Let’s Get to the Heart of It: A Conversation with Executive Partner Sharon Wood-Dunn
Sharon Wood-Dunn is a 14-year veteran of the Executive Partner Program at the Raymond A. Mason School of Business. For nearly a decade and a half, she has mentored students in the full-time MBA program as an executive coach, providing expertise and insight into the dos and don’ts of corporate America.
Wood-Dunn came to the Executive Partner Program with over 25 years of experience in corporate culture, labor relations, diversity & inclusion, ethics, and business conduct. She left a successful corporate career in human resources to pursue work in consulting. She is now the Principle of S. Wood Wilson Associates, a firm dedicated to designing and customizing human resources trainings and workshops for Fortune 500 clients. But her work with graduate business students at the Mason School remains a highlight of her career.
“It is the best voluntary position I have ever had,” she said. “I absolutely love working with the future of our society and hopefully influencing them in a positive way. It’s a symbiotic relationship because I learn just as much from them as I think they do from me.”
Getting to the Heart of Corporate America
Wood-Dunn’s life motto “Let’s get to the heart of it,” comes from her father, who she describes as a true gentleman.
“My dad always used to say, ‘Sharon, you’re dancing around the issues, just get to the heart of it. Tell me what you’re trying to say and don’t sugarcoat it’,” she explained.
It’s a philosophy that she’s applied to her life in many ways as she’s navigated her way through a rewarding career mentoring and advising others.
Wood-Dunn earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in business and communications from Hunter College in New York. She worked up the corporate ladder, establishing herself as an accomplished Human Resources professional including a pivotal role as a Staff Director with AT&T/NYNEX/Verizon Communications, Inc.
“I’m African American and when I started my career, I was in most cases, especially in the management ranks, the only African American, the only woman or both.” she said.
This awareness prompted Wood-Dunn to pursue a certification as a paralegal and professional certification from Cornell University’s School of Industrial & Labor Relations, which she leveraged to serve as an expert on Title VII and Title IX laws in the workplace.
As a result, she built her reputation as a skilled communicator, leader, and facilitator and has influenced, empowered, and coached organizations and individuals in the areas of organizational effectiveness, change management, and professional growth. She says the consulting work she does now has given her a broad opportunity to meet people on all different levels both domestically and internationally which has increased her cultural awareness and ability to provide sound advice.
“I pick up that motto from my dad whenever I work with clients because I want them to see my heart,” she explained. “I want them to be able to trust me so that when we have difficult conversations, they feel comfortable sharing with me and know that I’m going to come from a place where I care and want to be helpful.”
Feedback as a Gift
With many years of corporate experience behind her, Wood-Dunn and her husband John looked to relocate from Connecticut following John’s retirement. They were prompted to consider Williamsburg, Virginia after a client and mentor to Wood-Dunn recommended it.
“My husband was looking for a place where he could play golf more often,” she explained. “And my dear friend kept telling me that he had a job for me when I settled in to Williamsburg if I wanted it. So, Williamsburg became very interesting to us.”
Wood-Dunn’s mentor called her once they moved and explained that William & Mary wanted to interview her. Wood-Dunn had done some prior consulting work for Fairfield University in Connecticut so she was familiar with higher education and excited at the opportunity to work with an academic institution of William & Mary’s caliber.
“The truth is, I was tricked. As I went through the interview I said to myself, this is a little different,” she laughed. “I didn’t care if the job was paid or not, I liked what I was hearing about the Executive Partner Program and knew if they accepted me, I would be on board. The rest is history.”
As an Executive Partner, Wood-Dunn shares her experiences navigating complex challenges involving topics that range from work-life balance to values and ethics.
“I talk a lot about mentorship and the importance of seeking feedback. I try to help students understand what a corporation’s mission and values are and how do those actualize in real time. I also receive a lot of questions from students on how I balanced work with family because for much of my career, I was raising two sons with my husband who was also a successful executive.” she said. “Ultimately, I’ve always felt that feedback is a gift and when somebody cares enough to tell you how you can accomplish similar goals or navigate the same situations, it can bring tremendous value to that person.”
Bringing Truth to the Business School
In addition to her work at the Mason School, Wood-Dunn is involved with the Let Freedom Ring Foundation’s Education & Scholarship Task Force, designed to advance the knowledge of African American History and its’ place in the world. She has fond memories of her service with Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Greater Virginia Peninsula, including two terms served on their board of directors. She is currently the Personnel Ministry Chair of the Historic First Baptist Church in Williamsburg. A dedicated wife and mother, and is the proud grandmother to three grandchildren, the youngest of whom was born this past June.
But a more recent passion of hers is volunteering time as a member of the Mason School’s Diversity & Inclusion Committee, specifically on the Leadership and Development subcommittee, where she hopes to have an impact on how these topics reach the highest echelons of the university.
“It’s my belief that diversity and inclusion starts at the top,” she explained. “When leadership makes a decision, people watch. They look at how leaders interact with others so if leaders get it right in terms of awareness, their ability to be equitable and fair, and understanding what are the diversity issues affecting the university and the community, they will be more competent in their roles.”
Wood-Dunn is working with students, faculty, staff, administrators, and other executive partners to develop training and professional development opportunities which will touch upon the different dimensions of diversity. She’s using her extensive collection of past workshops to help customize that experience and tailor it specifically to the issues identified at the Mason School.
“The value that an organization like this brings to the business school is truth. We have to look at exactly how things are and not sugarcoat the truth, respectfully of course,” she said. “There is nothing new about these concepts of diversity and inclusion. They are very common human rights and equity in terms of justice and understanding. We need to acknowledge and implement them, and be able to see them in our daily walk in our respective positions, and we need to understand what it takes to make someone feel safe, valued, and engaged in what they’re doing when it comes to their activities at the Mason School.”
