Fearless Authenticity with Jeanne Sparrow
Ready to Be Brave, Be Free, Be You? To engage with the world as the best version of yourself and find success in life? Join Jeanne Sparrow, award-winning speaker, Fortune 100 consultant, and 7-time Emmy Winner, as she comes together each week with business leaders, entrepreneurs, colleagues, authors, friends, and celebrities for real and honest conversations about finding your Fearless Authenticity. She digs deep into how you make lasting relationships in your professional and private life; how you express yourself fearlessly; and how you deal with the challenges and obstacles on the way to achieving your goals. But don’t worry, it’s not all business! There are plenty of light moments because Jeanne truly believes that if it’s not fun, it’s not worth doing! Join the conversation every Thursday and let Jeanne help you find your truest, most authentic self.
Episodes
August 12, 2022 • 16 min
Brenda Darden Wilkerson is a committed champion for creating more inclusive technology, for both those who work in it and those who use it. As the President and CEO of AnitaB.org, the leading organization for women and non-binary people in technology, she talks with Jeanne in this special episode of Fearless Authenticity about the highlights of their biggest event of the year, Grace Hopper Celebration. This September 20-23, GHC 22 ...
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Emily Chang wants to be a positive force for change in the world. The McCann Worldgroup, China CEO has already set a practical, yet powerful plan in motion with her book “The Spare Room.” She shares with Jeanne what inspired her to start the “Social Legacy” movement, how it works, and why it leads to stronger leaders and just better humans; why she believes we should integrate work and family instead of trying to find a balance, an...
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“If anybody’s gonna ‘F’ this up, I want it to be me. You gotta trust your gut.” Sovereign Brands CEO Brett Berish is all about going with your gut feeling on things. He came to understand that after a lot of failure. But he says everything to him now is about failing and learning from it. He says it’s a powerful thing! He shares with Jeanne how he built his brand of innovative and unique wine and spirits by being true to himself; w...
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Get ready for 30 minutes of mic-drop moments from HGTV’s “Fix My Flip” host Page Turner. The self-made real estate broker and house-flipping expert is on a mission to help you seize your greatest opportunities. Her efforts come from her own regrets of not capitalizing on some big prospects early in her life. She shares with Jeanne what obstacles held her back; what she has learned about how to be successful; the three words that ru...
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May 5, 2022 • 49 min
There is absolutely no stopping Kenny McReynolds. He will not quit. The Chicago sportscasting legend has had 45 operations, numerous bouts with cancer, and even died (according to Kenny) and was brought back to life in 2017. He shares with Jeanne what drives him to never give up, the song he plays each morning to celebrate the day ahead; why he’s always giving back; why he will never forgive former President Jimmy Carter for boycot...
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“We’re only as good as the friends that we keep.” Words to live by from Conagra SVP and CCO Jon Harris. His friends are his prized possessions so he nurtures those relationships and takes care of his people. But it’s not only his friends who benefit from his generosity and grace – he’s learned over the years that you have to be kind to everyone because you never know what battles they’re fighting inside. He shares with Jeanne what ...
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She says it was a labor of love from the start. Tennis trailblazer Katrina Adams has turned her passion for the game into a phenomenal career well beyond the court, being a leader, a decisionmaker, a voice for the growth and development of tennis. She talks with Jeanne about her love of competition; why staying in the sport of tennis as an executive was the only natural path for her; how she works to build on her accomplishments of...
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I’m gonna be Finesse; that’s my power. Finesse Mitchell has made his career his own from the start – as an actor, comedian, author, host, podcaster, and now president of the Laugh Factory. He’s passionate about it all, and says he’s just scratched the surface of everything he wants to do. He shares with Jeanne the best two words of advice he’s ever received; why taking charge of The Laugh Factory is a dream come true; why it’s impo...
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April 7, 2022 • 51 min
Bonnie DeShong is a radio pioneer in Chicago. Her signature “Hey Baby” is part of her strong legacy as a co-host with some of the biggest names in Urban Radio, sharing her gifts, and speaking her mind. She reveals to Jeanne where her trademark greeting came from, the best advice she ever received from Chicago media legend Merry Dee, her philosophy for keeping it real, what it was like being a woman in a man’s world for more than 30...
