only to be visible and inspirational, but also to follow my passion because that's also part of my passion is the financial markets and economic environment of women and girls and financial literacy, fortunately, I could use all of the fun things that I really enjoy.
Paula Edgar: I love that they all connect. Obviously, you are the core piece of it and all of the interest and the rules that you have to speak to all of that. I think that that's what makes leadership better when it's a little more personal, when it's not just the doing of the stuff but bringing who you are into it. That's really where the importance of having diverse perspectives comes into a lot.
Sharon Bowen: Absolutely. We do the world differently when we walk out the door every day.
Paula Edgar: I love it. Let's talk about the other piece. There's the work you do and then there's the work you do. You are on a lot of boards and part of what your board service entails in terms of nonprofits are organizations like New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and New York Economic Development Corporation. How do you think those roles and public service and your commitment and what you were talking about, how do those align with your brand? And why are they important to you?
Sharon Bowen: Yeah, I think it's the same skill set. I always tell people nonprofit board service is really important and critical. I tell people, “Pick those carefully. It's got to be something you care about and be passionate about and treat it as if it's your most valuable client. Be prepared for board meetings, show up on time, be the person who volunteers.” Those nonprofit boards have CEOs on it, you know.
In fact, one of my boards is because I sat on a board with someone who created a nonprofit. People watch what you're doing in any event, but it's the same skill set. It's the same networking, the connection, the same problem solving, connecting the dots. I think those are all the same skill sets, so it doesn't matter. Which is also why I tell people, “Non-profit service and public service is a great thing,” and I really encourage people to definitely do both.
Paula Edgar: I really love that you made that point because I do think that sometimes people sometimes deprioritize things that they're volunteering for versus being paid for. We need volunteerism to get some of the work to get done to help people who can't help themselves, who need our support.
As somebody who is on six boards, I often will segment and say, “I want to be on this board, but here's what you're going to get at me because you can't get 100% of me because there are more folks.” That delineation says that's the commitment I'm going to make, and that's what I'm going to give to you. But the forethought is such an important piece. Not just doing it unknowingly.
Sharon Bowen: I bet you too, I know you, Paula, I know you too think about what are you passionate about [inaudible]?
Paula Edgar: Oh, yes.
Sharon Bowen: You don't pick a board because of who sits on the board. You won't show up for the meeting. The same thing for for-profit boards, I mean, for companies that didn't care about what they did or the integrity of the senior management team, I wouldn't join a board if those things didn't check the boxes for me too.
Paula Edgar: Which is important because your affiliation is your lining with your brand. They get a benefit of you being associated with them, but you also are associated vice versa. So it makes sense to be thoughtful about it. I recommend people interview folks the same way they are interviewing you, like ask questions about the organization, find out about leaders, talk to people who used to be on the board.
Those are important because you want to know, I don't think we should not do something because it's hard, but I do think you want to know where the hard stays and to make the decision.
Sharon Bowen: Absolutely. No, you're absolutely right. Again, I think some people will just say, “I just want to be on a board, I don't care what it is.” It's like, “Well, you're not going to be a good board member if that's the way you think about it.”
Paula Edgar: Right, or not as impactful as if you had put the same amount of thought and forethought into it as if it was going to be something that you'd be paid for. I was telling my son who is 12 years old that I was going to be interviewing you today. He likes to ask questions about who and so I was telling him a little about what you did and he said, "You mean like that movie that you like?" And I was like, "What movie? What are you talking about?" He said, "Trading Places."
I laughed because that was the first time he had seen an example of a stock exchange, but I really love that he had made the connection and he understood that. I patted my husband on the back for making us watch that over again.
Sharon Bowen: I like that movie too. That's the whole thing about [inaudible].
Paula Edgar: Exactly. You've also been involved in other organizations. There's one called [Vehicles], which helps people in transition at various stages of their lives. Principal For A Day via organization called PENCIL , which connects business leaders with public schools.
Then PALS, which is Practicing Attorneys for Law Students, which is how I met you, which provides mentoring and professional development for law students of color in the New York City area. Why would those organizations' missions be important to you?
Sharon Bowen: I think the one thread they all have is the education piece. Again, as I mentioned, the importance of education was children made at a really early age. I had a successful career because I was able to go to law school and business school and full scholarships. I would not have been able to afford to go to a school or a business school.
The concept of giving back was really important to me. Someone made that possible. Someone donated money to make it possible for me to be able to have the kind of education that I had. I knew at a pretty early age that one of my passions would be education and working with students, working with adults, financial literacy, those things I knew were a passions of mine.
Paula Edgar: I was thinking about what you just said and how you said it. Does it connect that to whom much has been given much is required, that piece?
Sharon Bowen: Yes, and that's another quote I could have given you as well because it's true.
