EP 62: BBC's Nicki Sheard on Building Up Bluey, The Most-Streamed Show in the U.S.
How She Does It · Karen Finerman
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Show Notes
BLUEY is a bona fide global phenomenon. In 2024, the animated show about a delightful Australian dog and her family saw more than 55+ billion minutes streamed in the U.S. When you add in the first six months of 2025, it’s more than 80+ billion minutes total streamed. That kind of success is rare, and it’s Nicki Sheard’s job to shepherd the brand and its beloved characters beyond the screen: from inside popular games like Just Dance, to appearing on the sides of Converse sneakers, and being one of the very few non-Disney brands to be brought into the Disney parks (coming in 2026.)
It’s a career Nicki Sheard may not have had if she didn’t trust her gut. Midway through pursuing a PhD at Harvard, she realized science (and dissecting fruit flies) wasn’t the path for her. Her determination and curiosity has helped her shape a unique professional journey that’s taken her to P&G, McKinsey Consulting, Charlotte Tilbury and the BBC. As CEO of BBC Studios Brands & Licensing, Nicki oversees the growth of Bluey (for which the BBC is co-commissioner, distributor and licensor of the multi-award-winning animated series produced by Ludo Studio) as well as brands like Dr. Who, Strictly Come Dancing (Dancing With The Stars) and BBC Earth.
💬 In this episode, we explore:
- Why Nicki chose to trust her gut and leave Harvard before completing her Phd
- The professionals lessons Nicki learned working as a consultant
- How BCC Studios is embracing Artificial Intelligence to create new products
- The two guiding principles Nicki uses to prioritize work and family
- What Nicki sees as the unique appeal behind Bluey and the safeguards she uses to protect the brand
🔗 Visit Bluey’s website
🔗 Visit The Booker Prize website
📸 Follow Bluey on TikTok
📸 Follow BBC Studios on Instagram
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