About me
Sherry grew up believing she could have it all. As she entered her 30s, it seemed as if she had arrived – married, climbing the corporate ranks, and rearing two children. By 32, the promises she heard as a child came crashing down amid divorce, 9/11, and tragic family deaths that all occurred within eight short months.
Instead of the “middle-class fancy” and thriving life she’d imagined, Sherry felt overwhelmed, incredulous, and tormented by what real life was throwing her way. Ultimately, these traumatic experiences awakened her inner rebel. No longer willing to settle for less, Sherry committed to living life on her own terms from that point forward.
As a transformational speaker and intuitive clarity guide, she now inspires Gen X women to create their own aligned, fulfilling lives. She delivers engaging and transformative “conversations in the wild” to women’s retreats, conferences, and events.
Sherry has also been interviewed on many podcasts, appeared as a panelist speaker, and led numerous corporate presentations as a consultant in higher education and fundraising. Known to clients, colleagues, and friends as “The Gen X Whisperer,” Sherry balances her entertaining, sassy, and spirited vibe with rousing real-life lessons and stories only a Gen X woman can share.
What do you do and why do you do it?
I help Gen X women find their confidence and clarity. Life has been a wild ride for women of my generation, and it’s finally our time to take a breath and discover ourselves and our happiness. This is so important to me because we have much wisdom to share, but we first have to believe in ourselves!
What changed for you after age 50?
My kids were grown and flown and I had left corporate a few years prior. I realized that I had a crap load of time and no clear direction on what I wanted to do with the next 30+ years of my life!
What would you tell the 20 or 30-year-old YOU?
Good enough is fine, don’t waste energy or time trying to make it all excellent.
What do you think you’ll tell yourself in retrospect at the end of your life?
Ooof, I don’t know…I think I’ve got a lot of things yet to happen to mold that moment.
What impact do you think increased visibility can have on your business?
I’d love to be able to encourage more women, let them feel heard and seen, and know they aren’t alone in their feelings.
Who or what inspires you and why?
There is a woman that I know that probably feels unremarkable, her name is Nikki Branch. She is 65 and just took up competing in masters track and field. She also runs an amazing equine rescue. She gives everything she does her full effort and love. It’s amazing to see how authentically she lives.
“We don’t have to solve everyone’s problems. Other people are capable of solving their own problems. We maybe need to be there to be kind of that safety net, but we don’t have to solve their problems for them.”
Sherry VanAntwerp
The Brief
Stephanie Dalfonzo guest hosted this interview with Intuitive Clarity Guide, Transformational Speaker, and Gen X Whisperer – Sherry VanAntwerp.
Sherry worked her way up the corporate ladder for over 20 years, eventually becoming a vice president at a large financial services company. However, around age 50, she got to the point where she wasn’t excited about going to work. She had an amazing career, but I was craving something different. She left her ‘secure’ corporate career to become an “intuitive clarity guide” for Gen X women. She helps them create fulfilling lives through clarity and aligning with their intuition.
Sherry shares “it was scary leaving the security of a corporate job, but I believed in myself enough to take the risk. I knew I had a lot of wisdom to share from my life experiences.”
Many of the women that Sherry works with are seeking their next steps and are typically between the ages of 40-56. She has always been intuitive but didn’t truly embrace it until she hit her 40s and felt unfulfilled in her career in higher education fundraising and was ready for an entrepreneurial change. A health scare served as a “shot across the bow” prompting her to follow her intuition and resign, launching her own business.
Today, in her mid-50s, Sherry is thriving in her new career, helping others chart their own course toward more fulfilling and purposeful lives. Her story demonstrates that with passion and perseverance, it’s never too late to reinvent yourself.
Sherry’s parting bit of wisdom is to “let go of the small stuff” and focus on what truly matters to make a difference in your life.
Be sure to visit Sherry’s website to learn more and connect with her on social media.
