Episode 13.5: From Zoo Trips to Tech Builds: A Glimpse Into My World Right Now
Bright Ideas with Desiree B. Sharpe
Release Date: 11/20/2025
Episode 20: Why I’m Trading Hustle for Alignment in 2026
Bright Ideas with Desiree B. Sharpe
In this Bright Bite episode, Desiree B. Sharpe opens the year with a candid reflection on change, resilience, and what it really looks like to lead through uncertainty. She shares lessons from a year marked by both loss and growth, including becoming a mother, closing a business, and launching a new fintech venture, all while rethinking rigid goal setting in favor of faith, flexibility, and mental health. Desiree also unpacks trends she’s seeing among small business owners, from cautious optimism and smarter cash management to the rapid adoption of AI and subscription tools that can quietly...
info_outline
Episode 19: Your Voice Is Your Leverage in 2026
Bright Ideas with Desiree B. Sharpe
In this episode of Bright Ideas, Desiree B. Sharpe sits down with Mark Albert, founder and CEO of Media Advisory Experts, to explore what it really takes for leaders to use their voice with confidence and credibility. Drawing on his 25 years in broadcast journalism, Mark breaks down why the same experts dominate media conversations and how business owners and people leaders can position themselves as trusted authorities without big PR budgets. The conversation dives into overcoming self-doubt, recovering from mistakes, and reframing visibility as a responsibility, not a risk. Mark also shares...
info_outline
Episode 18: Reckless Kindness: Leading When the Rules Are Being Rewritten
Bright Ideas with Desiree B. Sharpe
In this episode of Bright Ideas, host Desiree B. Sharpe sits down with Taylor Wilson, founder and CEO of Creative Schizzle, to talk about building scalable marketing solutions without losing the human side of leadership. Taylor shares her founder journey, the thinking behind Creative Schizzle’s subscription-based model, and why accessible creative services matter so much for small businesses and lean teams. The conversation dives into timely topics like AI’s role in creative work, leading with kindness, and how leaders can design businesses that support both growth and people. Taylor also...
info_outline
Episode 17: The Burnout Wake-Up Call: A New Path for Women Leaders to Reclaim Career, Wealth, and Boundaries
Bright Ideas with Desiree B. Sharpe
In this episode, Desiree B. Sharpe sits down with marketer, agency founder, and podcaster Leslie Youngblood for a powerful conversation about building a business that supports your life instead of consuming it. Leslie shares how her eclectic career in New York advertising, fashion, chambers of commerce, and entrepreneurship shaped her leadership style and eventually pushed her to walk away from 80+ hour workweeks and chronic burnout. Together, they unpack the realities of the gender pay gap, why entrepreneurship can be a powerful path to wealth and autonomy for women, and what it really looks...
info_outline
Episode 16.5: The Best of Bright Ideas: Five Insights to Lead Smarter in the New Year
Bright Ideas with Desiree B. Sharpe
In this special year-end episode of Bright Ideas, Desiree B. Sharpe highlights five standout insights from guests who shaped the conversation on leadership this season. She revisits lessons on staying curious, understanding your numbers, choosing aligned opportunities, and leading with a forward-looking mindset. Desiree also explores how daily habits and intentional self-reflection can shift both culture and career direction. Each moment offers a practical takeaway for leaders preparing for the year ahead. This episode is perfect for people leaders, founders, and anyone wanting to grow with...
info_outline
Episode 16: Getting Things Done: The Leadership Skill That Still Outperforms Everything Else
Bright Ideas with Desiree B. Sharpe
In this episode of Bright Ideas, Desiree B. Sharpe sits down with Michael Vajda, Managing Director at Elevate Global US, for an honest conversation about leadership, entrepreneurship, and building resilient teams in today’s shifting economy. Michael shares how running his own boutique agency shaped his leadership style, why “getting things done” is the most underrated career strategy, and what it really took to transition back into a corporate role after a decade as an entrepreneur. They dive into intergenerational dynamics at work, the realities of hiring in a turbulent market, and...
info_outline
Episode 15: The Unwritten Rules Every Job Seeker Needs to Know
Bright Ideas with Desiree B. Sharpe
In this episode, Desiree sits down with Kathy Bremer, managing director at Boardwalk Consulting and author of Headhunter Confidential, for a deep look at what it really takes to build a meaningful career in a volatile job market. Kathy shares the lessons she’s learned across five distinct career chapters and explains why mindset, self-awareness, and clarity are still the strongest tools job seekers have, especially in an era dominated by AI screening and automated hiring systems. Together, they unpack the “unwritten rules” behind landing roles that align with your strengths, values, and...
info_outline
Episode 14: Succession No One Plans For: Michele Thornton on Grief, Health, and Taking Over LocalFresh
Bright Ideas with Desiree B. Sharpe
In this episode of Bright Ideas, Desiree B. Sharpe sits down with Michele Thornton, President of LocalFresh, for a candid look at what it really takes to lead and scale a small business. Their conversation digs into people-first leadership, succession planning, and how founders can build resilient teams that thrive through uncertainty. Michele shares her unexpected journey into entrepreneurship, the lessons she learned stepping into a legacy business, and the mindset shifts that helped her grow the company while protecting its culture. They also explore changing marketing trends, especially in...
info_outline
Episode 13.5: From Zoo Trips to Tech Builds: A Glimpse Into My World Right Now
Bright Ideas with Desiree B. Sharpe
In this Bright Bite episode of Bright Ideas, host Desiree B. Sharpe reflects on a transformative season of growth, faith, and entrepreneurship. She shares her experience inside the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, an Atlanta-based accelerator helping women founders access leadership training, strategic partnerships, and capital. From securing investor meetings at Venture Atlanta to refining her leadership mindset in the program’s labs, Desiree offers an authentic look at what it takes to evolve from founder to CEO. She also opens up about launching Savix, her AI-powered vendor...
info_outline
Episode 13: The Truth Advantage: The Leadership Strategy Most Companies Avoid
Bright Ideas with Desiree B. Sharpe
In this episode of Bright Ideas, Desiree sits down with Kathleen Lucente, founder and CEO of Red Fan Communications, for a deep dive into building a thriving agency culture rooted in transparency, values, and trust. Kathleen shares how her global career in corporate communications shaped her approach to leadership and why courageous conversations, financial transparency, and empowering teams are non-negotiables in today’s PR landscape. She also explores how AI and evolving SEO trends are reshaping communications strategy and what leaders must do to stay ahead. You’ll come away with...
info_outlineIn this Bright Bite episode of Bright Ideas, host Desiree B. Sharpe reflects on a transformative season of growth, faith, and entrepreneurship. She shares her experience inside the Women’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, an Atlanta-based accelerator helping women founders access leadership training, strategic partnerships, and capital. From securing investor meetings at Venture Atlanta to refining her leadership mindset in the program’s labs, Desiree offers an authentic look at what it takes to evolve from founder to CEO. She also opens up about launching Savix, her AI-powered vendor management platform, and the divine alignment that continues to guide her journey as a woman of faith, tech founder, and new mom. It’s a grounded, inspiring glimpse into leadership, balance, and the power of being in the right rooms.