Hi there, I'm Sarah. Nice to e-meet.
I do coaching, consulting, and design (product, brand, and UX).
Currently, I'm focusing exclusively on helping traditionally offline brands transform into fully digital (user-centered) organizations.
Formerly, I was a Partner and Business Development Lead at a boutique design agency + the Founder, Executive Director, and Chief Brand Officer of a 501c3 non-profit. I’ve also worked as a consultant in agency and am trained as a professional coach.
Created for The People is a space I’ve designed to showcase my portfolio of work, support clients, connect with studios, and express my design perspective.
TBH, I feel incredibly #blessed to be able to say I genuinely love what I do because I know not everyone can say the same about their career.
I’m a very dedicated worker, research oriented, strategic, and results driven. I also enjoy a healthy level of competition so if we’re going to collaborate, you and your team should strive for excellence at all touch points and seek to earn public recognition or even awards for the value of your work.
I enjoy life (dancing, traveling to foreign spaces, exploring new music, cuisines, and philosophies, and finding hope and inspiration in others) and the cliche “live, laugh, love” is #goals for me. With an emphasis on ‘laugh’. So, if letting loose and enjoying good fun often is your thing: we’ll get along great. :)
These are 10 of my guiding philosophies (in no particular order):
1. Design. solves. problems. Design is not about self expression or what you feel. That’s art. But design paired with art is very powerful.
2. People (and all living things) over profit. Period. AND profit, profit, profit. You’ve got to value both. But, the more you focus on serving people, and respecting life itself, the more everyone gains.
3. Connect with people’s heart. Reason with their mind. Be good for their body and soul. But don't be afraid to utilize the influential power + irresistible human craving of mystery, surprise, and delight. Because that's what gets talked about. And word of mouth is (and will be) the mecca of marketing.
4. Be inspired by a vision. (Preferably a 10x vision.) But know your big vision is only as valuable as the strategies you execute on and your ability to influence. If you lack either: hire support.
5. Systemize, Automate, Eliminate, Outsource.
6. Research and observe. Market, Competitors, Users. Do it. Have a deep awareness of where you’re playing, who you’re playing with, and who you’re playing for (hint: it’s not ‘everybody’). But don’t break the bank hiring a big name research consulting firm, in a majority of circumstances it‘s not worth it. Be resourceful.
7. Be resourceful. (And yes I meant to write that again after the last point.) Be scrappy. “Bootstrap” it.
8. An open mind is the spark for expansion and future innovation. But proven strategies from the past will be the fuel that keeps you going. Understand the difference and prioritize accordingly.
9. Finding significance in being “busy” is boring (and toxic). Do meaningful work, get it done efficiently, and then go hug your loved ones and have some good ol’ fashion FUN. Company culture that promotes being a workhorse over living a full life is unhealthy and is often a byproduct of lazy thinking. It wastes money and resources, too.
10. There is power in pivoting. Don’t be afraid to fail. Sometimes you should give up. (Don't be swayed by sunken costs.)
BONUS POINT! From what I’ve observed in my 7+ years of doing this work and collaborating with a combined total of over 40 agencies, businesses, and non-profits:
11. Secure, trusting relationships are the foundation of success. Who you work with will often impact the success (or failure) of your project far more than how you work, where you work, or what you’re creating. You can use the latest and greatest technologies and methodologies, be in the greatest city in the world, and work on the greatest project ever, but (!!) if it’s with the wrong people you’ll never succeed. Choose strategically. Choose wisely. And be a good person, too. Be cool, be kind, and genuinely care about and appreciate the people around you.
If you read all of these points: Congratulations! Click here to receive your FREE participation trophy. :)
Are you ready to transform your organization?
I'd love to show you your options.
Send me a message.
