The Trailblazers Experience Podcast

EP55 Sara Russell: Founder The Women's Domain & Empowering Women in Business

• Ntola • Season 3 • Episode 55

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My next guest is Sara Russell, Marketing Director at 5874 Commerce & Founder of The Women Domain 
Learn about the inspiring journey of the Women's Domain, a community founded by Sarah to integrate more women into the e-commerce community 
Join us as we celebrate empowerment through networking and continuous learning. Sarah introduces the Women's Accelerator Program, dedicated to supporting female-led businesses through mentorship and virtual get-togethers. Reflecting on the growth of the Trailblazers Experience podcast, we take a moment to appreciate the authentic, heartfelt conversations that have inspired many. Don't miss this episode filled with stories of perseverance, authenticity, and the power of uplifting one another in our professional journeys.

Find Sara :
Linkedin :https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-russell/
The Women Domain https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-womens-domain-podcast/id1623588011
5874 Commerce http://www.5874commerce.com/

Listen : to the audio version Apple Spotify .Amazon Music Google Podcasts
Watch and subscribe to my YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/@Thetrailblazersexperience
Follow Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/thetrailblazersexperience/

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

So welcome to another episode of the Trailblazers Experience podcast, where we have candid conversations with amazing women sharing their career journeys. My next guest is Sara Russell, who is not a newbie to the podcast. She's marketing director at 5874, which is a digital agency, and founder of the Women's Domain. Welcome back, Sara.

Sara Russell:

Thank you for having me. I'm so excited to be back. When was this? A year ago, wasn't it?

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Literally a year ago. So we're sort of anniversarying your appearance and you telling me to just start the damn podcast. Basically, just do it, I know, just do it, as Nike would say it's the best tagline, but it applies to everything in life as well. So, I've introduced you, obviously as Sara Russell, marketing director at an amazing digital agency. You're doing a really great job of connecting the dots and storytelling for brands. But talk to me about it's been a year. A lot's been happening. You're still at 5874, which is great.

Sara Russell:

I love how it rolls off the tongue when you say it.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Honestly, I'm going to tell you something. I had to write it down a few times. Yeah, it's one of those things, but when you told me the backstory of the name, of how that came about, I think that's how I've managed to remember it. So I think always, storytelling is a very good something. About telephone numbers, am I right?

Sara Russell:

Yes. So for those of us over a certain certain age, you'll remember that, um, back in the old days there was a thing called a landline that you would have and, uh, my family in particular would do this that every time someone would call, you'd pick up the phone and you'd say the last four digits of your phone number. So when I was growing up, it was 5050 and that was, uh, you know, and I think your family used to say the name like it's the, whatever residence, um, as it were. But yeah, 5874 is the last four digits of our um, of the, the two brothers that founded the business, so Rupert Cross and Richard Peachy, and they're two brothers, and that was the last four digits of their family telephone number growing up. Um, so, yeah, it's it, yeah, it's evolved, etc. But that's the heart of it.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Exactly so. Let's talk about evolution. Since our last conversation, how has the marketing landscape changed and evolved in your sector? We know everyone's talking about AI and learning, language models and machine learning, but how have things been for you, sarah?

Sara Russell:

Well, I think, first and foremost, you know I think I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that it's been a slog. I think everyone not even just in our industry you know the last 12, maybe even 18 months, you know you've had to really work Don't swear Sarah, your backside to to get to achieve what you want to achieve. So, yeah, it's definitely been a slog, but I think, really, you, you sort of hit the nail on the head. You know ai is the biggest thing that, particularly as marketers, that we're talking about and acknowledging and working out how best we use it in order to complement what we do. Um. So there's a lot of that, a lot about the hyper personalization, those kind of things. Um, ultimately, how we can really drive better customer loyalty, better customer satisfaction. It's always about those two things, um.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

So, yeah, ai is definitely the buzz term for the last 12 months and it feels like, if we think about once again the good old days sometimes the principles of what we used to do way back when really resonate now Of bricks and mortar. In the past were really about customer service, customer experience. What sort of happened over the years is they've reduced staff, trying to be as lean as possible, and then you walk into the store and they say we can order it for you online. And so frustrating because most of the time I want to go in there for the experience. I've come into shop and I want that experience there. What I'm seeing now is it's now going the other direction, where I focus definitely on customer experience, but now customer experience on an online perspective, because we know we have a short attention span as consumers. The dwell time has just reduced and you know customers attention online is so challenging now, not just from an economic perspective, but because everyone's fighting for market share, don't you think?

