27–Sheila Burkett: From Corporate Tech to Racing Cars and Digital Innovation

In this episode of The Unfolding Thought Podcast, Eric Pratum sits down with Sheila Burkett, a tech entrepreneur whose background spans finance, racing, historic redevelopment, and digital innovation. Sheila’s career started at Edward Jones, where she advanced from intern to general partner, gaining insight into technology and leadership along the way. Sheila went on to co-found Spry Digital, leveraging open-source technology to empower small and medium-sized businesses with the digital solutions they developSheila’s journey illustrates how embracing risk, nurturing resilience, and championing innovation can lead to opportunity and impact. Sheila is also a vocal advocate for women in technology, emphasizing the critical role of confidence-building and community support to foster inclusion in STEM.Topics Explored: Career Transitions – How Sheila navigated major career shifts, from Edward Jones executive to race car entrepreneur and digital agency founder. Importance of Open Source – Sheila discusses why open-source software is vital for empowering businesses and leveling the competitive playing field. Leadership and Learning – Key moments and philosophies that shaped Sheila’s approach to leadership and continuous learning. Resilience in Entrepreneurship – Sheila’s insights into embracing failure, nurturing innovation, and maintaining transparency during challenging times. Women in Technology – Barriers, misconceptions, and Sheila’s advocacy for greater inclusion and confidence-building for young women in STEM. Systems and Culture – How Sheila applies her technology and marketing expertise to build efficient operational systems and positive workplace cultures.Links: Sheila Burkett on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sheilaburkett/ Spry Digital: https://sprydigital.com Crystal: https://www.crystalknows.com National Center for Women & Information Technology: https://ncwit.org Dream Hoarders by Richard Reeves: https://amzn.to/4bW4UaP Andy Bales’ episode: https://unfoldingthought.com/20-andy-bales-from-poverty-to-purpose/ Kimberly Beckley’s episode: https://unfoldingthought.com/25-kimberly-beckley-rethinking-beauty-school-dreams/For more episodes, visit: https://unfoldingthought.comJoin the conversation by emailing Eric at: [email protected]