Sharon Price John
President and Chief Executive Officer
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Since 2013, Sharon Price John has served as president and CEO of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW), the beloved multimillion-dollar global company often credited as a pioneer in the creation of “experiential retail” upon its inception in 1997. During her decade-plus tenure, she has led a strategic evolution and diversification of the business model leading to a significant improvement in overall results and enhanced shareholder value. After initially orchestrating a financial turnaround, Ms. John focused on diversifying and monetizing the power of the Build-A-Bear brand which has included expanding the consumer base beyond kids, evolving the retail footprint well beyond malls, elevating the ecommerce business, and extending into entertainment content. More recently, she and her team successfully navigated the company through the “retail apocalypse,” followed by a global pandemic ultimately delivering a number of the most profitable years in the company’s history all while remaining true to the company’s mission of “adding a little more heart to life.”
Before taking the helm at Build-A-Bear, Ms. John enjoyed over 30 years of expanding responsibilities on brands and businesses primarily focused on the children’s sector, emerging as a turnaround and change agent. Specifically, before her current position, she served as president of the Stride Rite Children’s Group, the global children’s retail and footwear division of Wolverine Worldwide (NYSE: WWW). Prior to that, Ms. John worked at Hasbro (NYSE:HAS), a global toy and entertainment leader, in senior roles including the SVP/General Manager of the Global Preschool Business Unit and the SVP/General Manager of the U.S. Toy division with oversite of iconic brands ranging from Transformers to My Little Pony. Ms. John’s toy industry experience also includes tenure at Mattel (NYSE:MAT) working in the Barbie brand and in the Disney business unit as the VP of International, which included an ex-patriot stint in Paris. She also worked at the U.S. division of Vtech Toys in the role of VP of Marketing and Product. Ms. John’s early career was in the advertising industry, including experience at DDB/Needham Worldwide in New York City.
Ms. John’s education includes an MBA from Columbia University in New York City and an BS from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, her home state.
Separately, she has served as a board director at Jack in the Box (NASDAQ: JACK) since 2014, and as the Chairperson of the Toy Industry Association board since 2024, in addition to tenue on a number of educational and philanthropic boards. Among other recognitions, Ms. John has been named to the University of Tennessee’s Top 100 Alumni of the last 100 years and noted as a Distinguished Alumni by Columbia Women in Business. She was recently noted as leading one of Forbes Top 20 Customer-Centric Companies and listed as CEO Forum's Top 10 CEOs Creating Culture.
As a seasoned and sought after thought leader, Ms. John is regularly a media guest, panel member and keynote speaker ranging from industry knowledge, to women in business, to leadership and change management. Her recent book, "Stories & Heart: Unlock the Power of Personal Stories to Create a Life You Love," addresses many of these topics in a personalized, approachable way and achieved an Amazon #1 Best Seller in the Business Mentoring & Coaching category.
Ms. John lives in St. Louis with her husband, Russ, and has three children.
Before taking the helm at Build-A-Bear, Ms. John enjoyed over 30 years of expanding responsibilities on brands and businesses primarily focused on the children’s sector, emerging as a turnaround and change agent. Specifically, before her current position, she served as president of the Stride Rite Children’s Group, the global children’s retail and footwear division of Wolverine Worldwide (NYSE: WWW). Prior to that, Ms. John worked at Hasbro (NYSE:HAS), a global toy and entertainment leader, in senior roles including the SVP/General Manager of the Global Preschool Business Unit and the SVP/General Manager of the U.S. Toy division with oversite of iconic brands ranging from Transformers to My Little Pony. Ms. John’s toy industry experience also includes tenure at Mattel (NYSE:MAT) working in the Barbie brand and in the Disney business unit as the VP of International, which included an ex-patriot stint in Paris. She also worked at the U.S. division of Vtech Toys in the role of VP of Marketing and Product. Ms. John’s early career was in the advertising industry, including experience at DDB/Needham Worldwide in New York City.
Ms. John’s education includes an MBA from Columbia University in New York City and an BS from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, her home state.
Separately, she has served as a board director at Jack in the Box (NASDAQ: JACK) since 2014, and as the Chairperson of the Toy Industry Association board since 2024, in addition to tenue on a number of educational and philanthropic boards. Among other recognitions, Ms. John has been named to the University of Tennessee’s Top 100 Alumni of the last 100 years and noted as a Distinguished Alumni by Columbia Women in Business. She was recently noted as leading one of Forbes Top 20 Customer-Centric Companies and listed as CEO Forum's Top 10 CEOs Creating Culture.
As a seasoned and sought after thought leader, Ms. John is regularly a media guest, panel member and keynote speaker ranging from industry knowledge, to women in business, to leadership and change management. Her recent book, "Stories & Heart: Unlock the Power of Personal Stories to Create a Life You Love," addresses many of these topics in a personalized, approachable way and achieved an Amazon #1 Best Seller in the Business Mentoring & Coaching category.
Ms. John lives in St. Louis with her husband, Russ, and has three children.