Episode Summary:
Episode Summary:
What started as a funny “same name” connection turned into a powerful conversation you won’t want to miss.
In this episode, I sit down with Sharon Lee Thony, founder and CEO of SLTC, to talk about her journey from corporate advertising to building a thriving digital marketing agency. We dive into the real moments behind the success—taking risks, navigating motherhood while earning her MBA, and learning to trust herself before everything felt “figured out.”
This conversation is honest, relatable, and full of perspective for any woman navigating career growth, big decisions, or the pull toward entrepreneurship.
Insights from this episode:
- • Career paths don’t have to be linear to lead to meaningful success
- • Taking calculated risks can open doors that overplanning never will
- • Confidence is often built through action, not before it
- • Balancing career growth and personal life requires intentional choices, not perfection
- • Leadership evolves through experience, not just titles or credentials
- • Entrepreneurship often starts with recognizing when something no longer fits
- • Trusting your instincts can be a powerful driver in major life and career decisions
Quotes from the show:
- “Confidence doesn’t come first — it’s built by doing the thing you’re unsure about.” — Sharon Lee Thony, InPowered Women Podcast
- “You don’t have to have it all figured out to take the next step.” — Sharon Lee Thony, InPowered Women Podcast
- “Some of the best opportunities come when you’re willing to take a risk before you feel fully ready.” — Sharon Lee Thony, InPowered Women Podcast
- “Your path isn’t supposed to look like everyone else’s — that’s where the magic happens.” — Sharon Lee Thony, InPowered Women Podcast
- “Growth happens when you trust yourself enough to make the move.” — Sharon Lee Thony, InPowered Women Podcast
Sharon Lee
Sharon Lee is an accomplished entrepreneur and marketing expert dedicated to empowering female leaders. With a diverse background in sales and marketing across industries like advertising, magazine publishing, and solar energy, Sharon’s journey showcases her versatility and determination. As the principal of Pinnacle Strategic Advisors, she assists businesses in enhancing their marketing strategies. Sharon’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to establish her own consulting firm, reflecting her commitment to excellence. Alongside her professional pursuits, Sharon co-founded the InPowered Women’s networking group, fostering mentorship and support for women in business. Through the InPowered Women Podcast, Sharon will share stories of resilient female leaders with listeners encouraging them to pursue their aspirations fearlessly.
Sharon Lee Thony
I am passionate about building great brands, telling stories, creating new ways of doing business, inspiring consumers with big ideas, leveraging new technologies, media, partnerships and platforms: digital, analog and everything in-between. I love exploring new ways to achieve this, with methods that are data-driven, idea-centric and buzzword-agnostic. I believe that it’s a marketer’s job to connect the dots between where we are now and where we want to be. Nothing is impossible. The best work elicits goosebumps and tears; heartstrings are often a good predictor of bottom lines. Brands are replaceable, but Lovemarks are forever. I’ve worked for big companies and small ones. I have founded my own startup(s), built an agency that a public company acquired, co-hosted a podcast, and published a book. I moonlight as an instructor so that I can continue learning by teaching. I have cut my teeth across multiple industries, always on the front lines of innovation. I love connecting with others and will lend my support wherever I can. I’ve been fortunate enough to have many mentors, guides and supporters on my professional journey. I am constantly inspired and humbled by those around me. If you ask, I will always try my best to say yes.
Episode Transcript:
Sharon Lee:
Hello, and welcome to the InPowered Women Podcast. I’m Sharon Lee with Pinnacle Strategic Advisors, and I am so excited about today’s guest.
Before we get started, I’d like to thank our sponsor. This episode is proudly supported by Heidi Moore and the team at Skier’s Marine. For years, Skier’s Marine has helped families enjoy life on the water with incredible boats and a team that truly loves the boating community. Heidi, thank you for supporting the InPowered Women podcast and the women who lead and inspire.
Be sure to check them out at the Lake Lanier Boat Show at Margaritaville, April 24th through 26th.
And with that… I bring you Sharon Lee Thony. Hey, how are you?
Sharon Lee Thony:
Hi Sharon Lee, it’s good to be here with you.
Sharon Lee:
It is so funny about the whole name thing, so I feel like we’ve got to start there.
Sharon Lee Thony:
We have to start there.
Sharon Lee:
So I’m taking a continuing education class through the University of Georgia, and during one of our first Zoom meetings, I saw your name pop up. I immediately thought, I have to know this person.
I messaged you with absolutely no agenda and said, “We share a name, we need to meet.” We planned for 30 minutes and ended up talking for about an hour and a half.
Sharon Lee Thony:
I think it was closer to two hours. We definitely went way over.
