When Sharon Riehl reflects on her career so far, she feels that her work at GaMEP draws on and brings all her previous professional experience full circle.
Sharon, who joined GaMEP in April 2026 as a project manager for leadership and team development, not only has an BSBA degree in human resource management and an MBA in human resource management and development, she also spent 18 years at a manufacturing firm before coming to Georgia Tech in 2013.
In her early days at Tech, Sharon worked in a number of capacities: first as a standalone human resource business partner for the Office of Information Technology and the Library, and then as director of culture, inclusion, and engagement, where she led and co-facilitated signature leadership development programs, including Leading Women at Tech, the Inclusive Leaders Academy, and Changemaker Academy.
While Sharon valued that work, she realized she felt most fulfilled when she was collaborating directly with the people she supports. “I’m a very relationship‑oriented person,” she said. “I like being somewhere that I understand the specific needs of that unit, and I’m able to create and facilitate solutions that have impact and make a difference at a collective and individual level.”
That desire led her to the Enterprise Innovation Institute (EI²), where she took a newly created employee engagement manager role in September 2023. “I’m a certified CliftonStrengths coach, and I was excited that I could immediately contribute to something that was really a foundational piece of the EI2 culture,” she said.
Sharon has always brought an approach to her work that is equally people‑centered and business‑minded. “What really makes me tick is understanding how people think and behave and operate together,” she said, noting that she is often described as a bridge builder, someone who brings people and ideas together to move organizations forward.
Sharon’s passions outside of work are attending live music shows and hiking (especially sunset and summit hikes). From a well-being perspective, nature and especially music keep Sharon grounded. “I’ll even plan my travel and vacations around who’s playing where,” she said. “Seeing John Mayer play guitar front row was a true bucket list experience for me.”
She’s also an avid sports fan of football, basketball, hockey and baseball. In addition to pulling for her favorite teams, she appreciates the lessons in group dynamics and leadership that come from sports. “Some of the best analogies in leadership come from sports. The principles that you use to build a good sports team are the same principles that you use in organizations,” she said.
As dedicated as Sharon is to her hobbies, her biggest loves are her two grown sons, Luke and Landon. “They’re really special to me,” said Sharon. “I’ve learned more from being their mom than I learned from any classroom or work setting I’ve ever been in.”
Contact Sharon at sharon.riehl@innovate.gatech.edu to learn more about GaMEP’s Leadership & Team Development services.
