Sharon Vosmek

Business adviser, Connector, Entrepreneur, Idea generator, World traveler

I am not the founder of Astia, but I am a bit of a start-up CEO there and I certainly have entrepreneurial leanings. I became CEO of Astia in 2007, previously serving as COO since 2004. I have an unwavering passion and a uniquely well-suited background to drive forward our organization’s mission of propelling women’s full participation as entrepreneurs and leaders in high-growth businesses, fueling innovation and driving economic. Under my leadership - and in partnership with an incredible leadership team - the Astia community of investors, entrepreneurs, and industry leaders has grown ten-fold and now spans North America, Europe and India. Previously, I founded SJ Vosmek & Associates (OD consulting to large corporations and Universities) and held management positions at American Express and in the office of U.S. Senator Dennis DeConcini. I like to innovate relationships and collaborative efforts. I currently serves as founder and lead of the We Own It Collaboration, an effort of over 70 organizations globally committed to exploring women’s participation in high growth businesses and identifying solutions to move us forward - and out of business within the decade! I like to contribute to the causes of others, so I serve on the Steering Committee for the Cherie Blair Foundation, the Stevenage Bioscience Catalyst Experts Advisor Group, Illuminate Ventures Advisory Board, and the City of San Francisco Mayor’s Commission on Biotech (MayBAC). Don't hold it against me, but I love economics. I have my master’s in public policy and administration from the University of Wisconsin, Madison and a bachelor’s in political science from Arizona State University.

I am CEO of my social experiment - Astia. Astia is a community of men and women committed to the success of women-led high growth companies. How is it my social experiment? Astia as a community is 50% men and 50% women. It is through this very intentionally constructed network of qualified individuals, that women - who are at the ready - are able to participate in a spectrum of the economy that prior to this point they have not (women account for fewer than 10% of the high-growth start-ups). This in spite of the fact that we are 50% of the PhDs, 50% of the MDs, 50% of the college graduates, nearly 50% of the MBAs. We are a talent pool at the ready, but for the access to networks (think capital, opportunity, expertise, relationships). My social experiment at Astia is to create the ideal network - so that I can go out of business within the decade! If this sounds interesting to you, I would rather tell you how I do it and let you go do it, too, than build a legacy organization in Astia.

Collaborating Guru, Community & Economic Development, Entrepeneurship, Entrepeneurship Development and Enablement, World Affairs

We all need our champions in this world. David Rose is mine and he is why I am finally here in person and not watching you all on the web!.

Cooking! I am a super taster, and I love to create events out of my need for nourishment.