Sharon Lee:
But you know what? Some people are just your people.
Sharon Lee Thony:
Or people with your same name.
I was Sharon Lee for most of my life. Thony is my married name, so for over 30 years, I was literally Sharon Lee.
When I first saw your message, I had this moment of thinking, “Am I messaging myself?” Even in class, I’d look for my name and think, “Is that me or someone else?”
And what’s funny is, while we share the same name, we couldn’t look more different. I’ve met other Sharon Lees with a Chinese background, so it’s wild to have a friend named Sharon Lee with blonde hair from a completely different background. We’re basically soul twins.
Sharon Lee:
I love that. Soul twins. That explains the two-hour conversation.
Sharon Lee Thony:
Exactly.
Sharon Lee:
So give us a high-level overview of who you are and what you do professionally.
Sharon Lee Thony:
I do a lot of things. One of them is teaching digital marketing, which is how we met.
My primary role is Founder and CEO of a digital marketing agency called SLTC, which originally stood for Sharon Lee Thony Consulting. We’re based in New York, about 30 people strong, and we work with 25 to 30 clients, primarily e-commerce brands in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle.
We handle everything from websites to branding to social media to performance marketing across platforms like Google and Facebook. If it’s digital, we help brands grow through it.
Sharon Lee:
We really are aligned.
Sharon Lee Thony:
We really are.
Sharon Lee:
So let’s go back a bit. How did you get here? Because I’m sure it wasn’t a straight line.
Sharon Lee Thony:
Definitely not a straight line. I actually started in a very different place.
I studied marketing and then went into corporate roles early on. But pretty quickly, I realized I wanted more ownership, more creativity, and more control over the work I was doing.
So I started consulting, which eventually turned into building my agency. Like many entrepreneurs, it started small, figuring things out as I went, and then grew into something much bigger.
Sharon Lee:
I think that’s something so many women can relate to. You start somewhere, but you don’t stay there.
Sharon Lee Thony:
Exactly. And I think the biggest thing is being willing to pivot. Not everything works the first time, and that’s okay.
Sharon Lee:
Let’s talk about that a little more. Because I think people see successful business owners and assume it’s always been that way.
Sharon Lee Thony:
Oh, absolutely not. There are so many moments of doubt, trial and error, and figuring things out behind the scenes.
I think one of the biggest lessons is learning to trust yourself. You don’t always have the perfect plan, but you take the next step anyway.
Sharon Lee:
That’s such a good point. Taking the next step versus needing to see the entire path.
Sharon Lee Thony:
Yes. If you wait until everything is perfect, you’ll never move forward.
Sharon Lee:
So true. And I think that ties into confidence as well.
Sharon Lee Thony:
It does. Confidence isn’t something you start with. It’s something you build over time through action.
Sharon Lee:
Let’s shift a bit into what you’re seeing in marketing right now.
Sharon Lee Thony:
Marketing is constantly evolving, but one thing that hasn’t changed is the importance of connection.
You can have all the tools, all the platforms, all the strategies—but if you’re not connecting with your audience, it won’t work.
Sharon Lee:
Yes. And I think that’s something people forget when they get caught up in tactics.
Sharon Lee Thony:
Exactly. Tools should support your strategy, not replace it.
Sharon Lee:
So for someone listening who is either building a business or growing in leadership, what advice would you give them?
Sharon Lee Thony:
I would say don’t underestimate your story.
There is someone out there who needs to hear what you’ve been through, what you’ve learned, and how you got to where you are.
And also—don’t wait until you feel “ready.” You become ready by doing.
Sharon Lee:
That is so good.
Sharon Lee Thony:
And give yourself permission to grow. You don’t have to have it all figured out.
Sharon Lee:
I love that. Well, this has been so much fun. I knew it would be, but this exceeded expectations.
Sharon Lee Thony:
Same. This was such a great conversation.
Sharon Lee:
If someone wants to connect with you, how can they find you?
Sharon Lee Thony:
You can find me on LinkedIn under Sharon Lee Thony, or visit our website to learn more about what we do.
Sharon Lee:
Perfect. Well, thank you so much for being here.
Sharon Lee Thony:
Thank you for having me.
Sharon Lee:
And thank you to everyone listening. We’ll see you next time on the InPowered Women Podcast.
Thank you for listening to InPowered Women. If you like what you heard, please give us a five-star review and subscribe to the show wherever you listen to your podcast and share with those you think can benefit from this information. Please email all questions, suggestions, and compliments to sharon@pinnaclestrategicadvisors.net. The InPowered Women podcast is produced by the podcast production company and executive produced by Sharon Lee.
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