Global Venture Partner & Board Advisor
Venture Forward Capital Chicago, USA * May 23, 2025 · May 23, 2025
"Great leadership starts with strong self-leadership."
Backstory
Sharesz T. Wilkinson is an internationally acclaimed executive leadership expert with over 20 years of experience empowering top-level executives and high-potential professionals worldwide. As Founder and CEO of Resilient Power, she specializes in working with highly ambitious individuals and organizations to unlock their leadership potential and achieve sustainable success during challenging times. Sharesz’s pragmatic and authentic approach combines deep professionalism, executive communication, resilience and strategic focus to create lasting and transformative outcomes in a short period of time.
Her career spans working with multinational corporations, C-level executives, and elite teams remotely, delivering executive mentoring that fosters leadership from the inside out. A member of the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council, Sharesz has earned over 29 international awards and nominations recognizing her as a visionary change agent, speaker, best-selling co-author, investor, and global leadership influencer. She further serves as a Senator for the USA in the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF), underscoring her commitment to driving effective top-down change, empowering leaders across sectors.
Behind The Scenes
What types of leaders and organizations inspire you most?
I am passionate about leaders who lead with authenticity and resilience, those who embrace change and inspire transformation from within. The most compelling organizations are those that cultivate empowered, inclusive cultures where communication and emotional intelligence drive innovation and growth. It’s about elevating leadership beyond titles to create meaningful impact that resonates globally.
What surprises leaders most when they step into senior roles?
Many expect strategic challenges, but the real test is mastering leadership communication, resilience, and adaptability. Weaknesses and limitations can quickly become heavy financial liabilities for organizations and companies if they remain unaddressed, especially in high-growth scenarios. The more we grow, the more we have to shift and learn. The faster we grow, the faster we have to be able to adapt in mindset and behavior to challenges. Leadership is less about grand gestures and more about consistent, focused actions that build trust and momentum. It is the deliberate shifts in mindset and communication that shape lasting success.
Which mentor or influence has shaped your leadership philosophy?
I’ve been profoundly influenced by leaders who embody kindness, vision, and courage. Those who challenge the status quo with empathy and clarity have taught me that leadership is a human-centered journey — one that requires both strength and vulnerability to create real change.
Five things you couldn’t live without?
My family and global community, moments of reflection in nature, the power of storytelling, continuous learning through books and conversations, and the drive to uplift others through purposeful work.
What are your favorite books?
Tao Te Ching by Laozi, The Art of War by Sun Tzu, The Chips Are Down by Jean-Paul Sartre, The Prophet by Khalil Gibran, Thus Spoke Zarathustra by Friedrich Nietzsche, Anderswo by Wolfgang Laib, The Diver (poem) by Friedrich Schiller, and selected writings by Albert Einstein. Also, Success Mindsets: How Top Entrepreneurs Succeed in Business and Life (Simon & Schuster, NY) — a bestselling book I co-authored.
What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
Change starts from within and cascades outward. Small, consistent improvements compounded over time lead to extraordinary breakthroughs. This principle guides my daily practice and mentoring philosophy — resilience is built one intentional step at a time.