A dynamic and collaborative product and services leader based in Pittsburgh, Sharon Vernick joined Westinghouse as director of global marketing in 2020. Her responsibilities in this role involve the sales of large nuclear power plants, small modular reactor plants, and related energy storage technology. She has developed relationships with several international agencies, establishing a technology sales network that promotes energy independence, security, and zero-emissions energy strategies. Pittsburgh resident Sharon Vernick has engaged with clients all over the world, though she typically focuses on North America and central and eastern Europe.
Sharon Vernick previously worked as a human resources professional and business partner at First Commonwealth Bank. She also held many leadership and sales roles with Peoples Natural Gas, including senior account executive in the sales and marketing department.
A member of the American Marketing Association, Ms. Vernick holds a master of business administration in marketing from Ashford University. In 2024, she accepted a nomination to a Harvard business course offered to less than 1 percent of Westinghouse employees. She has attended numerous professional conferences hosted by Westinghouse sponsors, such as the CMU Energy and AI Summit and Reuters SMR Conference.
What is your typical day, and how do you make it productive?
My typical day starts with team collaboration meetings to ensure everyone’s on the same page for the day. We have team check-ins throughout the day to ensure tasks are being completed on time and in a high-quality format.
How do you bring ideas to life?
I bring ideas to life by first conducting market research to gain an understanding of the target markets’ wants/needs/behaviors/pain points, and then I work with other team members to create a comprehensive marketing campaign.
What’s one trend that excites you?
The AI trend is exciting because it opens the door for greater efficiencies and productivity through automation and provides actionable insights that were previously not attainable.
What is one habit that helps you be productive?
Planning my day the night before helps to reduce morning stress and improve my focus for the next day. I’m able to prioritize tasks and determine time allocations needed to accomplish the goals for the day.
What advice would you give your younger self?
Trust your instincts because your gut feelings are often right. Don’t let societal expectations or others’ opinions sway you and always be kind to yourself and others.
Tell us something you believe that almost nobody agrees with you on.
I cannot convince people that adding more cream than coffee in my “cup of coffee” for breakfast is healthy and actually makes you more productive in starting your day!
What is the one thing you repeatedly do and recommend everyone else do?
I repeatedly go to sleep at the same time every night and focus on prioritizing quality sleep. Sleep is foundational to good health and impacts so many things in life when it is lacking.
When you feel overwhelmed or unfocused, what do you do?
I listen to relaxing music, go for a walk, pray, talk to my spouse or family member, and take a step back from the situation to reassess things.
What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business or advance in your career?
I am a working manager, meaning, I do the work alongside my team. I do not stand by and watch them work, I engage in the tasks right beside them and lead them when they aren’t sure how to proceed. The saying there is no “I” in team is very true.
What is one failure in your career, how did you overcome it, and what lessons did you take away from it?
A failure in my career early on was my inability to say “no” to tasks. I overcame it by realizing it’s worse to commit to a task that cannot be completed on time than it is to speak up and tell my boss everything that was on my plate. The lesson I took from it is by speaking up, it alleviates the concern of the task not being completed on time because others are usually willing to step in and help—teamwork!
What is one business idea you’re willing to give away to our readers?
I think a helpful business idea that could be beneficial to our elderly community is providing a driving service to/from healthcare appointments. Many times, elderly individuals can no longer drive and do not have family members within close proximity. A driving service dedicated to this community would make their lives so much easier, especially if they were able to pay for it via their insurance (an accredited, approved business).
What is one piece of software that helps you be productive? How do you use it?
The Adobe Suite products is a software that helps me be productive. I’m able to create many executive presentations using various PowerPoint options and design features. The creative tools available are also helpful to me when creating various marketing assets.
What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?
The best $100 I spent recently was purchasing flowers for an elderly friend who is in hospice. She loves flowers, and it’s a small gesture to show her how much I care about her and to bring some brightness to her surroundings.
Do you have a favorite book or podcast you’ve gotten a ton of value from and why?
The book Mindset by Carol Dweck has also influenced me by focusing on how she highlights the power of a growth mindset—the belief that abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work, fostering achievement and personal development. I believe hard work is rewarding if you remain diligent and persistent. The “smartest” don’t always achieve the greatest heights; many times, it’s those who remain committed to the task and see it through completion and those who never stop learning.
What’s a movie or series you recently enjoyed and why?
I enjoy watching the reality TV series Special Forces. I like to watch this because it not only showcases physical toughness, but it also provides insight into the ways people think in extreme circumstances. There’s a strategic side to the show, and it’s ultimately a competition for those who can endure the toughest of situations—mental toughness becomes just as critical as physical strengths.
Key learnings
- Hard-work and dedication are keys to success within any organization.
- Planning your day ahead of time provides the task prioritization and time allocation needed to accomplish goals.
- Working together to complete tasks and achieve goals promotes productivity and a positive sense of community.
- Don’t undervalue self-care, whether for fostering focus and quality sleep or managing stress and overwhelm.