Testimonials

“Sharon Kristjanson is an outstanding facilitator who effectively uses her rich and varied life experiences to lead participants through a well-designed training program. Sharon’s deep passion captures the attention of her audience; her knowledge makes her credible and keeps participants engaged. Sharon is not just a facilitator; she is a professional committed to making a difference in how people engage with one another.” 

— Patricia Efiom, Ph.D., minister and HR consultant

“What a remarkable workshop! Sharon addressed so many aspects of communication that opened me up to how I can improve and practice communicating on a personal and professional level. Not a workshop to miss! 5 stars!”

— Pam McHenry, health-care professional

“The Engaging with Difference® workshop was a fantastic opportunity to sharpen my communication and leadership skills with other leaders from around the country at a time when I needed it. I learned new strategies that I used immediately in my professional and personal life.”

— Dr. Timothy Dohrer, university professor and administrator in education

“Engaging with Difference® (EWD) deepened and broadened both my understanding and practices for effective communication. I consider myself an excellent communicator already, and this class showed me that there is always room to improve. Moreover, I learned that the key factor for this growth and mastery is self-awareness and self-regulation.

The concepts, skills, and practices taught in this class should be incorporated in general education starting in elementary school and onward through all manner of graduate studies. We humans create our world first and foremost through communication and relationship. EWD teaches the essential skills to make a positive difference in any realm.”

— Cathy Cheng, physician

“Sharon introduced concepts that will assist me in my life and in my work with clients. The class was small and allowed for in-depth conversations as we explored the many facets of personal leadership. Homework was meaningful and relevant. I greatly appreciated getting out of my comfort zone, as getting outside of the familiar is where so much growth occurs!”

— Catherine B., life coach

“Sharon’s passion is opening hearts and minds to possibilities, inclusive conversations and connecting disparate perspectives. She's good at it! And, she has developed a course that supports others to do the same and incorporate their own diverse and eclectic backgrounds to identify and manifest their personal leadership visions. It's cool! And it works well in the small intimate groups of motivated learners she attracts to her course. I highly recommend investing in this opportunity!”

— joAn Mann, university professor in international management

“The Engaging with Difference® class helped me bring some clarity to who I am and how I want to be in the world. I’ve walked away with communication tools and techniques that will enable me to build better bridges with those I agree with and those I do not. By adopting these practices, I will be a more effective leader in my professional and personal communities.”

— Mande Mischler, branding and marketing executive

“The Engaging with Difference® workshop is thought-provoking, instructive, and a potential path to helping each of us more successfully navigate and positively contribute to our world. Sharon is a great guide and teacher helping us get there!”

— Jennifer Hastings, retired financial manager

“My experience with Sharon’s EWD training has been very positive as it helped me to take self-awareness to a new level. Although the principles taught were for the most part within me, the course focused them and highlighted their importance. Sharon’s ability to engage discussion while guiding us in the process was quietly effective. I would highly recommend this training for everyone, including for those who believe that they are already ‘aware.’”

— Kevan Burbank, software engineer

“In these times of extreme polarization, when many people fear that the very fabric of society is imperiled and the future of democracy is itself in doubt, is there any more urgent need than to find ways to bridge the divide that separates us? Sharon Kristjanson’s workshop, Engaging with Difference®, is designed to develop personal leadership skills, without which the ability to navigate partisan or cultural differences in a constructive and collaborative way is not achievable. I was startled — and delighted — to learn so much about myself. I expect to use the tools that I learned for the rest of my life. In an ideal world, everyone should have the opportunity to take this workshop.”

— Madeline Turci, political organizer/retired investment banker

“It is uncomfortable to think about thinking. We would rather just be right. It is so much faster and easier to be right. But being right all the time leads to loneliness. Effective communication with others is a lot more satisfying. The Engaging with Difference® class challenged me to manage my brain power effectively through good communication habits. Thank you so much for your excellent and thoughtful program!”

— Anne Wieboldt, financial wellness counselor and money manager

“The highly skilled instructor, with her wealth of experience and resources, created a fun and interesting space as we all worked together in class and at home to intentionally expand our “handling of self” in choosing how to be fully present at our very best. Learning Personal Leadership provided a helpful framework for “leading myself” by enhancing skills of observation, inquiry, humility, and reflection for the purpose of inner connection. From this higher level of consciousness, interactions with others became less reactive/judgmental and more of a shared learning adventure in the various focal points of life. Thus, interactions became transformative.”

— Carolyn Kambich, Montessori educator

“Sharon embodies the communication and team-building skills she teaches. I thoroughly admire her ability to bring together her own diverse team to run SVK effectively as a lean and capable next-generation firm at the forefront of the gig economy.”

— Tony Mars, Mindovo founder

“I enjoyed developing a vision statement and applying it in a process we learned to reflect on my reactions to a situation or event, so that I have much more information to decide how I want to respond. Very valuable process!”

— Neva Egan, retired social worker

“Sharon is a skilled and thoughtful facilitator. She is passionate about changing our world one person at a time by creatively demonstrating that there are many points of view. It is worth our time and consideration to step back and hear what she has to say. Her examples and meaningful reflections inspired me to pause and open my mind willingly.” 

— Mair Hill, owner, sales consultancy

“I was somewhat familiar with the concepts of the listening, pausing, and differentiating fact, interpretation, and judgment, but this class helped me with the techniques and practice required to actually put them into my life.” 

— Linda Hopkins, retired

“In this class I have learned (been reminded) to hold and always, always see the dignity of others as number one; to listen first, and if too much, raise my own hand — but always, always hold another’s dignity; encourage them to tell me more; to know my value/vision statement while keeping an open mind. Also, that trust and relationships are very important.” 

— Deb Guy, executive director, nonprofit organization

“What a wonderful speaker, teacher, wise resource, and friend Sharon has become to all of us! Our class was very communicative, and I think we will all miss the class and the open-minded people that I was fortunate enough to share this time with.” 

— Pam Lander

“I’ve attended several sessions led by Sharon, and each has provided strong value. Most recent was a session that included developing a personal leadership statement. I was shocked at how effective and efficient the process was! I should have been less surprised — through her personal connection to the cause, passionate exploration of resources, and earnest delivery of all that she has learned and synthesized, Sharon truly is in the vanguard of the bridge-building form of civic activism.” 

— Ian Carswell, real-estate investor

“This course is essential for anyone who interacts with other people! Personal Leadership is a complex problem-solving method with an accessible approach of being true to yourself.” 

— Betsy Covell, leader in international telecommunications industry