To have hope means to have a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. In this series, we are highlighting women who possessed hope and trust that the desires of their hearts would happen.

Dr. Sharon H. Porter (Dr. Sharon), educator, author, publisher, and host, is the President of SHP Enterprise, the umbrella entity of Perfect Time SHP LLC, Book Publishing Firm and SHP Media
and Broadcasting, and Vision & Purpose LifeStyle Magazine and Media, LLC. She is the Executive Director and Founder of The Next In Line to Lead Aspiring Principal Leadership Academy (APLA), where she trains, mentors, and coaches assistant principals from across the U.S. who desire to take the helm as principal.

Dr. Sharon is owner and Editor-In-Chief of Vision & Purpose LifeStyle Magazine and Media and is the host of The I Am Dr. Sharon Show. She is a founding partner and Vice-President of Media and Communications for WNM Ventures LLC. She also currently serves as an elementary school principal in Maryland.

Dr. Sharon is a graduate of Howard University, Walden University, Johns Hopkins University,
National-Louis University, and Winston-Salem State University. She is a part of the 2019 Harvard
University School of Education Women in Leadership Cohort.

She is a member of the Forbes Coaches Council, International Association of Women (IAW),
American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), Professional Women of Winston-Salem
(PWWS), and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She serves on the Board of Advisors for The
Women of Prince George’s and Envision, Lead, Grow (ELG), Inc, and is a part of the Executive
Team of Black Women Education Leaders (BWEL), Inc., serving as National Secretary.

What Inspired your start in entrepreneurship?

I actually was inspired to start a business while I was working in network marketing. I was a vendor at a women’s empowerment conference in Washington, DC, and was simply overwhelmed with the number of women that were present and owned their own businesses. I vowed to myself that I would return to that same conference the following year but as a business owner. I did just that! In my first business, I was a leadership coach and consultant.  

What obstacles have you had to overcome to get where you are today?

I am a proponent of collaboration, but as an experienced entrepreneur, I now know that you truly have to be selective in who you choose to collaborate and partner with. I have worked in business with two individuals at separate times who proved to be not trustworthy. I have had to go through having my ideas and work basically stolen from two individuals. It has been a hard lesson to learn, but I now don’t do any work with anyone without a business agreement. I also now make sure I trademark anything that I do not want to be duplicated.

What message of hope do you have for upcoming entrepreneurs?

My message to aspiring entrepreneurs is to focus on creating opportunities. Fully embrace creativity and innovation. Entrepreneurship is hard, but keep going, don’t quit!

What are your top 3 go-to songs for motivation to keep going after your goals? 

1. You Will Win-Jekalyn Carr

2. I’m Getting Ready – Tasha Cobbs Leonard

3. Won’t He Do It – Koryn Hawthorne

What is your definition of a pretty woman who hustles?

A pretty woman who hustles is a woman who is about her business…Mind, Body, and Soul



Social Media Handles @iamdrsharon (Twitter & Instagram) @vandpmagazine (Twitter) 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonhargroporter/

Website:https://linktr.ee/sharonhporter