#105: WABC News’ Sandra Bookman is Not an Icon

She is a master of goals and grace

Mar 27, 2025

Today’s Featured Uplifter: Sandra Bookman

I found myself smiling at Sandra Bookman's refreshing candor throughout this conversation. There's something deeply reassuring about hearing an accomplished broadcast journalist—who has guided New Yorkers through 27 years of collective triumphs and tragedies—reject the "icon" label and instead emphasize her fundamental humanity.

What struck me most was Sandra's self-awareness about her goal-oriented nature, tracing it back to her childhood in that small Texas town with dirt roads. From setting her sights on a fifth-grade academic award to visualizing her future in New York broadcasting, she consistently transformed dreams into concrete steps. This wasn't about magical thinking but rather persistent action, supported by parents who instilled both work ethic and the belief that she could achieve whatever she set her mind to.

Her perspective on resilience feels particularly valuable—acknowledging that most people demonstrate remarkable resilience daily, especially women juggling multiple responsibilities that often go unseen. There's wisdom in her recognition that her on-camera resilience isn't inherently more impressive than the behind-the-scenes strength of colleagues managing work, children, households, and countless invisible labors.

Her Courage Practice: Neighborhood Immersion

Rather than reporting from a comfortable distance, Sandra intentionally places herself in unfamiliar settings across the city's mosaic of communities. This isn't just professional diligence—it's a personal practice of breaking through the comfortable barriers of assumption.

"It's important for me to go there to see who people are, how they live, how the housing is different, find the best sandwich shop," she explained, highlighting how these experiences connect her to the communities she serves. By physically moving through different realities, she cultivates both knowledge and empathy that inform her reporting with authenticity.

This practice ripples outward, creating trust between herself and viewers who recognize that she's taken the time to understand their neighborhoods from within rather than characterizing them from without. In an age of increasing social division, her approach models how stepping into unfamiliar spaces—with genuine curiosity rather than preconceived notions—builds the foundation for more truthful storytelling.

Listen to this if...

You struggle with balancing responsibility to others with care for yourself
You want inspiration for building a goal-oriented mindset without perfectionism
You're navigating a significant life transition and need reassurance that "you'll be fine"
You're seeking models for breaking out of your own echo chamber and connecting with diverse perspectives