Founder and CEO, Pay Your Family First
Sharon Lechter is a New York Times Bestselling author, successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, licensed CPA and international keynote speaker, recognized by Forbes as a top 10 keynote speaker. A life-long education advocate, she is the founder and CEO of Pay Your Family First, a financial education organization. Regarded as a global expert on financial literacy and entrepreneurship, Sharon has served as a national spokeswoman and Presidential Adviser on the topic. In 2016 Sharon was appointed by Junior Achievement as a JA University of Success Founding Chancellor and in 2017 as Arizona Chairman for the 2020 Women on Boards initiative. In 2019 Sharon was appointed by Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee to the Arizona Financial Literacy Task Force.
Sharon has been a pioneer in developing new technologies, programs and products to bring education into people’s lives in ways that are innovative, challenging and fun, and remains committed to education – particularly financial literacy and entrepreneurship. In 1989, she joined forces with the inventor of the first electronic ‘talking book’ and helped him expand the electronic book industry to a multi-million dollar international market.
Sharon co-authored the international bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad and 14 other books in the Rich Dad series. Over 10 years as co-Founder and CEO, she led the Rich Dad Company into an international powerhouse. In 2008, she was asked by the Napoleon Hill Foundation to help re-energize the teachings of Napoleon Hill as the international economy was faltering. Sharon has released three bestselling books in cooperation with the Foundation, including Think and Grow Rich-Three Feet from Gold, Outwitting the Devil, and Think and Grow Rich for Women. In addition, her newest title, Success and Something Greater was released in September of 2019.
Sharon is featured in the 2019 national TV production, World’s Greatest Motivators and in the 2017 movie Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy. She also has the distinct honor of being the only woman inducted into the Personal Development Hall of Fame.
