Sharlene Hawkes

Featured Topics

How to Become a Professional Communicator
The Ten Do's and Don'ts of Talking to Reporters
Getting Comfortable Outside Your Comfort Zone
Putting It All Together
From Stage Fright to Stage Presence
Are You Projecting a Professional Image?

As Miss America 1985 and as one of the first female, on-air, ESPN reporters, Sharlene Hawkes had to move well beyond her comfort zone. Now Sharlene shares what she's learned as she teaches people how to challenge their comfort-zone boundaries and reach for success.

Her intriguing background, coupled with her charismatic stage presence, sets Sharlene apart immediately as a keynote presenter who's original, audience-specific, credible, and entertaining.

Born in Asunción, Paraguay, Sharlene (Wells) Hawkes spent twelve years in South America, including high school years in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The only foreign-born Miss America, Sharlene traveled nearly 250,000 miles during her year's reign and often used her fluent Spanish to communicate.

Sharlene then returned to Brigham Young University where she graduated magna cum laude and received the Earl J. Glade Award for Outstanding Senior in Broadcasting and the Silver Microphone Award for highest GPA in the Communications Department. Sharlene earned a Master's degree in Integrated Marketing Communication from the University of Utah.

At ESPN, Sharlene covered such world-class events as World Cup Soccer, World Cup Skiing, the Kentucky Derby, America's Cup, World Alpine Championships, the French Open, and College Football. Her work at ESPN has earned her national recognition, including an Emmy® nomination and the Women's Sports Journalism Award.

Sharlene is currently Executive Vice President of StoryRock, Inc., a market-leading software company based in Salt Lake City. She serves on the Best of State and the BYU Women's Athletic advisory boards, the University of Utah Music Circle Board, "Children First Utah" Scholarship Program Board. Sharlene and her husband Bob have four children and live in Utah, where they enjoy horseback riding, camping, mountain biking, and skiing.

Fee: Please contact FranklinCovey for information regarding pricing

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