Senior expert coach
Sharon Joyce
Highlights & Achievements
- Former Associate Director of Admissions, UC Berkeley Haas School of Business
- Admissions & Career Services Roles, Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Business
- Certified CliftonStrengths Coach & WOW Certified Essay Coach
- EdD in Higher Education Administration, University of Pittsburgh
Dr. Sharon Joyce brings over 25 years of experience in admissions and student affairs to her role as a Senior Consultant at Fortuna Admissions. At UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, she served as the Associate Director of Admissions for the full-time MBA program and contributed to the strategic planning for Haas admissions as a member of the Senior Management team. Her tenure at Carnegie Mellon’s Tepper School of Business encompassed roles in admissions and career services, enhancing the success of the MBA program.
Sharon holds a BA from Chatham University and an EdD in Administrative and Policy Studies in Higher Education from the University of Pittsburgh, where her doctoral research focused on first-generation college students’ progression into graduate programs. She is a Certified CliftonStrengths Coach, a WOW Certified Essay Coach, and an Associate Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). Additionally, she completed the Independent Educational Consultant certificate program through UC Irvine to further enhance her coaching skills.
Known for her empathetic and individualized approach, Sharon specializes in early-stage planning, guiding students to reflect on their strengths and aspirations to craft compelling college applications. Her commitment to creating inclusive educational communities and her innovative strategies have been lauded throughout her career.
Real Reviews From Real Clients
Candidates Love Working With Sharon
Sharp Story, Big Encouragement – Real Results
“Sharon helped me clarify my goals and frame my story with precision. Her insight and encouragement made a huge impact on my success.”
Stanford, Northwestern,
UC Berkeley admit
Unwavering Support, Incredible Results
“I couldn’t recommend Sharon Joyce more. Her unwavering support and clarity helped me stay focused, positive, and ultimately land incredible results.”
Harvard, Yale,
U Penn & NYU admit
Confidence Through a Clear, Authentic Story
“Sharon was fantastic – thoughtful, strategic, and kind. She helped me structure a clear, authentic narrative and gave me the confidence I needed to succeed.”
Columbia & NYU admit
Relentless Encouragement to Reach Higher
“Despite my stats, Sharon never wavered in her support. Her clarity and confidence in my potential helped me reach schools I once thought out of reach.”
Yale, UC Berkeley & Northwestern admit
Insightful, Warm, Tough Love–Best Coach Ever
“Best coach I could’ve asked for. Sharon’s insights, warmth, and tough love helped me grow immensely – personally and as an applicant.”
Columbia, Dartmouth & Northwestern admit
Q&A with Sharon
What’s your coaching superpower?
My coaching superpower is a talent for individualization. I am intrigued by the unique qualities of the clients I coach and love hearing the one-of-a-kind stories that applicants share with me. I am an astute observer of applicants’ strengths and enjoy helping them leverage their talents and skills to create a compelling application that distinguishes them from others.
What’s your top piece of advice for MBA candidates?
Before diving into the application process, I am a huge proponent of doing some reflective work. In my experience, using self-assessment tools such as CliftonStrengths helps candidates clarify their passions, purpose and/or a “personal brand.” Generally speaking, self-assessment tools include activities that illuminate values, skills, strengths, cultural and personal workstyle preferences and communication styles. Guiding clients to define their strengths, affinities and talents lays the groundwork for powerful application materials.
Want to work with Sharon?
We always do our best to match you with a coach who fits your needs and preferences. You can also indicate your preference for a specific coach when you sign up for a free consultation.