From Setbacks to Success: Charting a Path Through Empathy with Sharon Price John
How often do we tell ourselves stories about ourselves or our lives that are just that—stories? Sharon Price John, President and CEO of Build-a-Bear Workshop, is here to show us a better way to the truth. Sharon grew up in a town where everyone knew everyone’s names. This upbringing taught her how to form lifelong relationships and truly connect with people. She says, “What you do in the moment matters in the long run, and you should hold yourself accountable.” This drives her actions and the advice she gives in this incredible episode of the Take Command podcast. In her insights, you will find advice on working for people (not just investors), gaining strategic trust from employees, and how to be malleable while sticking to the company’s ultimate mission. In the end, she tells us: “If you’re dreaming of being a C-level individual, I advise anyone to learn how to be a change agent.” Sharon has not sat back and watched her life go by. She has grabbed at every opportunity and used them to learn and grow. Don’t miss out on her wisdom.
About the Guest:
Meet Sharon Price John, President and CEO of Build-a-Bear Workshop and an all-around powerhouse of a woman. Sharon dives deep into her roots to guide who she is today. Coming from a small town, she felt restricted and couldn’t wait to get out and go to college (the first in her family to do so). But she also says, “I didn’t really start growing until I made peace with the value that the small-town experience had created for me.”
Today, Sharon uses her skills and empathy to connect consumers with precious moments and inspire Build-a-Bear’s workers to live the company’s mission. Of course, her path hasn’t always been smooth, but as she says, “Everybody’s journey has ups and downs…It’s not that you have those, it’s what you do with them.” And Sharon has done a lot. In addition to leading Build-a-Bear to peak success, her first book—Stories and Heart: Unlock the Power of Personal Stories to Create a Life You Love—is available on Amazon.
What You Will Learn:
- Strategies for overcoming limiting thoughts
- Insights into why we tend to take the scenic route to our dreams
- Lessons in why ignoring the odds is sometimes the best way to beat them
- Reminders for why leadership should never be considered a “burden”
Join us for Sharon’s episode to learn more about how she took Build-a-Bear from a $49 million annual loss to their most profitable years ever. Her thoughts on social responsibility, communication skills, and empathy will transform the way you look at leadership and your responsibility to people and future generations. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from the great Sharon Price John.
