Experience

Experience you can put to work

OLIM is led by Sharon Higgins, who spent more than two decades helping businesses win contracts, secure financing, and build the institutions that support them. Here is the record behind the services.

The results on this page come from Sharon’s prior leadership roles. They are not OLIM client engagements. OLIM client examples will be added with each client’s permission.

Sharon Higgins
$4B+

in contracting, bonding, and financing transactions for minority-owned enterprises, facilitated by the South Bronx and Brooklyn MBDA Business Centers and their teams under Sharon’s leadership since 2013.

8 years

in a row, 2013 through 2020, the South Bronx MBDA Business Center was recognized as a Top Performing MBDA center while Sharon served as Project Director.

12+ years

administering federal grant portfolios, including compliance, financial reporting, and submissions to oversight agencies.

2 centers

launched through a competitive U.S. Department of Commerce MBDA award. Sharon wrote the proposal, the start-up strategic plan, and the operating framework.

Experience in practice

Challenge, role, and outcome

Three examples of how this experience has been applied, each tied to the OLIM service it informs today.

Contracts, bonding, and capital

Connecting minority-owned firms with public contracts

The challenge
Minority-owned businesses in the Bronx and Brooklyn needed a path into city, state, and federal procurement, along with the bonding and financing required to perform.
Sharon’s role
As Project Director (2013–2021) and then President & CEO and Operator (2021–2025), Sharon designed procurement support plans for clients, trained business owners on contracting at every level of government, and coordinated with agencies, lenders, and partners.
The outcome
The centers and their teams facilitated more than $4 billion in contracting, bonding, and financing transactions, and the South Bronx center was recognized as Top Performing for eight consecutive years, 2013 through 2020.
Organizational development

Building new institutions for community lending

The challenge
The community needed more capacity for development lending and technical assistance to small businesses.
Sharon’s role
Sharon co-founded SoBRO Certified Development Company, Inc. in 2018, working with legal counsel and external financial regulators. She also wrote a winning U.S. Department of Commerce MBDA proposal, with the start-up strategic plan and operating framework for two business centers.
The outcome
A new certified development company was established, and the operating framework for two MBDA Business Centers was built and put into practice.
Access to capital

Packaging small business loans

The challenge
Small and minority-owned businesses seeking long-term financing had to meet federal lending standards and pass credit review.
Sharon’s role
As Deputy Director of Business Initiatives Corporation, an SBA lender (2002–2009), Sharon managed SBA 504 loan packaging and credit risk review, and supported businesses pursuing public sector contracts.
The outcome
Loan submissions were coordinated with regulatory bodies in full compliance with federal lending standards, connecting businesses with financing and contract opportunities.

Leadership roles

  1. 2021–2025
    President & CEO, OperatorBrooklyn MBDA Business Center
  2. 2013–2021
    Project DirectorSouth Bronx MBDA Business Center
  3. 2018
    Co-founderSoBRO Certified Development Company, Inc.
  4. 2011–2012
    Academic AdvisorCity University of New York (CUNY)
  5. 2002–2009
    Deputy DirectorBusiness Initiatives Corporation, SBA lender
  6. 2001–2002
    Director of District OperationsNew York City Council district office

Speaking and service

  • Presenter on Public-Private Partnerships (P3s), MBDA National Training Conference, Philadelphia, 2018
  • Presenter, United Nations 68th Civil Society Conference on the Sustainable Development Goals
  • Subject-matter expert panelist, CSW65, United Nations Commission on the Status of Women, 2021
  • Keynote speaker, 11th International Research Conference, Centre for Business & Economic Research
  • Advisory Board Member, Monroe University MBA Program

Education

  • M.S. in Education, Higher Education Administration, Baruch College, School of Public Affairs, CUNY
  • Master of Public Administration (MPA), Baruch College, CUNY
  • B.S. in Accounting, Monroe College (President’s List)
  • A.A.S. in Business Administration, Monroe College
  • CPA candidate

Professional certificates

  • Government Contracting Fundamentals, George Mason University
  • SBA 504 Loan Packaging, National Association of Development Companies (NADCO)
  • Credit Risk Management, NADCO
  • Minority Business Enterprise Development, Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth
  • TPCC Interagency Trade Officer Course, 2016
  • Turner School of Construction Management

Put this experience to work for you

Start with a conversation about your goals.

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