Build-A-Bear CEO Provides Insights in Debut Book About How Personal Stories Can Shape Success

Ms. John has been the President and CEO of the publicly traded company for nearly a decade. During her tenure, she has successfully led the 25-year-old brand and organization through economic challenges and a global pandemic, with it emerging as a reimagined company.

Ms. John's unlikely combination of small-town southern roots and big-city Ivy League education make for a compelling contrast in observations and insights. Stories & Heart is structured as a compilation of a variety of life experiences creating a loose arch of her life that include a tree climbing challenge in childhood, an entrepreneurial business disappointment, and leading some of the world's best-known toy brands. Her personal stories inform the lessons, insights and tools in each chapter that are provided in an approachable manner and understandable format.

Specifically, following each chapter's "Story," the reader is asked to contemplate a "Question from the Heart," and a personal exploratory exercise supported by data and research. The intention is for this actionable guidebook to creating "a life you love" to be an invitation for readers to challenge their own mindset through the lens of each experience shared.

"The goal is for this book to be as much a journey for you, as it was for me," Ms. John explained. "This is an opportunity for you to think about what matters in your life while hopefully revealing an appreciation and understanding that your personal stories and, more importantly, the meaning you have woven around them not only impact your journey but can be predictive of it."

In honor of Stories & Heart launching as Build-A-Bear celebrates its 25th anniversary, the company has pledged $25,000 to the Build-A-Bear Foundation, which focuses on childhood literacy and the wellbeing of children. Funding this donation is expected to be partially generated by purchases of the book.

In addition to the book debut, Ms. John has launched a Stories & Heart podcast series. Each episode features trailblazers and groundbreakers who have lived extraordinary lives and share their personal stories, acquired wisdom and insights with listeners. The podcast series can be found on ForbesBooksAudio, Apple and Spotify. Also in conjunction with Forbes Books is a collection of blog posts sharing stories and lessons gleaned directly from the book that can be found on the blog series at Forbes.