Sheri West
Founder & CEO of LiveGirl; Author of Confidence Unleashed: 10 Kick-Ass Strategies To Grow As A Leader (Without Changing Who You Are)
I am on a mission to uplift girls and young women and help close the female leadership gap. A decade ago, I founded LiveGirl to pay it forward to the next generation of diverse female leaders. Since then, we have served over 19,000 girls through free leadership development, mentorship, career readiness, and advocacy programs. It’s inspiring to see girls who joined us in middle school now graduate from our college-aged SHE WORKS program and launch into the workforce.
Lead with empathy, joy, and purpose–always.
We all need a personal board of directors—a support system—and sponsors play a crucial role in that network. Early in my corporate career, I recognized that career progression wouldn’t happen on its own; I needed sponsors who saw my potential and advocated for me. My biggest leaps, and the most significant periods of my growth, were made possible through sponsorship. For example, I wouldn’t have made my biggest career leap at GE—from the entry-level leadership development program to the elite Audit Staff—without a sponsor. My senior manager recommended that I apply, and then called the hiring manager and urged him to hire me. This support set a new trajectory for my career.
In my work, parity means ensuring that ALL girls have access to leadership development, mentorship, and career readiness on par with peers, equipping them to thrive in roles where they’re often underrepresented. Parity emphasizes closing gaps in access and support, and advocating for equal footing for all young women to lead confidently.
As I write this, I am still processing the results of the US election. We face heavy headwinds to parity. However, progress is about collective action, and so, we must continue to join together (at Paradigm for Parity and LiveGirl) to dismantle barriers, confront injustice, and advance bold, lasting solutions. This mission transcends any single moment or leader. At LiveGirl, our commitment to building an equal and inclusive future is unwavering.
Inclusive, impactful, empathetic
I wish people understood that DEI and gender parity efforts aren’t just about fairness—they’re about unlocking everyone’s potential. Through my work with LiveGirl, I’ve seen how lifting up girls and young women, especially those who have been historically marginalized, can transform lives and communities. When we focus on inclusivity, we create spaces where all voices can thrive without compromising who they are. This means acknowledging and dismantling barriers that hold back historically marginalized groups, and building environments that celebrate diverse strengths. True parity doesn’t ask anyone to change; it aims to empower everyone to lead authentically and confidently.
My website: sheriwestleadership.com
My newsletter: Subscribe on LinkedIn
My book: sheriwestleadership.com/book
LiveGirl’s website: golivegirl.org
Sheri West is a former Fortune 500 management executive turned social entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of women’s leadership organization LiveGirl. She is a career-readiness expert, podcast host, and champion for equity and inclusion, with over 25 years of corporate and leadership development experience. West founded LiveGirl in 2014 to pay it forward to the next generation of diverse female leaders—and has served over 19,000 girls to date through its free-of-charge leadership development, mentorship, career readiness, and advocacy programs.
West is the author of Confidence Unleashed: 10 Kick-Ass Strategies To Grow As A Leader (Without Changing Who You Are). This guided workbook—inspired by a decade of mentoring young women—is the ultimate roadmap to unleashing your leadership potential and building an authentic, fulfilling career.
West regularly speaks on women’s leadership and career readiness, co-hosts the award-winning Confident podcast with her college daughter, and publishes the popular LinkedIn newsletter, Confidence Unleashed. She serves on various boards and loudly advocates for policies and practices that open doors for women and girls. In 2024, she was named one of the 100 Women To Know in America.
Find out more at SheriWestLeadership.com
