Sharon Sorkin from Ford on Finding Authentic Balance

Overview

In this episode, Sharon Sorkin, Chief Trademark Counsel at Ford Motor, discusses with Brooks Kushman CEO Sangeeta Shah some of the struggles she faced early in her career and the personal journey she took to coming into this role. Despite some self-doubts she faced both personally and professionally leading up to her making the transition to her current position, she overcame those to find joy and success, in part due to the advice of a mentor that encouraged her to take on the role.  This experience helped shape both her leadership and mentoring philosophy Sharon Sorkin manages the global automotive and mobility trademark portfolios for renowned brands such as FORD, MUSTANG, F-150, BRONCO, MAVERICK, among others. She is passionate about collaborating across different corporate functions to elevate the role that trademarks can play in brand-building and overall corporate brand value. Before joining Ford, Sharon spent 9 years as Global Trademark Counsel at Mars Wrigley where she had the pleasure of working on sweet brands such as SKITTLES, STARBURST, LIFE SAVERS, ORBIT, EXTRA, and FREEDENT. Sharon is an active member of the INTA community and currently serves on the Professional Development Committee. Sharon is also the mom of two busy children – Charlie (age 10) and Mia (age 8) – who keep her busy when not working. Throughout her career, Sharon has passionately supported the growth and development of those around her and strived for meaningful collaboration with colleagues and clients, recognizing each individual’s unique talents and perspectives and the value those bring to the table.