June 2026 Featured Maximizer of Shareholder Value: Sabrina Brengel

Somewhere in the distance, a middle manager is printing out a “Star Employee” certificate on cardstock. A regional supervisor is making an announcement to a team they see once a quarter, letting them know that the company doubled its profit this year, thanks to them, and their hard work will be rewarded with a pizza party (not to exceed $60). A top performer is picking from a spiff catalog after they adjust their plastic “Employee of the Month” frame on the wall.

Now, we don’t have any of those awards. This is not the Dundies, after all. All we can do is highlight good people doing good in the world of work and make sure you know all about that work. Get to know our June 2026 Featured Maximizer of Shareholder Value and see how she may be someone you should reach out to and get to know!

Meet Sabrina Brengel, our Featured Maximizer of Shareholder Value for June 2026! We LOVE when our Featured Maximizers a) are doing very unique things (and it doesn’t get more unique than a professional string quartet) to maximize value in their OWN lives (sorry shareholders), and b) recommend AGAINST pursuing your passions as a career. Please, more flying in the face of the misguided advice we Elder Millennials all received - like Sabrina says, you don’t have to make your ~eternal love~ your cash-money-paying-job…you might actually be happier if it’s not! Get to know Sabrina, Miss Gemini Queen June 2026 Maximizer of Shareholder Value, below!

So Sabrina, what do you do? What’s your role and your company?

By day I do subscription revenue strategy for Dow Jones and the Wall Street Journal but more importantly, by night I play bass for What the Pluck?! String Quartet, a NY-based string ensemble specializing in Bridgerton vibes.

How can people find you online?

Website: Readers can visit our page on The Knot - we book weddings!

Instagram: @whatthepluckstrings

Tell us about yourself - what’s the elevator pitch about YOU?

I am one-quarter of What the Pluck?!, four friends & musicians in a strings quartet. We’ve been doing the Bridgerton thing since before Bridgerton was a thing. We’ve played together for weddings, parties, and events for the last seven years. We happily switch between classical, pop, jazz, folk, classic rock, movie themes, and show tunes. Nothing would make us happier than to bring your musical vision to life.

What’s one topic you consider yourself an absolute expert in?

Wedding ceremony music

Are there any new, exciting projects you’re working on?

A very funny Pitbull video if I ever figure out how to make a reel. (Editor’s Note: She did, in fact, figure it out, and the result is hilarious.)

What kind of work setup do you prefer?

Work from home/remote

What is a topic you’re passionate about when it comes to the world of work? What is one thing you wish more people knew or talked about in business, technology, professional settings, or even just the business OF work?

Don’t follow your passion!!! Do what you’re good at and what you can live with. Make enough money that you can spend some on the things that makes you feel actually human.

What is your #1 work pet peeve?

Noises. Gum chewing, slurping drinks, people taking meetings loudly from the desk next to me.

What should we know about your work? Tell us what your big message is for this interview:

These answers are a frenetic combination of my workplace self and my enterprising music self. But hire us to play for your wedding, backyard party, or corporate gig!!

Before we wrap it up, tell us your funniest (or best! or worst!) story about work. It could be a terrible incentive gift for all your hard work, a mortifying Zoom moment, a satisfying quitting story…whatever you’ve got.

I don’t know how you can anonymize me sneezing [REDACTED] out of an elevator so I’ll go with the time I tried too hard to make a friend at work (it came up that we like the same podcast), came on too strong (got drunk at a happy hour and asked too many questions), and scared her off. She did come to my farewell happy hour when I left and is probably grateful I’m gone. I should note that this approach has a 2/3 success rate and has worked in other instances.

Remind us again how people can get in touch with you:

Website: Visit our page on The Knot - book us for your wedding or special event!