Women Leading The Way: An Interview with Sharon Curl, Managing Director for North America

As we enter the Thanksgiving season in Canada and the USA, we look to North America to reflect on female leadership in the education sector with our Managing Director of North America, Sharon Curl. In the fourth interview in our Women Leading the Way series, Sharon shares her experience of founding a business in her twenties and how treating everyone with respect and fairness is paramount for any leader. 

Sharon founded our Vancouver School together with her business partner Makiko Yonenaga in July 1990. She went on to open a school in Toronto (2002) and San Diego (2015) and joined the Oxford International Education Group in 2013. Sharon is also extremely active in the Canadian EFL industry. Sharon is currently the Immediate Past President of Languages Canada after serving as President of the association for five years.

Following the celebration of the Vancouver school’s 30th anniversary this year, Sharon and her team are now celebrating accepting new international students at our North American locations again after we became one of the first institutions to receive approval from the BC and Ontario governments under their new Covid regulations

The BBC recently reported that companies with better gender diversity at Executive level perform better, why do you think that is?

I believe women and men bring different and equally valuable skills and talents to an organisation. It is essential to have a balanced representation on the management team for a company to be in a position to reach its full potential.  Women tend to be collaborative, detail-oriented, calculated in weighing options and see a variety of possible solutions to problems.  I have found that women are strong listeners and encourage participation with excellent people skills.  Women are particularly strong at cultivating relationships as well as trust and loyalty across their organisations.

How do you think the education sector can become more gender-diverse?

It baffles me that men outnumber women in leadership and senior management roles in the international education sector.  I see a vast number of talented women at lower-level positions who have the skills and drive to be the leaders this sector needs. I believe organisations should identify these stars and mentor them for leadership positions. Also, I think companies need to look at senior management across their organisations and ensure they have a diverse team, as they will be stronger for it.

What’s one leadership lesson you’ve learnt in your career?

It would be very difficult for me to narrow it down to one, so I will list a few. From the beginning, my business partner, also a woman, and I, always believed that if we worked a little harder, a little longer and a little smarter than the competition, we would succeed. I think it is vital to surround yourself with great people and hire people who know more than you do.  Finally, it is essential to give credit where credit is due, avoid laying blame and celebrate the successes of our teams. 

What has been your most significant career achievement so far?

Founding my own business with my business partner when we were both in our twenties was probably my most significant achievement.  However, once established the bigger feat was growing and adapting our business to the changing market and regulatory demands, responding to constant policy and visa changes, identifying and capitalising on opportunities, expanding our offerings and steering through numerous global crisis.

Who has inspired you in your career, and why?

My parents both had a significant impact on my career and influenced my work-life values.  My late father taught me to work hard and have confidence in myself.  He was in senior management for a large retail chain here in Canada. He built a diverse management team of men and women at a time when women in leadership were scarce.  My mom had a career ever since we were very young. She quickly rose to a top position in the organisation for which she worked.  Both of my parents had equal aspirations for their daughters and their sons.

What advice do you have for women aiming for leadership positions?

Work hard and be willing to ‘go the extra mile’ to achieve your goals is the most critical piece of advice I can share.  After this, it is vital to have confidence and to trust yourself and your instincts.  It takes hard work, tenacity and resolve to achieve and maintain success.  With this, people need to be prepared to compromise as success usually has an impact on one’s personal life.  I also believe it is important to know and stick to your values and showcase your talent and skills every step of the way. Finally, treating everyone with respect and fairness is paramount to being an excellent leader.