Ep 74. The Power of Storytelling in Leadership, Loss, and Life with Emmy Award-winning Journalist Sharon Delaney McCloud

⚠️Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of child loss. Listener discretion is advised. If you or someone you know needs support, resources are listed at the bottom of these show notes. Sharon Delaney McCloud built a career on the belief that the right words, told the right way, can change everything. What she didn't expect was that her own hardest story would become her most important work.An Emmy Award-winning broadcaster turned executive communication consultant, Sharon spent two decades anchoring the news before walking away to build something new. But the turning point wasn't professional. It was the loss of her six-month-old daughter, Macie, to leukemia. That line in the sand reshaped how she understood grief, success, and the courage it takes to be real in a world obsessed with looking perfect.In this tender and inspiring conversation, Sharon and Dr. Shabbir explore why facts push but emotions pull, how high achievers hide in their work, and why moving through loss matters far more than moving on. Sharon shares how she turned her grief into a TEDx talk that now trains nurses, reached the White House, and gives other bereaved parents language for the unspeakable. This is a masterclass in storytelling, leadership, and what it means to redefine success on your own terms.Episode Takeaways:How storytelling shaped Sharon from the family dinner table to network newsWhy facts push but emotions pull, and what that means for leadersMoving through grief instead of moving on, and why there's no timeline for itTurning battle scars into badges of honor through intentional storytellingThe Story Storm to Story Bank method for finding the why your team needsWhy perfection creates distance and being real creates connectionReimagining success as work that matters, not titles chasedAbout the guest:Sharon Delaney McCloud is an Emmy Award-winning broadcaster, Certified Speaking Professional (CSP®), TEDx speaker, adjunct professor, and corporate leadership consultant who helps people make an impact through powerful, intentional communication. As founder of a three-time INC 5000-recognized firm, she works with leaders and organizations on storytelling, self-aware leadership, and navigating hard conversations.Her insights have appeared in Thrive Global and Enterprising Women, and she co-authored Keep Going: Memoirs of Strength, Courage &amp; Perseverance. Her work spans clients including Cisco, Lenovo, Red Hat, UNC Health, Duke University, Amazon, IBM, Hilton, and Delta. Before founding her consultancy, Sharon supported American troops abroad with the Department of Defense's USO Program and spent two decades as a television journalist covering NASA, healthcare, and major events including the Olympics, where she carried the Olympic Torch. A mom of three, she considers that her most important role.Connect with Sharon Delaney McCloud:Website - https://www.sharondelaney.tv/ YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxwltFl2Jcdet09n9aaCxcQ LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharondelaneymccloud/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/sharondelaneymccloud/ Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sharondelaneyontv/ Sharon’s Story Bank Spreadsheet used for Story Storming About the HostDr. Amna Shabbir, MD, NBC-HWC, CPC is a Dual Board-Certified Physician and TEDx Speaker with advanced training in Integrative Well-being, Performance, and Leadership Development. She speaks, coaches, and consults on Perfectionism, Sustainable Success, and the well-being of High Achievers.Connect with Dr. Shabbir📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.amnashabbir/💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amna-shabbir-md/📹 Watch Dr. Shabbir's TEDx TalkPerfectionism Has A Solution - It is Not What You Think: <a href="