That simple belief has shaped my career as a corporate executive, university professor and administrator, workforce development leader, mentor, author, and consultant.

Today, I advise organizations and leaders on mentoring, workforce development, talent development, and leadership development. I particularly enjoy helping organizations build effective mentoring programs—both in the workplace and in higher education—and develop practical strategies for attracting, developing, and retaining talent.

Most recently, I served as a professor and Founding Director of the Office of Workforce Development at the University of West Florida. There, I created UWF Talent Catalyst, connecting students with regional employers through paid work experiences, mentoring, and professional development. I also founded UWF’s Executive Mentor Program and Women in Leadership Conference.

I’m the coauthor, with Bert Thornton, of "High-Impact Mentoring: A Practical Guide to Creating Value in Other People’s Lives." The book reflects my belief that mentoring can be more than an informal relationship—it can be a powerful strategy for developing people, strengthening organizations, and creating opportunities for others to succeed.

Through Hartnett Group, LLC, I work selectively with companies, universities, and leaders on mentoring, talent, workforce, and leadership development.

My perspective comes from both sides of the table. Before higher education, I spent more than 20 years in corporate leadership, including serving as a Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer for a regional healthcare system.

I bring that combination of real-world corporate experience, higher education expertise, and a genuine passion for developing people to my work today.

I’m especially interested in helping organizations answer questions like:

• How do we build a mentoring program that actually works?
• How can we connect education more effectively with employer talent needs?
• How do we develop the next generation of leaders?
• How can we attract, develop, and retain talented people?

After a career spent developing organizations and people, I’m enjoying sharing what I’ve learned, helping others grow, and continuing to invest in people. Because, at the end of the day, some of the most meaningful work we do as leaders is helping other people grow.

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Connect with Sherry: LinkedIn.com/in/sherryhartnett

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