Sharon Knight
Founder and Principal Consultant
I am a seasoned business strategist, operator, and advisor with deep experience helping companies grow and adapt across industries, stages, and geographies. With a foundation in banking and corporate finance, I have held operating executive roles at global public companies, high-growth startups, and a mission-driven nonprofit.
Known for my approachable style and creative problem-solving, I bring clarity, momentum, and practical insight to business owners navigating change and real-world challenges. My work has spanned everything from leading large-scale global teams and driving revenue growth to managing complex organizational change and supporting early-stage founders.
As a long-time board member, mentor, and advisor, I am committed to collaboration, trust, and sharing the kind of real-world wisdom that only comes from experience. I hold an MBA in Finance from Northwestern University’s Kellogg Graduate School of Business and a BA in Economics from Smith College.
Locally, I sit on the Board and serve as Treasurer of The Advocates; serve on the Board of the Wood River Women’s Foundation, where I chair a task force focused on membership growth strategy and serve on the Grants Committee; serve as a member of the Racquet Committee for the Sun Valley Elkhorn Association; and play an active role in the leadership and growth of Wood River Tennis. I live in Elkhorn in Sun Valley with my husband, John Hornbaker, and our Italian Water Dog, Luna.
Experience:
BMO/Harris Bank, KFC, Gap Inc., Electronic Arts, One Medical Group, The Plant Café Organic, Hawthorne Health, Stop the Spread (nonprofit) and JAZZ Venture Partners.
To learn more about my experience, please visit my LinkedIn profile. You can also access my resume here.
Future Vision:
I am starting this not-for-profit organization initially as a solo venture. If there is sufficient community demand, I would like to expand it to include other experienced business leaders who, like me, want to give back to the local business community. The name “Big Wood Collective” reflects this team aspiration.
Note, this Collective is similar to Score.org in some respects but hyper-local by design to foster strong relationships and a vested interest in client success.
If you would like to join the Collective, please email me at sharon@bigwoodcollective.org.