Women Leaders in the Sexual Wellness Sector—with Barbara Cook - 144

According to Barbara Cook, retail is about making people feel good. And as Chief Executive Officer of a sexual wellness brand, she believes that pleasure plays an important role in our overall health and wellbeing.

Barbara is the CEO of Lovers Stores, the female-founded, omnichannel sexual wellness brand with 41 stores in five states. Prior to joining Lovers in 2019, she spent more than 20 years serving in leadership roles for well-known retail brands, including Gap, T-Mobile and Starbucks. Since taking the helm at Lovers, Barbara facilitated the company’s acquisition by the iconic PLBY Group as part of her mission to reignite and modernize the brand.

On this episode of Wickedly Smart Women, Barbara joins Anjel to explain how she became a leader in the retail world and describe how she functions as an intrapreneur who innovates within the corporate environment. She offers insight on increasing the number of women in C-suite positions and shares what inspired her to say YES to the role of CEO at Lovers. Listen in to understand Barbara's vision for helping people achieve greater sexual wellness and get her advice to aspiring women corporate leaders.

What You Will Learn 

How Barbara’s apprenticeship at a bakery introduced her to the world of retail

Barbara’s experience as the youngest Senior Store Manager at Marks & Spencer

The characteristics Barbara embodies as a servant leader in the C-suite 

How Barbara functions as an intrapreneur who innovates within the corporate environment

What inspired Barbara to say YES to the role of CEO at Lovers

Barbara’s vision for helping people achieve greater sexual wellness

How Barbara thinks about increasing the number of women in C-suite roles

The inclusiveness Barbara wants to see in the sexual wellness sector

Barbara’s advice for women leaders to trust our instincts and be authentic

Connect with Barbara Cook 

Lovers Stores

Resources 

Marks & Spencer Retail Training

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask)

Connect with Anjel B. Hartwell

Wickedly Smart Women

Wickedly Smart Women Facebook Community

Wickedly Smart Women on TeePublic

Wickedly Smart Women on Clubhouse

The Wealthy Life Mentor

The Wealthy Life Mentor on Facebook

Anjel on Twitter

Anjel on Instagram

Email listeners@wickedlysmartwomen.com 

Leave Us A Message On Our listener line:  

540-402-0043 x4343

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Confessions of a Recovering Corporate Workaholic—with Karin Freeland - 145

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Transforming the Way You Think About Sales—with Julia Kline - 143