After sharing the exhilarating story of her meteoric rise in the PR world, Alison gives us a behind-the-curtains look at some of her most groundbreaking campaigns. She captivates with fun and fascinating tales of teaming up with the legendary Richard Branson to launch his disruptive new Virgin Voyages cruise line. With contagious enthusiasm, Alison describes how she helped reimagine the cruise experience as a playful, lifestyle-driven adventure that would shake up the entire industry. She shows how even small gestures can make a big impact when building a bold new brand. Tune in for a front-row seat as Alison pulls back the curtain on bringing Virgin Voyages to life—one creative, rule-breaking decision at a time. Her passion is contagious as she shares this thrilling case study on thinking big, moving fast, and collaborating with one of business's most audacious icons.

Sharon welcomes marketing trailblazer Alison Brod to Stories & Heart this week. At only 25 years old, Alison launched her own PR agency which has since evolved into the award-winning Alison Brod Marketing & Communications. Under Alison's leadership, the agency has spearheaded high-profile campaigns for brands like Burberry and Popeyes. The Popeyes chicken sandwich launch led by Alison's team created a viral sensation and lines around the block when it debuted in 2019. Beyond her agency's success, Alison is deeply committed to mentoring and empowering young women in business. Tune in to hear more from this PR powerhouse about her trailblazing career and insights on marketing in the digital age.

Sharon wraps up her conversation with Michelle Poole, the President of Crocs. In this final segment, they dive into some of the most exciting and creative aspects of her work: celebrity endorsements and collaborations. Michelle tells Sharon how she partnered with some of the biggest names in music, fashion, and entertainment to create unique and fun Crocs products that appeal to a wide range of customers. She also shares some of the challenges and benefits of working with celebrities, and how she manages to keep Crocs relevant and fresh in a competitive market. Michelle is a master of blending art and commerce, and we hope you’ve enjoyed learning from her as much as we have. Stay tuned for more inspiring stories from leaders who follow their heart and make a difference in the world!

Do you want to learn how to turn your passion into a successful career? If so, you won’t want to miss this episode of Stories & Heart, where Sharon speaks with Michelle Poole, the President of Crocs. Michelle is a powerhouse in the footwear industry, with decades of experience working with some of the most iconic brands in the world. She shares her journey from a fashion marketing student in the UK to a global leader in innovative casual footwear. Michelle is an inspiring example of someone who followed her heart and achieved her dreams. Tune in and get ready to be inspired by her story!

As we reach the conclusion of this captivating episode of Stories & Heart with Sharon Price John, we are left with a profound message from the multi-talented Romina Arena. Romina unveils a fascinating aspect of her personality—the dichotomy between Romina on stage and Romina at home. Despite her immense success and global recognition, she remains grounded and true to herself, proudly embracing her self-proclaimed "anti-diva" persona. Romina shatters the stereotype of a glamorous diva, preferring the comfort of jeans and a down-to-earth approach to life. Throughout this enlightening conversation, Romina's journey has taught us invaluable lessons about determination, creativity, and remaining true to who we are.

Sharon concludes her conversation with Kyle Zimmer, the visionary leader behind First Book, a nonprofit social enterprise that is transforming the lives of millions of children through access to high-quality and diverse educational resources. In this episode, Kyle discusses how they’re keeping up with the shift to digital resources and bridging the digital divide to ensure that children in need have access to the tools they need to succeed. They also talk about her passion for diversity, inclusivity, and cultural relevance in education, and how it is making a difference in the lives of children and families. Kyle also shares her advice for entrepreneurs who want to make a difference in the world. She encourages them to fearlessly make bold decisions, to stay true to their vision and values, and to never give up on their dreams.

