Sharon Hurley
Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism activist, writer, and educator. Firmly committed to doing her part to eliminate racism, she is the Founder and Curator-in-Chief of Sharon’s Anti-Racism Newsletter. In this twice-weekly online publication, Sharon writes about existing while Black in majority-white spaces, and amplifies the voices of other anti-racism activists. She has written and ghostwritten articles for companies and non-profits looking to show up authentically with their DEIB and JEDI content. Sharon is also the Head of Anti-Racism for the Diverse Leaders Group.
What were your initial years of growing up like? Tell us about your life before starting your corporate journey/venture/initiative.
I was born in England and grew up in three different Caribbean countries. As an adult I returned to the UK and lived there for 15 years. During that time I worked as a journalist and journalism educator. Before becoming an anti-racism activist, I worked as a freelancer for 15+ years, primarily covering digital marketing. I don’t have specific role models, but I tend to admire Black women who are out there speaking their truth, and I’ve met plenty of those on LinkedIn.
Tell us something about your organization. What is it about and how is it helpful for people?
In Sharon’s Anti-Racism newsletter https://www.antiracismnewsletter.com/ my aim is to fight racism one article at a time, and to bring my global perspective to issues of equity. This is a must-read for those wanting information and tools to help in their anti-racism journeys. I also use the newsletter as a platform for promoting others through interviews and curated content.
Was there any turning point in your life that changed your journey? If so, what was it? Please tell us the backstory behind it.
I can think of two turning points in my anti-racism journey. The first came at the age of 22 after I’d lived in France for a year and experienced a lot of racism. I decided then that I wasn’t going to discriminate against others if I could help it. The second turning point was the murder of George Floyd. At that point I realised I was tired of racism, and wrote my first recent anti-racism article. It’s now been two years, and I haven’t run out of things to say.
While the global pandemic of COVID-19 is associated primarily with adversities, it has also brought about a true boom in startups, with successful entrepreneurship in many countries. The pandemic has impacted all of us in one way or another. Would you like to share your experience on a personal and professional level?
The pandemic has been hard, it’s true, though as an introvert, being at home wasn’t a struggle for me. Like many others, I saw an initial slowdown in freelance work. That gave me the space to start The Introvert Sisters podcast with my sister Lisa Hurley. After that, things picked up, and as I stepped into my purpose, more opportunities came my way. Though nobody would have chosen a pandemic, I am grateful for the clarity I got about what I should be doing with my gift of writing.
What has been the response of the consumers towards your venture?
The response has been great. What I love most is that people are taking my articles and using them as a starting point for discussions at home and in the workplace.
How has your life changed because of your venture?
The most significant change is that I have now brought all my work in alignment with my purpose. As well as the newsletter, I freelance as a DEI writer, and I am head of anti-racism at Diverse Leaders Group.
Would you like to share with our young budding women entrepreneurs the change you would like to see in the world if given an opportunity?
That’s simple: eliminate racism and create an equal world.
Give a motivational message for the audience/women who are reading this.
Don’t be afraid to start something new.