Sharon L. Lechter

Sharon Lechter is an entrepreneur, author, philanthropist, international speaker, licensed CPA, Chartered Global Management Accountant and, most importantly a mother and grandmother. 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, 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. Since 1992, she has dedicated her professional life and directed her entrepreneurial efforts in the creation and distribution of financial and entrepreneurial education books, games and other experiential learning products.

In 1997 Sharon co-authored the international bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad, and has released 14 other books in the Rich Dad series. Over 10 years as co-Founder and CEO, she led the Rich Dad Company and brand into an international powerhouse. In 2008, she was asked by the Napoleon Hill Foundation to help re-energize the powerful teachings of Napoleon Hill just 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 her latest project, Think and Grow Rich for Women, released in June of 2014. She is also featured in the 2017 movie Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy and has released the book Save Wisely, Spend Happily in cooperation with the American Institute of CPAs.

Pay Your Family First’s financial literacy board game ThriveTime for Teens, an innovative, experiential and fun life and money reality game, has received coveted awards including a Mom’s Choice GOLD Award, Creative Child Magazine’s 2010 Game of The Year, Dr. Toy’s Best Vacation Product and a five-star rating from WTS Toy Reviews. Sharon is the co-author of Your Financial Mastery, a financial education college curriculum and recipient of the 2015 Excellence in Financial Literacy Education “Book of the Year” award presented by the Financial Literacy Institute.

Sharon is recognized globally as an expert on the topics of financial education and entrepreneurship. In 2008 she was appointed to the first President’s Advisory Council on Financial Literacy. The Council served both President Bush and President Obama advising them on the need for financial literacy education. In 2009 Sharon was appointed to the National CPA Financial Literacy Commission as a national spokesperson on the topic of financial literacy and was reappointed in 2014.

In 2012, Sharon suffered a devastating loss when her son unexpectedly passed away. While Sharon continued to work, something changed. She put herself on autopilot and stopped working to her fullest, stopped striving to be her best, stopped pursuing the excellence she knew she was capable of. It was in this realization that led Sharon to her next project, the Play Big Movement- a call to action, online course, and forthcoming book about rising above whatever is stopping you from thinking and acting as to your greatest potential. With the Play Big Movement, Sharon is back and teaching the world how to take control of their time and money, live their legacy and create maximum impact.

A committed philanthropist, Sha