Paula Edgar: Yeah, a good facilitator to be able to have a free ride to these institutions that then allowed you to have the education that you have and then to do the work that you do. I think that's powerful. I have spoken to a lot of students who will tell me, I think that we share this connection because I also love things that have a connection to education, particularly the pipelines.
I was a student for A Better Chance when I went to boarding school. All those things have helped me as well. But I had a student say to me, “Oh, I don't have to care as much about this because I have a free ride.” I was like, “No, no, no, you have to care more about it because you have a free ride,” and that perspective. We definitely had to have a straight talk for a straight understanding conversation.
Sharon Bowen: I'm glad you aligned him in the right direction.
Paula Edgar: Absolutely. You mentioned at the beginning of our conversation that you met your husband when you were at school, talk to me about personal relationships and how they affect your ability to do what you do and to manage and build your brand.
Sharon Bowen: I would not be where I am without personal relationships just my spouse with my siblings, my friends, and my colleagues, having that support system is so important. But you may remember when we started PALS, part of it was that we didn't want to be the only Black people on Wall Street.
We want to make sure there are white lines. How can we solve that? How can we convince Black students that law school is here in New York to think about Wall Street firms? How do you really solve those kinds of things? I would say that's the backbone of not only who I am, but it really has everything to do with my success, to be honest with you.
Paula Edgar: I ask that question because so often we see the shiny person right in front of us and knowing that for most people, there is a troop of people who are behind them or aligned with them, or sometimes in front of them, that have facilitated their success, whatever that is in that space.
On the podcast, I often talk about my husband and say that without him, he wouldn’t see all of this because he facilitates me being able to do that. But I'm also happy that you mentioned that our friend groups are such an important line through all of our successes and challenges.
Sharon Bowen: They are cheerleaders when you want to quit. You got to say, "No, girl, you put in too much time. You got too many stripes down your back." Now it's not the time to quit.
Paula Edgar: It’s true.
Sharon Bowen: I'm going to pull up your pantyhose and just go walk in the door and keep doing it.
Paula Edgar: Absolutely, because I think about one of the things about blazing trails and breaking ceilings, which you have done, is that when you break a ceiling, there are shards of glass and sometimes you get hit by them [inaudible]. It's not always an easy path. Oftentimes it's the network that you have that can help you to navigate those paths that are not.
Sharon Bowen: Absolutely. They don't have to make people who are in your industry. My cheerleaders are not lawyers. Some of them are in the movie industry and actresses, designers, and doctors, musicians, in all kinds of fields. A cheerleader can come from many places.
Paula Edgar: Oh, I agree with that 100%. My masseuse, she knows all the secrets and she is the best.
Sharon Bowen: That’s right.
Paula Edgar: Exactly, the folks who provide service also are a part of our success structure too. Thinking about the people who have been impactful for you and your career, and this is also an unfair question because I'm sure there are a lot of people, but are there some influential mentors or role models who you think about immediately when to ask the question, “Who helped shape your journey?”
Sharon Bowen: I would have to immediately go to my family. Family, really strong Black women. I don't know how we made so much out of so little, to be honest with you, but the ability to make so much out of so little, and then for you as a kid not even realizing that we were poor, even though we were, I didn't know it and just being surrounded with love and that resiliency.
They clearly had obstacles and they had to learn how to budget and manage money, obviously. I would say, family first and foremost, really strong Black women in my family for sure. There are people [inaudible] trailblazers ahead of me. Many of those people have been my mentors and who've helped guide me with some decisions I've made in terms of my career. Like, “Do I leave? Do I stay? Do I take this? Do I say no?”
They remind me to say, “Sharon, remember, you're not taking on any more boards. Remember, you told me no is a complete sentence.” The people who remind you and who know you best. The people who've done it before, and particularly those who give back. There are a lot of them, and most people on whose shoulders I stand have all been tremendous friends and supporters of mine.
Paula Edgar: I think that's fantastic to have folks who hold you accountable to the commitments that you made to yourself.
Sharon Bowen: Yeah, that's true. We can overcommit.
Paula Edgar: Yes. One of my mentors is a senior attorney, and she reminded me of who I said I wanted to be. I remember we had a conversation and she said, "Every role you take, is this an alignment with who you said you wanted to be?" Every single time I'm like, "Oop, that's not,” or “It is." It helps me to go forward.
It reminds me of a conversation that I had. I had the opportunity to do a fireside chat years ago with Dick Parsons. He talked about how people ask him about the people who mentored him, that he got a lot from the people who he mentored, that reverse mentorship.
It sat with me because he's like, “I'm learning from you right now.” I love thinking about that growth mindset. Even though you're standing on the shoulders, you still continue to learn.
Sharon Bowen: Yeah, he was a great mentor and friend and still mourning his loss, obviously, and also a neighbor living [inaudible]. He and Laura are definitely special people.
