Founder
Sharon Whiteley is a serial entrepreneur, inventor, manufacturer, author, and speaker with a talent for recognizing emerging consumer trends and a proven track record engaging people on an actionable level. She is the Founder and CEO of TRU47, a lifestyle wellness company harnessing the many and scientifically proven benefits of Silver. All product creations are original, safe, toxic-free and have anti-microbial properties that support people’s well-being. The company recently introduced a new line of silver imbued Wellness Wearables that protect wearers from EMF/RFs and expanding WI-FI waves in addition to new grounding products, all made with silver.
A pioneer in grounding footwear, Sharon earlier was founder & CEO of Listen Brands, with the launch a leading-edge shoe company, called pluggz. After flourishing for a decade, the company was acquired leading to the evolution of expanded line of robust outdoor shoes and the creation of a company she co-founded, Harmony783. Sharon was CEO for three years after which time she successfully exited.
Throughout her careers, Sharon aligned her business interests with her personal values -- nurturing human potential and promoting positivity. That was the mission of ThirdAge, an online health & wellness content site focused on active mid-lifers where she was CEO. Long before neuroimaging would confirm it, Sharon recognized the power words have on one’s physiology which inspired her to create Peacock Papers, leaders in typographically designed “positive message” products including celebrating aging. Peacock acquired one of its competitors after 12 years and the resulting merger created Contempo Colours where Sharon was President and Chief Creative Officer. The expanded enterprise grew to $50 million and was subsequently acquired by the publicly held American Greetings.
Earlier, Sharon spent 12 years in the specialty retail shopping center development industry where she was regarded a trail blazer and merchandising innovator. She was principally involved in the development of numerous major specialty and urban retail shopping centers. Among the most notable was her creation of the transitory merchandising Pushcart concept in Boston’s famed Faneuil Hall Marketplace, now a staple in shopping centers globally and the forerunner to pop-up venues.
Sharon’s work has garnered her many awards, including the regional Entrepreneur of the Year Award sponsored by Ernst and Young, The Creative Imagination Award from Champion Paper and the SBA’s Women’s Entrepreneur of the Year Award. She was recognized as one of Fast Company’s Fast 50 Favorites and her alma mater, Skidmore College has honored her with a Lifetime Achievement award -The Creative Thought Matters Award of Distinction - in recognition of her contributions to outstanding enterprise creation.
A sought-after speaker, Sharon has been a guest lecturer at Harvard Business School, Columbia University, Babson College, Stanford Business School on entrepreneurship, retail innovation, and in industry arenas on health & wellness and grounding. She is a co-author of The Old Girls’ Network: Insider Advice for Women Building Businesses in a Man’s World (Basic Books/Perseus), a “how-to” guide for aspiring entrepreneurs and additionally profiled in others, including Enlightened Power. A longtime mentor to entrepreneurs, Sharon was a founding partner in 8Wings Ventures, the first angel group focused on women led start-ups. She is a current member and former Board Director of The Committee of 200 (C200), an international organization of preeminent women business leaders and the World President’s Organization. Sharon earlier held the position of Chair of the Advisory Board at the National Center on Women & Aging at Brandeis University and is a former Board Director of the Boston Philharmonic Orchestra.
Co-authored with Dr. Ann Maire Chiasson, her book, Barefoot Wisdom: Better Health through Grounding (Schiffer Publishing) is now in its second printing. Her book, The Gifts of Silver: How Nature’s Noble Element Promotes Health & Well-Being about the attributes of silver was recently published and her latest, Get Grounded, Get Well (Hampton Roads) co-authored with Dr. Stephen Sinatra was released April 1, 2023 and is online and in bookstores nationwide.
