25+ years creative marketing communications
10+ years higher education
Master’s in Communications Arts, Marketing (New York Institute of Technology)
Bachelor’s in English, concentration in Communications (University of Albany)
This is my story
Welcome! I’m Shari Santoriello, a Career Specialist with Ama La Vida and I am as happy as you are to be here! I am a native New Yorker who resides on the beautiful north shore of eastern Long Island. I am a 25-year career veteran who has had success in marketing communications and a ten-year career teaching at the college level.
I am passionate about helping and that’s what has led me to coaching. In creating a successful internship program for a private university, I found myself doing more than giving students some “real world” experience. I was running seminars about interviewing, resume writing, job search process, on-line personal branding, best business practices and how to have that all align with personal and professional objectives and values. My students found it so helpful, it became, “can you help my friend, significant other, cousin, Dad?” and I helped each one. What I didn’t know at the time is that this type of helping had a name, and that name is “coaching”.
Each and every day, I work hard to be the best me I can, and I try to move forward a little more. It is both a pleasure and a joy to help you do the same! On a personal note: I melt at all the pictures of cute babies (and kids and puppies, kittens, bears, elephants, monkeys, pigs, and goats!) I love to do so many things, but my favorites are laughing, reading, movies, music, food-things, and all things family.
My Coaching Approach
Dr. Suess said it best, “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who’ll decide where to go…”
Acting as your personal GPS, we work together to figure out the best way to get you from here to there. I can help you travel the planned path or we can reroute as we go, you can feel confident that when there is a fork in the path, I’ll be there to help you navigate it. As a lifelong learner myself, I think by being thoughtful, kind, honest and asking the hard questions, we will both learn on the journey.
I believe that everyone’s journey is different, and we all don’t follow the same roadmap. My goal is to help discover what works best for you, so you can feel accomplished and happy.
What My Clients Say
I learned great some great insights from my coach Shari. The online modules are well thought out and extremely helpful with prompting you through your personal work. ALV has a great set up and can definitely help you get to the next level. ~ Lilli H.
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The coaching I received through Ama La Vida was a life changer – and a life saver. I came in looking for help with my resume and sharpening my interview skills and got SO much more out of the experience. I am now excelling in my field, a proud and successful owner of my own business and have learned a lot about myself, my goals and how to best achieve my objectives. ~ Emily C.
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“Shari is great to work with. She has a great ability to clarify goals and get down to the nitty gritty of problem solving. Her warm and personable style makes coaching sessions enjoyable, and it helped me remain motivated between sessions. I highly recommend working with Shari!” – Cappy S.
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“Shari was an absolute incredible coach for me. She got to know me, spent the time understanding me and truly was the most important piece in this career journey for me. She pushed me when I needed to be pushed and allowed me to hold back when I needed to as well. I reached my goal of getting a new job that is in line with what I want for my future!” – Carly K.
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“It was invaluable to have a coach who got to know me very well, to understand my circumstances, and to provide insightful support when I needed it most.” – Jean C.
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“Shari is a great coach! She made me feel comfortable and motivated throughout the entire process.” – Samantha G.
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“Working with my coach Shari has allowed me to view my career choices differently and given me the confidence I needed to pursue a personal passion as a career path. I’m beyond excited for my next chapter and could not have done it without her. I found the exercises/homework to be challenging yet doable, and the subsequent conversations during our sessions helped me further see trends in my homework. Shari is compassionate yet direct and clearly has an enthusiasm for the work she does.” – Lora D.
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“My coach was a mind reader and a genius. We were able to hone my resume and she helped me understand the job application process and also why I made the choices in my career that I did. I also was able to speak to a coach about self-esteem and seeing the bigger picture of what I should strive for. I will be leaving the coaching due to personal issues, but I know where to go to when I need solid career guidance.” – Iris B.
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“Shari made me understand how all my skills and background are transferrable. She motivated me and taught me how different the job application process is today! I could not have gone through this career transition without her!” – Gretchen B.
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“I feel grateful and lucky to have been matched with Shari as my career coach. I never would have thought coaching would have such a positive impact on my personal and professional life in such a short period of time. Her communication style is both direct and warm. I felt both safe and challenged at the same time, which made our sessions incredibly productive and worthwhile. She’s good at asking questions and elevating trends in my behaviors, thoughts, and feelings in a way that allows me to be more intentionally reflective about ways to improve. Working with Shari has not only brought me more confidence and joy professionally but also personally. I feel a lot more content in life after working with Shari.” – Cindy L.
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“I can’t say enough good things about Shari. Shari was incredibly helpful in helping me navigate through a stressful couple of months that included getting laid off, initiating a job search, preparing for interviews, negotiating an offer, and landing a new role. Shari was with me every step of the way, and her knowledge, guidance, and encouragement (not to mention her sense of humor!) was invaluable during this period. Whether you are looking for a new role, need help with resumes/interviews, or if you’re just plain stuck at a crossroads in your career, Shari is the perfect Career Coach for you. I would recommend her to anyone.” – Dan M.