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“Dreams don’t come true, they are true.” J. Ivy is living proof of his mantra. He is living his dream as a writer; a 2022 Grammy-nominated writer and performer for his spoken word album “Catching Dreams: Live at Fort Knox Chicago.” His creative calling started in high school and hasn’t stopped. He shares with Jeanne why he believes following your instincts is a key to success; how fearless authenticity got him to where he is today;...
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Literally being thrown in the deep end of the pool at age 4 gave Amy Guth her outlook on life: I’m at my best when I just jump in and try it. And try it she has, leading her to the be queen of truth bombs. She shares with Jeanne what her superpower is, why she believes in the power of “starting;” why she thinks challenging narratives is so important, especially surrounding women; her secrets to success; and her best advice for when...
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She’s always been a fierce defender of parents and children. Now, Heidi Stevens is helping build a better support system for parents as the Creative Director of Parent Nation at the University of Chicago. As a columnist at the Chicago Tribune, she told important stories about all the people doing good in and around the city. She isn’t afraid to share her own stories of struggle or call out the wrongs she sees happening, especially...
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March 10, 2022 • 38 min
Her first elected office was serving on the local school council for Kenwood Academy on Chicago’s South Side. After representing the 5th District in the Illinois House of Representatives for two years, Juliana Stratton became the 48th Lieutenant Governor of Illinois in 2019. During her career, whether starting a mediation firm, working for several governmental agencies, or serving the state, her goal has always been to bring commun...
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March 3, 2022 • 59 min
She got her first big break imitating Bart Simpson on the radio! And now, she’s one of only a few women who lead a morning radio show, waking up listeners on WLIT-Chicago. Melissa Forman has been a beloved Chicago TV and radio fixture since 1999, providing laughs, love, and lots of smiles. She shares with her former TV co-host Jeanne her secrets to success; why she doesn’t take things personally; why patience and grace are her mant...
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February 24, 2022 • 59 min
She started out wanting to be a doctor but then fell in love with computer science. Brenda Darden Wilkerson turned that passion into purpose; from building computer programs at Chicago Public Schools to leading a global organization that works to bring intersectional gender and pay parity to the tech industry. She shares with Jeanne why she quit pre-med and jumped wholeheartedly into computer science; her biggest challenges as a Bl...
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February 17, 2022 • 45 min
Radio was a family affair for Marv Dyson. With both his parents and siblings already on-the-air, it wasn’t hard for him to make the leap. But he kept to the business-side, starting in sales and ending up as general manager, hiring some of the biggest names in Urban Radio. He shares with Jeanne how he made that climb; the best advice his dad gave him about making decisions; how he created the history-making Fly Jock; and why giving ...
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February 10, 2022 • 60 min
Known as the WordSmyth, there really isn’t a mode of creative communication Malik Yusef hasn’t conquered or contributed to. The avant-garde spoken word poet is a thoughtful deep thinker, always looking to connect on a human level with his audience. He shares with Jeanne about his thirst for life; that to become a visionary, you must always embrace the vision; the important difference between liberation and freedom; and why you have...
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February 3, 2022 • 45 min
She calls herself an overnight success twenty-some years in the making. Tracy Clark knew she wanted to be a writer from a young age and pursued it relentlessly, even though she got rejection letter after rejection letter for her mystery novels. She shares with Jeanne what kept her going; why she credits her devotion to learning as a key to her success; how and why she pays it forward for up-and-coming writers of color; and how auth...
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January 27, 2022 • 55 min
From his humble beginnings as a radio DJ in Bermuda, Elroy Smith built an Urban Radio empire in Chicago that lead the country for years. His success stemmed from his basic philosophy: If there’s no connection, how can they relate to you? He shares with Jeanne how he became a programming visionary and beloved boss in a demanding industry; why being authentic is the only way to find your audience; and shares his key to success that ...
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January 20, 2022 • 47 min
From an early age, George Wallace knew he wanted to be a comedian but he took a bit of a circuitous route to get there. He never stopped laughing along the way though, never worried about making a lot of money or even being at the top of his profession. He shares with Jeanne his secrets to a happy, successful life, what he learned from his comedy friends like Redd Foxx and Jerry Seinfeld, and the number one thing he says you can’t ...
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