Bloom Where You’re Planted, with Sharon Davis

Sharon Davis—former First Lady of California and lifelong advocate—shares her remarkable journey of public service, personal growth and unwavering commitment to making a difference. At 70, Sharon reflects on her decades of experience, offering timeless lessons on leadership, aging well, and thriving through life’s challenges.

She reveals how her early career as a flight attendant taught her to master people skills, handle crises, and excel under pressure—qualities that shaped her future roles in politics and business. She emphasizes the lost art of listening as a transformative tool for bridging divides and fostering collaboration in today’s polarized world.

From working across political divides to advocating for children’s health and literacy, Sharon’s experiences highlight the enduring value of perseverance, curiosity, and humility. Her mother-in-law’s mantra, “bloom where you’re planted,” encourages us all to thrive wherever life takes us and to bring our best selves to every opportunity. 

Sharon’s stories of resilience, from weathering political storms to finding joy in everyday moments with family, remind us that even in life’s challenges, we can choose to rise above and move forward with grace. She also dives into the importance of health—physical, mental, and emotional—and how living intentionally creates a foundation for thriving in later years.

This conversation is a celebration of resilience, connection, and making a difference. Whether you’re seeking inspiration, leadership lessons, or tips for living boldly, Sharon’s wisdom will leave you motivated to excel at every stage of life.

Thank you for listening ❤ See below for transcript, timestamps, to get in touch, and more. TRANSCRIPT: https://www.shelightstheway.com/sharon-davis-transcript  STORY: https://www.shelightstheway.com/stories/sharondavis FOLLOW: Website: shelightstheway.com/ Newsletter: www.shelightstheway.com/newsletter LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/she-lights-the-way/ Instagram: www.instagram.com/shelightstheway/  X: x.com/she_lights_way LISTEN TO THE POD: Podbean: https://shelightstheway.podbean.com/ RSS: https://bit.ly/SheLightsTheWayRSS  Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/4091de0  Spotify: https://spoti.fi/4h8Kq0N  Amazon Music: https://amzn.to/3YeCt1m  READ THE BLOG: https://medium.com/@she_lights_the_way CONNECT: Contact us: www.shelightstheway.com/contact Share a story: www.shelightstheway.com/story  EPISODE LINKS: First Ladies of California:  https://web.archive.org/web/20130122054052/http://firstladies.library.ca.gov/34-Davis.html  Sharon Davis on Wikipedia:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Davis  KEY MOMENTS: 00:00 Introductions & Opening Thoughts 02:00 Aging Gracefully 04:00 Early Career Lessons 06:00 Building Bridges in Leadership 10:00 Practical Solutions for a Better Future 15:00 A Family Foundation in Public Service 20:00 Children’s Education & Media Literacy 26:00 Advice for Future Generations 28:30 Resilience in Life’s Challenges 33:00 What ‘She Lights