Sharmila Fowler

Degrees

MBA, Marketing and Strategic Planning, The Wharton School at the Univerity of Pennysylvania
BA, Computer Science and Mathematics, University of Rochester

Bio

Sharmila is a multicultural marketing executive, cultural business strategist, leadership coach, and educator with deep expertise spanning DEI, marketing, human resources, consumer research, and global strategy. Her multidisciplinary background gives her a distinctive perspective on how culture, brand, people, and business performance intersect.

As an Adjunct Faculty Member at DePaul University’s Driehaus College of Business, Sharmila teaches marketing and management courses and facilitates executive education programs focused on DEI, global marketing, cultural intelligence, and inclusive leadership. Through her teaching, coaching, and facilitation, she helps students and leaders expand their perspectives and develop the skills needed to thrive in an increasingly interconnected world.

Sharmila also serves as Executive Director of the Asian American Advertising Federation (3AF), where she leads the organization’s strategy, partnerships, growth, and operations to advance Asian American marketing and advertising. In addition, she is a Partner with OpalSphere, a people-first advisory firm that helps organizations unlock growth at the intersection of culture and brand by developing human-centered leaders, fostering compassionate workplace cultures, and advancing inclusive marketing strategies.

Previously, Sharmila held senior leadership roles at Echo Global Logistics and McDonald’s Corporation, spanning diversity and inclusion, global strategy, and multicultural marketing. She has also advised Fortune 500 companies on multicultural consumer insights, market opportunities, segmentation, and culturally relevant growth strategies.

As an active community leader, Sharmila serves on several boards and committees. Her contributions have been recognized through numerous honors, including Diversity MBA’s Top 25 Outstanding Leadership & Diversity Impact Award in 2023.

Sharmila holds an MBA in Marketing and Strategic Planning from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, a BA in Computer Science and Mathematics from the University of Rochester, and a Certificate in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion from the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business. She is also a Master Certified Professional Coach, a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), and a certified Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) Practitioner.

Born in India and raised in the United States, Sharmila brings a lifelong appreciation for the power of culture to foster connection, strengthen brands, and create meaningful business opportunities.