It's Okay to Pivot: Sharon Sullivan's Winding Road From Tech Sales to Franchise CEO

What if your "winding road" of a career was actually your secret weapon?In this episode, Jeni sits down with Sharon Sullivan, Owner & CEO of Renewal by Andersen of the Carolinas, to unpack how she went from technology sales to healthcare to leading one of the region's most successful home improvement franchises. In just eight years, Sharon grew her team from 24 to over 300 employees, all while maintaining a relentless focus on customer experience, brand integrity, and the servant leadership philosophy that grounds her culture.Sharon doesn't just talk about scaling; she breaks down the how — from aligning team goals with company OKRs to recognizing when your processes (and your people) need to level up. She shares why "finding a way to meet the customer's needs" isn't just a tagline but a non-negotiable, and how philanthropy and internal community aren't nice-to-haves—they're culture-makers.Whether you're navigating a career pivot, struggling to scale without losing your soul, or building a team that actually wants to show up on Monday, this conversation is packed with hard-won wisdom and zero fluff.Key Takeaways:Your career path is not a straight line — and that's a feature, not a bug.Leadership is empowerment, not control. Build culture by building people.Scaling means adapting: processes, talent, and your own mindset.Consistent customer experience is the ultimate brand loyalty play.Share the metrics. Alignment and accountability go hand-in-hand.