Kind Words

I have had the privilege and pleasure of serving alongside Sharon on the board of the Winnipeg Philharmonic Choir since 2012. During my time as president, she provided thoughtful, wise counsel and unwavering support, along with a healthy dose of gentle humour.

But it was during her term as president where I came to understand the meaning of ‘grace’. Very early in her first year she had to steer the organization through the turbulent and uncharted waters of the Covid-19 pandemic. Her calm, clear-headed and compassionate approach helped us achieve equilibrium, and her inspired leadership ensured that we not only survived but thrived.

Sharon brings out the best in everyone, and works to maximize the full potential of any group, large or small.

Joan Stephens
Arts & Not-for-Profit Marketing Consultant

Sharon has guided me through the most trying times of my young career; she helped me articulate my core values and continues to equip me with the tools to confidently navigate difficult work situations.

When I came to a junction point in my career, Sharon challenged me to reframe my thinking from ‘I should be’ to ‘I now can.’ Like all the best coaches, she guided me to the critical questions that I continue to ask myself when making big decisions. Together, we were able to create a recipe that I now follow to achieve a balanced life where the work I do is fulfilling and self-sustaining.

Sharon is one of few people who I can confide in with the most intimate details of my life. She is a trustworthy source of knowledge in change management, professional development and learning.

I’m grateful to have found a coach like Sharon whose services are made personal with compassion and – when needed – a good sense of humour!

Brianne Zelinsky,
Non-Profit Communications Specialist

Sharon is skilled in creating open, supportive, and constructive spaces that allow for effective collaboration, problem solving and creativity. Her ability to be responsive to team dynamics, find common ground and translate information makes big conversations accessible.

As a coach, I found that Sharon was very supportive and let me be in the ‘driver’s seat’ while using her skills to guide me – and challenge me – toward goals that I was able to set for myself. She was also able to help me articulate and reframe some of my challenges which allowed me to see things with a different perspective. Overall, I’ve had consistently great experiences working with Sharon and would highly recommend her for both individual and group work.

Alexis Hell
Associate Consultant for Housing and Homelessness

As a facilitator in the 5 Behaviours of Effective Teams, I watched Sharon engage with a dysfunctional workplace team, taking an anthropological interest in who team members were and how they would interact. It was clear she simultaneously saw the best in us while also attuning herself to the possibilities for our shared development.

Sharon gave the team an accessible language for our challenges which bridged the gaps in our experience and understanding so that we could find common, constructive ground from which to take new risks and effect real change. Even after our time together,

Sharon remained interested and invested in the outcomes she had helped spark that day. Sharon’s facilitation is inclusive, focused, curious, and flexible, at once sweeping in her systems thinking and attentive to the crucial details.

Dr Amy Fisher

Sharon Jones-Ryan is a strategist who uses analytic skills to evaluate organizational operations. She’s a systems thinker, excels at problem solving, decision making and developing realistic action plans. Sharon’s passion for developing young leaders is evident in her relational approach. Sharon is also a skilled facilitator and coach.

Dr. Brian Armstrong