“It's magical to be of service.” - Sharon Price John
In this incredibly motivating episode of Entreprenista, we're joined by Sharon Price John, the transformative CEO and President of Build-A-Bear Workshop. Under Sharon's visionary leadership, this iconic brand has undergone a remarkable transformation, redefining the retail experience for millions. Her journey, a blend of creativity and strategic insight, has reshaped Build-A-Bear into a dynamic player in the retail industry. Sharon's career is a roadmap of success through resilience and curiosity, starting with her unique fusion of art and psychology in advertising, leading to her major role in brand management and marketing. At Build-A-Bear, she has not just led the company but reinvented it, implementing innovative retail marketing strategies that resonate deeply with children and parents. Tune in as we explore her approach to understanding customer psychology and delivering immersive retail experiences that evolve as we evolve. We also discuss topics from her book “Stories and Heart”, how she channels her passion for personal development through mentorship, and so much more.
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Hosts
Stephanie Cartin is a serial entrepreneur, investor, podcast host, community builder, and a champion for women founders. She created the Entreprenista League, a community for women founders, to provide resources and support necessary at all business stages. She’s also the Co-founder of Socialfly, one of the first social media marketing agencies, as well as Entreprenista Media and Pearl Influential Capital which was recently acquired by Cherub. Stephanie has shared her journey managing her health challenges with Multiple Sclerosis, Infertility, and a complicated pregnancy and is an advocate for women going through similar challenges. Her story and businesses have been featured on the Today Show, Bloomberg and Forbes. Consider Stephanie your biggest business cheerleader.
Courtney Spritzer is a serial entrepreneur, angel investor, author, and community builder with a passion for creating brands and platforms that empower women to lead, grow, and thrive.
In 2012, she co-founded Socialfly, a leading social-first digital and influencer marketing agency. Over the course of a decade, she helped scale the business into an award-winning agency working with Fortune 500 brands and emerging startups, building a powerhouse team and culture along the way. In 2024, Socialfly was acquired.
In 2018, Courtney launched the Entreprenista Podcast to spotlight the stories of inspiring women founders. That passion evolved into Entreprenista Media in 2021, a media platform and community supporting women entrepreneurs at every stage of growth. She now co-leads the continued expansion of The Entreprenista League, a membership-driven community and ecosystem for founders.
As an angel investor, Courtney supports female-led and mission-driven startups aligned with her vision for a more inclusive and equitable business landscape.
She is the co-author of Like, Love, Follow: The Entreprenista’s Guide to Using Social Media to Grow Your Business (2015), a strategic guide for leveraging social platforms to drive business success.
Her work and ventures have been featured in Bloomberg, Forbes, Inc., Entrepreneur, and The New York Times. She is committed to championing visionary founders and helping build the next generation of impactful, community-driven businesses.
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Highlights
- Building a value system
- Sharon’s career path and the journey to Build-A-Bear
- The tipping point for most entrepreneurs before ultimately investing in themselves
- Learning and moving forward from failure
- Preserving the culture and spirit of Build-A-Bear
- Changing the business model and not upending the culture of the company
- Change management
- Effectively marketing to both parents and kids
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