"'four questions Who's thinking what — and why? The wonderful world of Sesame Street, with its educational themes and colorful, inventive characters like Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Grover and Elmo, is brought to you every day by a group of talented and dedicated professionals working behind the scenes, including Southfield native SHARON STULBERG. "Our mission is to use the power of the media to help all children reach their highest potential," says Stulberg, 39, who serves as assistant vice president of marketing for Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street. "I love That I can bring the great Things about Sesame Street to children all over the world." Stulberg, who was confirmed at Temple Israel in West Bloomfield and is now settled on Manhattan's Upper West Side with her husband, Jon Fish, and their 11-month old daughter, Caroline, literally traveled around the globe to get where she is today. She holds a B.A. in music from Stanford University and an M.B.A. from IMD, the International Institute for Management Development in Lausanne, Switzerland. After graduating, Stulberg took a job with the Coca-Cola Company in Vienna, Austria, and ultimately ended up in New York where she joined Sesame Workshop in 2002. "I love the variety," Stulberg says. "My job combines my interests in educa- tion, entertainment, media and business — it's a very unique intersection of all those different things." Being a new mom, adds Stulberg, has given her a newfound perspective. "I'm seeing all of the books, DVDs, and toys through a fresh set of eyes." Here, we ask Stulberg our version of the Four Questions. — Robin Schwartz 1 WHAT BOOK, CD„ MOVIE OR OTHER MEDIA ARE. YOU LONGING TO SHARE WITH OTHERS? I encourage people to rediscover Sesame Street. I get to work with the producers, writers, actors, artists, researchers and others who create the magic, and I think it's great that parents who grew up on Sesame Street can now share it with their children. Grown- ups will see familiar elements, but will be delighted with the modern twists. Jon Stewart was a guest this year — parents love him, but his skit about the word 'practice' will have kids cracking up. As a new mom, one of my favorite things to do is to curl up with my daughter and rediscover all the great books of my youth. Sesame Street's The Monster at the End of this Book is a classic, and we both squeal as we get closer to the end. IF YOU COULD HAVE BRUNCH WITH A BIBLICAL OR HISTORICAL JEWISH FIGURE, WHO WOULD IT BE? I would love to have brunch with [Academy Award—nominated film director, producer, screen- writer and novelist] Nora Ephron. She is a smart, funny, articulate, Jewish woman who has succeeded in male-dominated fields. She is superbly confident and is able to leverage the difficult moments in her life in a way that most of us could only dream of. We could talk about food, love, work, family, New York. We could share family kugel recipes. 3 WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE JEWISH FOOD? Pickled herring, although I would never, ever, touch it. When I was a child, my grandfather, David Lipton, used to delight in eating this in front of my sisters and me. He knew this was the last thing three little girls would like, but he would get this sparkle in his eye as he bit into it and ask us, "Are you sure you won't try some?" He passed away 20 years ago, and I still smile whenever I see a jar of pickled herring on a grocery-store shelf Jewish food for me, whether I eat it or not, represents all that is wonderful about family time. On Friday nights or the holidays, my grandfather would make dinner, my grandmother would bake the desserts. My childhood memories are filled with tastes and smells from those family times. 4 WHAT WOULD PEOPLE BE SURPRISED TO KNOW ABOUT YOU? That I wanted to be an opera singer. Unfortunately, after graduating with a degree in music from Stanford University, I realized my pipes were not up to the challenge and I had to find another career path. After a circuitous route that led through Asia, Russia, Switzerland and Austria, that path led to New York and Sesame Street. The only singing I do these days is when my husband, Jon, and I serenade our baby daughter, Caroline, with some silly song like "Six Little Ducks." ❑ STEP INTO SCHOOL THIS SEASON WITH THE BEST FASHION ACCESSORY OF ALL: GREAT LOOKING SKIN!!!! $500 includes Obagi Skincare Regimen Save $50 (Available for a limited time only. Must present coupon at time of service) Inc. Amino Acid Clay Peels 4 for $250 Designs for Special Events (Available for a limited time only. 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