Paula Edgar: Yeah, definitely. Really happy to have had the opportunity to talk with him and to learn from him and to share some of those insights and think about the reason I ask about mentorship. Right now we're recording during a national mentoring month this January, even though this is probably not going to be posted then, but it's such an important piece.
When I went from being a PALS student and hearing all of you talk about why it was important for us to see you all in your roles and to aspire to be in those roles, then I went on to be an executive director and thought about how some of the folks who I know now who are judges and partners and all the fancy things, were PALS students.
You can see the arc of your intention and then the goal being met over and over and over again. It's just so powerful. It really is that intention. I see that both in the students, but also in the people who started it. Look at Wall Street talking about what's going to happen. Then here you are on Wall Street.
Sharon Bowen: Yeah. The corner of Wall and Broad.
Paula Edgar: Right. Yes. I remember my mother worked in the Trade Center and I used to come and visit her all the time, but she walked me down to see the Bull several times. When I was a kid, I had no idea what it meant, but I knew it was important. Thinking about how we model for folks and what they see and what they experience is a huge thing because as I was mentioning before we started, I remember listening to you on a panel when I was a law student.
Hearing and thinking about who I could be and what I could do and seeing somebody in that space was such an important part of this. It's really why I wanted to have you on the podcast so other people could see and hear about your influence and the things that you've done.
What is something that you would want to say to professionals who are aspiring to follow a similar groundbreaking path as you?
Sharon Bowen: Well, first I want to say you make me proud and I love what you're doing and what you're doing is really important. Using the media in an effective way to reach as many people and technology to meet as many people as possible, I think that's really important. Kudos to you. I guess I did a good job mentoring you.
Paula Edgar: Thank you.
Sharon Bowen: [inaudible] few things. One is you alluded to this, I think, with one of your quotes from your mom, whoever, from your family. What do you want to be known for? Do you want to be known as that person who shows up or who's late? The person who gets the job done, or the one who misses every deadline.
You go to decide, and you can pick those choices in terms of what person you want to be when you show up. Then I tell people to try to find what your passion is and pursue it. I think it's really hard to excel in any industry unless you love what you're doing. It's hard to fake it and I think to be really good at it because it takes a lot of time, a lot of work, and a lot of sacrifice.
Paula Edgar: Facts.
Sharon Bowen: Hopefully, it'll be something you're passionate about. Then I remind people because I was taught this by a young partner a long time ago when I was really frustrated because I was like, “Well, gosh, I should know how to do this by now,” he reminded me, “Sharon, it’s called a practice of law for a reason. You gotta keep practicing at it. It’s okay.”
It also reminds me of another thing I tell people, “Life is a marathon.” You don't have to go full tilt and burn out the first couple of miles. You want to pace yourself. There will be moments in your life when you need to take that break. Being true to yourself, you can always get back on.
Like every marathon, there are going to be moments where you're going to have a burst of energy and there are going to be moments where you say, "I can't go to the next level." Or you'll face an obstacle, only to find, "Oh, that's the easier path to take." Just be patient and know that life is a marathon and it's okay to be good to yourself.
Paula Edgar: It's okay to be good to yourself. Double-click on that. I do think that some of the expectations and perspectives, particularly around Black women and women of color, are to do until you can’t, as opposed to fuel yourself up so you can do what you're called to do. That resonates very deeply.
Sharon Bowen: I know. You have to remind yourself because it's easy when we do that and I know you, too, have a tendency to overcome it.
Paula Edgar: Yeah.
Sharon Bowen: That's why you have to surround yourself with people like [inaudible] who say no for me. You can't be in five places at the same time. You can't get from point A to point B.
Paula Edgar: My personal board of directors tells me all the time, “That line with our goal this year, is that part of our commitment to ourselves?”
Sharon Bowen: That's important. I tell you your personal board of directors can come from all walks of life and then they will evolve over time too which is fine. Like you said, sometimes it could be young people. I've known so much, like Dick said, I learned a lot from my mentees.
Paula Edgar: Yeah, my daughter has become one of my mentors and the flip has been a very interesting one but seeing the perspective of her being a college sophomore and being at an all-women's school, all-Black women's school, my dream has been encompassed in her, I'm like, “Oh, my goodness, look at this experience that you had.”
Then she teaches me things, although I find it very interesting what they're experiencing right now in life. Just in general, to be aligned at this time, to be post-pandemic and all these things, they have aligned as that's going on for them.
When you think about all of the highlights and some of the challenges and the work that you've done and what you will continue to do, what do you want your legacy to be? What do you want to be remembered for?
Sharon Bowen: Hmm, that's a hard one. I think hopefully I would have been a good role model for other people, someone who inspires other people, and being known for helping other people. I'm always proud when my mentees do well. Hopefully, it's being a good mentor and being a good friend.
