Robin Sparkman ’91, StoryCorps’ First CEO, Talks About Her Career and the Importance of Storytelling

As CEO of StoryCorps, Robin Sparkman ’91 has expanded the storytelling nonprofit’s national board and senior leadership, overseen the development of its mobile app, and reconstructed the company’s finances. But to many, her most significant role on the StoryCorps team has been finding new ways to bring people together for meaningful conversations. One such conversation took place November 8, when Sparkman sat down with Erin Kelly ’20, co-editor-in-chief of The Wellesley News.

Kelly asked Sparkman about her time at Wellesley, where she studied English and political science, and was a proud member of the Wellesley debate team—which, she said in the interview, “really shaped my thinking. Being able to organize my thoughts, speak spontaneously…those were all really good life skills.” They also discussed Sparkman’s career as a journalist and editor, and her role as the first CEO of StoryCorps.

On November 14 at 4:30 p.m., Sparkman will address the Wellesley community in Alumnae Hall Ballroom as a part of the Freedom Project’s event series. In her talk, “Listening Is an Act of Love: Lessons from StoryCorps,” Sparkman will discuss the power of storytelling to create empathy and bridge divides.

Photo caption: Erin Kelly '20, co-editor of "The Wellesley News" interviews StoryCorps CEO Robin Sparkman in her first-year home, Beebe Hall.