Title: 1) International Conference Keynote Speaker, 2) Professor

Company: 1) Make it Happen, 2) Wilmington University

Location: Dover, Dele.

Initially, Dr. Sharon Yoder became involved in her profession because her father was a school superintendent and her mother was a teacher. They love what they did and she thought it would be fun, but at the university level. She found her niche in the power of fun and humor, and the difference it can make in our lives. There has been a lot of research that came from the west coast, showing how watching a funny movie before surgery can make a difference, so she has taken this information and research to help others. Now, Fortune 500 and 100 companies are hiring humor task forces. Dr. Yoder’s public speaking and classes are about how the power of fun and humor can release anxiety.

Dr. Yoder attributes her success to her parents, who wanted her to teach elementary school. She was very good at public speaking, so she decided to pursue that path. When she became a single mom of five, the youngest of which was two years old, she went back for her doctorate degree. Then a few years after, in 2013, she was named the Outstanding Mother of the Year from the state of Delaware. Dr. Yoder is an author for single mothers or just mothers in general with the ‘Single Parent Guide Book,’ a joyful journey to single parenting. She has also written articles for the Delaware state news and the CT paper in Brookfield Center.

Dr. Yoder also wants to find a way to help get books to Africa to help start a library there. She can get the books, but the problem is what it would cost to send them there, so she is looking for opportunities. In five years, Dr. Yoder intends to teach courses online about personalities in the workplace and train people in other countries.

As a woman in today’s world, Dr. Yoder believes getting out there in front of people and sharing what’s is working for her has been successful for her, speaking from her personal experience. She also believes having a positive outlook helps develop and overcome obstacles. Dr. Yoder’s advice to young female professionals is to go out and after what they believe in, make a passion happen for themselves, and know that excuses only hold back dreams.