How She Does It EP 62: BBC's Nicki Sheard on Building Up Bluey, The Most-Streamed Show in the U.S.
Oct 21, 2025
Nicki Sheard, CEO of BBC Studios Brands & Licensing, has a fascinating background that spans science, brand management, and digital media. She discusses her bold decision to leave a Harvard PhD for a career in branding, highlighting lessons from her time at P&G and McKinsey. Nicki reveals how she identified Bluey's potential early on, leading to its expansive success, including its notable presence in Disney parks. She also explores the show's appeal for adults, the use of AI in content creation, and her personal strategies for balancing career ambitions with family life.
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Quit PhD After Trusting Her Gut
- Nicki left a Harvard PhD in fruit fly genetics because it didn't feel right for her.
- She trusted her gut first, then used logic to confirm the decision and pivoted careers.
Switched From Lab To Brand Management
- At P&G Nicki moved from research science into brand management despite little precedent.
- She accepted a lower level role to learn the business and prove herself inside the company.
Product Plus Tech Creates Explosive Growth
- Great products combined with tech or social change can explode globally.
- Nicki cites Candy Crush as a product that scaled massively once mobile and Facebook aligned.
