554 Joan Barnes Founder & Former CEO of Gymboree

On this episode of The Kara Goldin Show, we speak with Joan Barnes, the visionary Founder and Former CEO of Gymboree, a groundbreaking brand dedicated to fostering early childhood development through play-based learning. Joan's entrepreneurial journey began in 1976 with just one play center in California, which eventually expanded into a global phenomenon with 600 franchised play centers in 40 countries and 1000 company-owned retail stores worldwide. Through Joan's leadership, Gymboree became synonymous with innovation and excellence in early childhood education and retail, earning widespread acclaim and a loyal following. We hear about the challenges in the later years, including increased competition and shifting consumer preferences. We hear how although Gymboree closed its doors in 2019, many of the franchises live on. We also hear about yoga and the role that that played in her life after Gymboree. Plus we dive into her book which shares so much of her rollercoaster ride. So many lessons and so much inspiration. Tune in to this enlightening episode now on The Kara Goldin Show. Interested in sponsoring and advertising on The Kara Goldin Show? Which is now in the Top 1% of Entrepreneur podcasts in the world. Let me know by reaching out to me at [email protected]. You can also find me @KaraGoldin on all networks. To learn more about Joan Barnes and Play It Forward: https://www.instagram.com/joanbarnes1 https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanbarnesspeaks https://a.co/d/7Lvfwpu https://www.joanbarnesspeaks.com Check out our website to view this episode’s show notes: https://karagoldin.com/podcast/554