Sharon Emery

Mason, MI
Senior Consultant
Truscott Rossman

Briefly describe your daily job duties.
Having worked over 30 years in communications — as a journalist, university instructor and public relations professional — I have added a new career: book author, including extensive speaking engagements.

As a person who stutters, share the most challenging part of your job.
The book is my memoir, “It’s Hard Being You, A Primer on Being Happy Anyway,” so of course it details my battle to be a communicator who struggles to speak. Sharing that experience out loud was a challenging step I thought I’d never take. But I did … and people are receptive!

What are your long-term career aspirations?
Mentoring others who struggle to speak, and educating the fluent public about how they can overcome being “disabled listeners”.

Did you self-disclose your stuttering during the job hiring process?
I self-disclose in that I have a severe stutter, so listeners always know upfront that I am one unique speaker… I try to help them get over it.

What is your proudest moment at your current company?
I love helping Truscott Rossman clients “make every word count”.

Describe how stuttering makes you a better, more valued contributor at work.
When you’re a person who stutters, you don’t want to waste a single breath on unnecessary words. Here’s to clear, direct, impactful communication!

What’s your best advice for people who stutter just entering the workplace and for those in a career striving to achieve greater success?
Recognize your stutter as a key part of who you are. Own it, and then be brave enough to let yourself fill up an entire room.