After completing a Bachelor of Arts at Loyola University in New Orleans, Mrs. Sharkawy went on to pursue and receive a Master's in Land and Real Estate Development and completed her coursework for a Master's in Construction Science from Texas A&M University. As a Retail Leasing & Development Executive for the last 14 years with Stirling Properties, Mrs. Sharkawy has worked on new retail developments and shopping centers in need of redevelopment. In addition to handling the leasing of retail developments, she also represents retail tenants such as Shoe Carnival, Ashley Stewart, Charming Shoppes (Lane Bryant, Catherines, Cacique & Petite Sophisticate),  O'Reilly Auto Parts, Aaron Rents and Allied Cash Advance. Past clients include: AT&T Wireless, Haverty Furniture, The Athlete's Foot, Quizno's, Rainbow Apparel, One Price Clothing, EB Games and After Hours Formalwear.

Mrs. Sharkawy is an active member in ICSC and CREW.  Her past board of director's involvement includes: Dress for Success, Loyola University, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Young Leadership Council, Commercial Investment Division, and Krewe of Muses.

In 2010, Rhonda received the F. Poche Waguespack Award, the Realtor's Commercial Investment Division most prestigious award, given to an agent with the highest volume of sales and leases in the marketplace for the year.  She is the first agent in Stirling Properties history to receive this award and one of only a handful of women to achieve this honor since it was created back in 1964.