SUPERPOWER: Always asking God for guidance
President, Sharon Lord Associates and Former U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
Sharon Burmeister Lord has lived a trailblazing life. Growing up on the West Virginia–Kentucky border, descended from coal miners, she has achieved more in one lifetime than many could in several. She was her high school’s first female student government president while being valedictorian, one of the first female professors at the University of Tennessee, and eventually the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense with the rank of a 3-star general under President Reagan, to name just a few of the remarkable accomplishments that have dotted her path.
Looking back on her decades of success, Lord is reflective, taking stock of all that has helped her and eager to offer some words of advice to others. She encourages people of all ages to hold onto their visions and dreams for what they want their lives to be and to continue chasing things that bring them happiness and fulfillment. “It’s really important to hold onto your joy,” she says. “Your joy comes from passion, and if you don’t lose the visions and dreams that give you passion in life, then you keep your joy, even though life can get really, really hard.”
Lord finds her inspiration in spending time in nature. She emphasizes the power of individuals celebrating others’ achievements—something her mother and aunt taught her to value. And importantly, throughout all the twists and turns her career has taken, she has learned to be resilient and believe that difficult things can be achieved despite skepticism one might encounter. “Often, when you’ve got a really creative idea, people will say, ‘That can’t be done, that’s never been done before,’” she says. “And I just tell them what I’ve learned: It’s OK to try and fail. That’s how you learn to succeed. Just be brave enough to be the first to try, and eventually you will succeed.”
CHECK OUT OUR OTHER 2025 WEST VIRGINIA WONDER WOMEN
Learn more about our Wonder Women
Since 2014 WV Living magazine has been honoring West Virginia Wonder Women, amazing women who are raising the bar in their communities, serving as beacons of light in their industries, and forcing change for the greater good. WV Living is proud to celebrate these Appalachian mothers, millennials, and mavens proving that in a time full of uncertainty, divisiveness, and hate, love for one another is all we really need. No need for bulletproof bracelets or a golden lasso of truth—these women are creating a better West Virginia with their can-do attitudes and Mountain State spirit.
Leave a Reply