MEET ONE OF THE 2025 LEADERSHIP TRAILBLAZER TOP TEN FINALISTS: Sharon Landers

Today’s Trailblazer: Sharon Landers

The League caught up with Trailblazer Finalist, Sharon Landers, to talk about being named a Leadership Trailblazer and having a career in public service:

Q: What does it mean to you to be nominated?

It has meant so much to me over the years to see women I have mentored or coached exceed their own expectations. This nomination gives me standing to encourage more executives to take time out of their busy lives to also be mentors and coaches.

Q: Who were your mentor(s) or advocate(s) in your career?

I have been fortunate throughout my career to always have had people encouraging me. My parents, sisters and close friends were the first, building my confidence and supporting my goals. And in every one of my jobs, there was a supervisor and/or a peer who encouraged me to work hard, to build strong teams, and to find ways to promote my own good work along with recognizing the work of my colleagues. When I joined the Board of Women Leading Government (WLG) years ago (I have since stepped down to make room for the next generation), I found other women who, like myself, were strong leaders who were willing to be each other’s cheerleaders and who were equally committed to building programs to expose younger women (and men) to the skills they would need as they advanced in their careers.

Q: What is the most important lesson you learned while progressing throughout your career?

A key lesson was that working for someone who supports your skill development and career growth matters more than compensation.

Q: What advice do you have for women just beginning their careers who would like to be an executive in local government someday?

Sadly, women are still at a disadvantage when competing for advancement. I found that having a law degree distinguished me. I suggest that women beginning their careers consider getting an MPA, an MBA, or a doctorate, or seek out some other unique experience that can make them stand out while also strengthening their credentials.

Q: What do you hope to leave as your legacy in local government when your career comes to an end?

An easy question to answer – my legacy I want is to be able to look across the profession and see all the women I coached or mentored having reached an executive level position, excelling at it while also having a healthy, fulfilling life outside of work.