She draws on past experience as an actor, speaker, public relations executive, media spokesperson, columnist, broadcaster and communications instructor to provide the following services:

Practice is the best way to become a better speaker,
and practice in the company of an honest cheerleader
who has given thousands of presentations herself,
written many speeches for others, and taught public
speaking to students and executives alike, can reduce the risks of trial and error in public. Shari offers both one-on-one coaching as well as tailored group sessions.

Speechwriting

Writing for easily distracted ears in a way that captures the attention of diverse audiences requires the use of compelling stories, arresting metaphors, judicious pauses, effective repetition and relevant content. It’s difficult to do well on the back of a napkin, or on the way to a meeting. But a skilled speechwriter, attentive to your ideas and speech patterns, can help craft a text that both reflects you and persuades and inspires others.

When was the last time you read a clearly written and well-supported opinion piece that grabbed your attention from the first word, and provided insights and context not otherwise available, in an accessible and engaging way? Good writing on current issues is always in demand, and if you have informed views but neither the time nor the expertise to pen an op-ed, Shari can ghostwrite a piece for publication under your byline.

Media Relations Counsel and Training

In helping clients to develop the tools and skills necessary to effectively interact with the media, Shari draws on diverse experiences -- writing a weekly newspaper column, managing PR campaigns for corporate clients, and serving as the media spokesperson for both a national non-profit and the premier of British Columbia. She is adept at identifying attention-getting news angles, crafting clear, quotable messages and developing media interview skills in others.

Communications Audits and Planning

Sometimes it takes an outsider to conduct a systematic assessment of an organization’s communications activities and publications to gauge how well they’re working and what could be done to make them more effective. Shari marries theory and practice, having both taught communications at the post secondary level, and applied the lessons learned in the development of communication strategies for non profit, government and corporate clients.