Sharon Lechter is an entrepreneur, New York Times bestselling author, philanthropist, international speaker and licensed CPA. As founder and CEO of Pay Your Family First, a financial education organization, Lechter has served as a presidential adviser to presidents Bush and Obama on the topic. In 2009, she was appointed to the National CPA Financial Literacy Commission as a national spokesperson on financial literacy and was reappointed in 2014. Lechter is a founding chancellor for Junior Achievement University of Success and is Arizona chairman for the 2020 Women on Boards initiative.
Lechter 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 helped the inventor expand the electronic book industry to a multi-million-dollar international market.
In 1997, Lechter co-authored the international bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad and 14 other books in the Rich Dad series. Over 10 years as co-founder and CEO, she led the Rich Dad Company and brand to global success. In 2008, she was asked by the Napoleon Hill Foundation to help re-energize the teachings of Napoleon Hill just as the international economy was faltering. Lechter has three bestselling books in cooperation with the Foundation, including Three Feet from Gold, Outwitting the Devil and Think and Grow Rich for Women. She is featured in the 2017 movie Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy.
As a lifetime education advocate, Lechter was instrumental in and the driving force behind the passage of legislation in Arizona that requires personal financial education for high school graduation.
Lechter is the recipient of numerous awards and honors. Childhelp has honored her and her husband, Michael, as recipients of the Spirit of the Children Award. She has received a Gift of Wisdom Award by Florida State University’s Women for FSU, Mary Lehman MacLachlan Economic Empowerment Award by Women President’s Organization and Financial Educator of the Year by the National Financial Educators Council. Lechter was also honored with the prestigious 2015 International Profilo Donna Award by Profilo Donna (Profile Woman) and has the distinct honor to be the only woman inducted into the Personal Development Hall of Fame. In 2018, Lechter is being honored as a Trendsetter by Trends Charitable Fund, and will be receiving the Women of Achievement Linda M. Herold Lifetime Achievement Award from In Business Magazine and the Global Voice award by the World Women Foundation.
Company Name: Pay Your Family First LLC
Main Office Address: 6611 N. 64th Pl., Paradise Valley, AZ 85253
Phone: (480) 607-1940
Website: sharonlechter.com
Number of Employees: 5
Number of Locations in Metro Phoenix: 1
City Nationally Headquartered: Scottsdale
No. of Years with Firm: 11
Year Established Locally: 2007
Specialties/Services: Financial Education, International Speaker, Publisher, Entrepreneurial Mentorship
See all the Women of Achievement