Sharon is excited to welcome Kyle Zimmer, a visionary leader and social entrepreneur, who is changing the lives of millions of children through her innovative approach to education. As the co-founder, CEO, and president of First Book, Kyle has dedicated her life to breaking the cycle of poverty through education. Her organization provides new books, learning materials, and other essentials to children in need across the U.S. and Canada, giving them access to high-quality and diverse educational resources that they might not have had otherwise. In this episode, Sharon talks with Kyle about her journey to become a social entrepreneur, the challenges she faced along the way, and the lessons she learned from her experience. They also discuss the impact of First Book on the lives of children and families, the importance of diversity and inclusivity in education, and the role of technology in enhancing learning outcomes. Through her visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to making a difference, Kyle Zimmer is a true inspiration for all of us. Her story reminds us that anyone can make a positive impact on the world if they have the passion, dedication, and determination to pursue their dreams.

Sharon continues her conversation with Sarah Harden, the visionary CEO of Hello Sunshine. As a leader in the media industry, Sarah shares her wisdom and insights on what it takes to be successful and how to support the next generation of leaders. Sarah also delves deeper into the mission and vision of Hello Sunshine, highlighting the company's commitment to empowering and amplifying women's voices through the stories they choose to tell. Get ready to be inspired and motivated as Sarah shares her passion and drive to make a positive impact in the world. Don't miss this uplifting episode with a true game-changer in the media industry.

Join Sharon as she sits down with Sarah Harden, a woman leading the charge in media and entertainment. As the CEO of Hello Sunshine, a media company co-founded by Reese Witherspoon, Sarah is dedicated to bringing inspiring and empowering stories to audiences everywhere. With a successful background in show business, Sarah has transformed Hello Sunshine into a thriving studio and brand. And in exciting news, the company recently announced a partnership with Build-A-Bear to bring a modern take on the classic fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears, with a strong female protagonist. In part one of this conversation, Sarah shares her journey from Australia to Hollywood, her role as the “Condition Setter-in-Chief”, and how she defines success. Get ready for an uplifting and inspiring episode with a true trailblazer in the media industry.

In the conclusion of Sharon's conversation with Sylvia Acevedo, the trailblazing tech executive and speaker, Sylvia shares why Maya Angelou has had such a profound effect on her career and how we can inspire the next generation of STEM leaders.

This week, Sharon welcomes Sylvia Acevedo to the podcast. Sylvia began her career at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and went on to hold executive roles at Apple and Dell. Sylvia also served as the CEO of the Girl Scouts of the USA and was appointed to the Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanics by President Barack Obama. In part one, Sylvia talks about the impact that the Girl Scouts had on her life, how she developed her trailblazing attitude, and the challenges she overcame while working on the Voyager 2 and solar probe projects at NASA.

In the conclusion of Sharon's conversation with Rita McGrath, the best-selling author of Seeing Around Corners, Rita shares the one thing that many leaders forget to do and what companies did to not only survive but thrive during the pandemic.

Sharon welcomes Rita McGrath to Stories & Heart. Rita is a Professor at Columbia Business School and a globally recognized expert on strategy in uncertain and volatile environments. Rita is also the best-selling author of The End of Competitive Advantage and Seeing Around Corners. In part one, Rita shares how her family inspired her intellectual curiosity, and how she helps companies achieve strategic agility by seeing around corners.

Sharon welcomes Sarah Personette, the former Chief Customer Officer at Twitter, to the podcast. Sarah’s fascinating career includes her time as COO of Refinery29 and VP of global marketing at Facebook. Sarah shares the journey that drove her to lead two of the biggest companies in the world, how she stays focused in a volatile and uncertain world, and the importance of gender parity in the tech industry. This podcast was recorded days before Elon Musk’s takeover of Twitter.

Sharon wraps up her inspirational conversation with the founder of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Maxine Clark. In part two, Maxine talks about the evolution of retail and women in business since the 1970s, advice for the next generation of entrepreneurs, and what she wants to be remembered for when she's gone.

The amazing Maxine Clark is Sharon's first guest on the podcast. Maxine is the founder and forever chief executive bear of Build-A-Bear Workshop. In part one, Maxine shares why teddy bears mean so much to her, the inspiration for creating a teddy-bear-themed retail-entertainment experience, and the importance of creating a positive culture for customers and employees.