Sheri Salata

What happens when the woman with the front row seat to Everything Transformational makes the decision to attempt her own transformation? Hilarious, touching and informative answers make up the content of Sheri Salata’s terrific new book The Beautiful No: And Other Tales of Trial, Transcendence, and Transformation.

As she so eloquently puts it: Thursday morning. One hundred pounds overweight, no man in sight, and rounding the bend to 57 years old—a full-blown catastrophe.

In case you don’t know who Sheri is or what she’s done, she was Oprah Winfrey’s right hand for many years especially the last several that included the finale year of the highest rated daytime talk show in history. I won’t spoil the read by sharing her trajectory here, but will tell you that whenever interviewed, she dreaded the “How do you achieve work-life balance?” question.

Sheri is also the co-founder and co-host of The Pillar Life and The Sheri + Nancy Show. 

Debbie Phillips, founder of Women on Fire, recently interviewed Sheri and is also cited and quoted in The Beautiful No. It was hearing that recording (it’s worth joining Women on Fire just to hear this intimate conversation!) that made me want to know more about Sheri. Her story is extraordinary, and she shares it most generously with us.