Paula Edgar: Yeah, I think you've already done that. That's mission accomplished. One of the boards that I'm on is a family foundation and they're based out of Boston. Their motto is to do what needs to be done. Listen to what you were saying, you always go back to that and through mentoring to education, through connection, you do what needs to be done. My question for you now is what about the fun stuff? What do you do for fun?
Sharon Bowen: I do the fun stuff all the time but I like food and thank goodness my husband's a good cook [inaudible] so that helps.
Paula Edgar: Oh, nice.
Sharon Bowen: We like to travel, which is good. I love reading. I like doing nothing too. I'm good at doing nothing. People don't believe me when I say that, but I do nothing well. Given the chance because I don't have the chance of doing it. Yeah, this is a good nothing day sometimes.
Paula Edgar: We need those. I'm an Olympian napper. I love to nap. I've got a gold medal in napping.
Sharon Bowen: You got to know yourself in that respect. But spending time with friends as well. Going shopping, the fun things, going movies, going to the shows.
Paula Edgar: For traveling, does anything jump out in terms of favorite locations that you travel to?
Sharon Bowen: My husband hasn't been in the wine industry. I always tell people there's no place in the world where they make wine that's ugly with bad food. At least once a year, one of our vacations is centered around a wine region. That's true whether we're talking from Argentina to Spain, to Italy, to France, to [inaudible] no matter where you pick, it goes with great food and great wine. I have lots of favorite places that are usually defined by the beauty of the place, it’s what I ate and what I drank at that time,my other passions.
Paula Edgar: I'm smiling really, really hard right now because my husband and I have the same connection. For our anniversary every year, we do something connected to wine in some way. We loved Long Island Vineyards. But this past year, we went to Louisville, Kentucky for a bourbon tour.
It was so much fun and beautiful. I love that we have that connection. It's true. There's always something to drink and something to eat and some beautiful people to meet. Those things bring you together with other people too. I love that that's your fun thing. That's awesome.
Sharon Bowen: Yeah. Definitely a lot of fun.
Paula Edgar: Okay, so my final two questions for you are two things I ask everybody on the podcast. One is this, what is something about your brand that you will never compromise on?
Sharon Bowen: Well, definitely integrity will be one of them. Integrity is really important. Maybe it's because it's the law in me, but just being able to be a confidant, to [inaudible] someone's confidence and to hold those dearly when someone confides in me. That's the thing I would not compromise on.
Paula Edgar: Love that. Integrity is the number one answer on the podcast. It's a lot of work. I do think that a good, strong brand, the bedrock is integrity because people need to be able to trust you. Great. Then, Branding Room Only is a play on the term standing room only because I'm clever. My question for you is this: What is your magic? What is something that would drive people to be in a room with just standing room only to experience about you?
Sharon Bowen: You have to tell me, I don't know.
Paula Edgar: I can answer the question for you. I think it's your authenticity. I think that I can trust that you're going to be who you are.
Sharon Bowen: I take that answer. I'm going to put it in my book. I think that's right. I am authentic, and I'm the same person. I'm the same person that you met 25 years ago, and I'm the same person to the cleaning lady or to the CEO. I'm the same person. I don't show up differently for different people.
Paula Edgar: Yeah, and I think that is what resonates for you as a leader and a person. Is there anything that is on your heart you want to leave with my audience before we close?
Sharon Bowen: I just want to give people hope because we've got some really uncertain times ahead of us and I felt people's disappointments and despair and all that. The pushback on diversity and inclusion, some Supreme Court decisions, elections, wars. That's called life. That's called living life, but I just want to make sure to always have hope.
Paula Edgar: That is a wonderful way for us to end our conversation in the hope of resilience and all the things that we can still do while we are still here. Sharon, thank you so much for spending some time with me and my audience and I really appreciate you telling us your story and talking about being a connector and all the things that you have learned and your passion for service.
I appreciate it and I know that so many people are going to take from this. Thank you for being in the Branding Room and everybody, send this to everybody you know because you know they need to hear it.
Sharon Bowen: Thank you so much. It was fun talking to you.
Paula Edgar: Absolutely. All right. Wow. As we close today's conversation, I find myself deeply reflecting on the powerful wisdom Sharon Bowen shared. Her journey is not only about breaking barriers, but about staying true to herself, building relationships that matter, and always giving back.
Sharon reminds us that our personal brand is not just what we do, but who we are, how we show up for others, how we stay grounded in integrity, and how we use our platforms to lift others along the way. Her story is a testament to the importance of authenticity and leadership, and the strength found in vulnerability.
I hope you leave this conversation feeling inspired to cultivate your own personal brand with purpose and passion. In a world that often asks us to compromise, Sharon's example shows us that staying true to our values and remaining connected to what truly matters is what creates a lasting impact.
Thank you for joining us and as you move forward, remember your legacy is built one authentic step at a time, and stand by your brand. See you next time. Bye, everybody.
