Sandra Campos: Experience Builds Wisdom
Episode Overview
In this deeply personal episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times, host Chris Schembra sits down in person with Sandra Campos, a trailblazing CEO, board advisor, and serial entrepreneur whose story spans global fashion houses, digital transformation, and compassionate leadership.
From humble beginnings in her parents’ tortilla factory to leading billion-dollar brands like Diane von Furstenberg and PetMeds, Sandra’s journey is one of grit, grace, and reinvention. Sheopens up about her mother’s influence as an immigrant and lifelong learner, how that shaped her own discipline and drive, and why gratitude remains the throughline of every chapter in her life.
Together, Chris and Sandra unpack the difference between knowledge and wisdom, exploring how true leadership comes not from perfection but from experience, the kind earned through risk-taking, failure, and self-belief. Sandra shares how she’s learning to slow down, to truly listen to the sounds around her, from the birds on her rescue horse farm to the people who cross her path, and why presence might be the most powerful skill in business today.
They talk about the courage to show up before you’re ready, the importance of respect in partnerships, and how every ending can be the start of a new beginning if you meet it with optimism and curiosity. Sandra’s reflections on authenticity, self-authorship, and purpose offer timeless lessons for anyone navigating change or chasing meaning in modern leadership.
This episode is a reminder that you can’t teach wisdom — you live it. It’s a celebration of resilience, risk, and gratitude, and an invitation to believe that, no matter your age or stage, you’re always just beginning.
Themes & Highlights
● How Sandra’s immigrant mother instilled grit, gratitude, and lifelong learning
● From “knowledge builds confidence” to “experience builds wisdom”
● Taking uncalculated risks — and learning to thrive through failure
● The emotional intelligence behind leading through change
● Presence as the ultimate leadership skill
● Why reinvention is not a restart, but a continuation of purpose
Why Listen
At a time when leadership often feels defined by speed and perfection, Sandra reminds us that true wisdom comes from slowing down, showing up, and learning through experience. Her journey from small-town Texas to the global stage is proof that success built on gratitude, curiosity, and courage doesn’t just change careers...it transforms lives.
“Experience Builds Wisdom” is more than a conversation, it’s an invitation to see every risk, every chapter, and every quiet moment as a teacher.