Sara Russell:

100%, but I think for me that is why and I am old school that is why content is king. So all of these great tools that we have at our disposal are plastic, but unless you've got the right message, the right story and you're connecting to the right people, it's not going to help you. So I think the bricks and mortar, particularly in marketing content, is so crucial.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Definitely. I mean, we're hoping that it's going back to that with brands that are falling away who were already at their end stage, sort of the end of their life cycle, and have sort of left the market. But we have some great innovative brands that hopefully are making your life as an agency more interesting, despite the competitive landscape out there.

Sara Russell:

Absolutely. We have one of our clients, furniture Box. They have a really great story and background which is just. It's an absolute pleasure for me to be able to kind of pull that narrative out and to the integrations, the implementations. That's all really interesting and great, but it's able to complement it with that kind of foundation of the two founders of the business and how they run the business and the achievements and how they started selling furniture whilst at secondary school and stuff like that. So yeah, it's absolutely being able to pull out. Those stories are really, really good definitely so.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Let's talk about the women's domain, which you know you described as lifting others while you climb when you started it all those years ago, um sort of on international women's day saying I don't want us to be just a post on Instagram. Really strong advocate. What are some notable developments or lessons learned in this area since we last spoke?

Sara Russell:

I've learned quite a lot. Actually, there's been quite a few lessons I've learned. Andola, listen, for me it's the amount of work we still have to do Now, the conversations that I have, particularly in our industry. I think for me it's like half the people they get it, they understand what we're trying to achieve. People like you and Taylor, who are the first to put your hands up and go how can I help, what can I do? Like proactivity, all of that and I get the other half of people that sort of pat me on the head and say well done you, you women supporting women, well done. And then, but it's not a what I'm trying to sort of and I think this is work that I have to do and I'm this isn't a woe is me.

Sara Russell:

For me, this is I understand that I have work to do in order to articulate what we're really trying to achieve here and talk to the right people, but it's fundamentally for me about how including women in your business is good for your business. We are all here to make money. Okay, women like making money. Women are really good at making money and they're really good at making you money, and I think there's this shift now where I'm trying to get people to understand that this isn't just a women's only community. This isn't just raising awareness and celebrating all the women's success we have in our industry.

Sara Russell:

All of that is really important and crucial, but it's what we are doing as an industry to change the way in which we work so that we include more women and we see more women prosper and and actually start leading some of these businesses as well, because that's where that's the cultural shift we're aiming for here. Um, and from a brand side perspective, um you know, I want to see more, um female-led brands thriving because, um you know, statistically they are more profitable, um yet receive less investment in general terms. So all those things, that's the kind of that's where I'm aiming for with women's domain, and I think the lessons I've learned is that there's a lot of convincing that I have to do and we as a community have to do in order to start seeing that change be enacted in a much speedier way.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

That's so interesting that you've shared the lessons learned in that way, because a lot of the times, when you have an idea and you bring it to fruition and you start, you have probably, you had probably three or four fundamental things that you wanted to achieve at the beginning, but then the realization is saying okay, I need to be maybe more clear about the outcomes. I know that the women's domain can bring, obviously, what it means to you as as the founder uh, with the emotion and the empathy and the the purpose behind that but actually, what is the outcome? What are you trying to achieve? If you were to present the women's domain to a cfo, he wants to know, okay, what are the key? What are you trying to achieve? If you were to present the women's domain to a CFO, he wants to know okay, what are the key KPIs you're working towards here, isn't it?

Sara Russell:

Absolutely. But I think also, what we're trying to achieve has evolved since we've started, because we very much started the women's domain knowing and being very transparent about the fact we didn't have the answers. We didn't really have a, we weren't really clear on what we absolutely needed to or wanted to achieve other than something positive, but it was. It was about listening, it was about talking to the various women and men and everyone in our industry and sort of learning about what their experiences are, what their ideas are, and then sort of trying to get an idea as to, okay, what, what work is there to be done, because my experience as a woman, um, and when my career has been, it's probably been very different to the experiences that you've had, um, in your career. So it's it's learning about the things that you don't know, um, and trying to sort of know that empathy is really important and listening and understanding how you can then shape what you're trying to achieve in a very kind of non-static way.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Yeah, I was talking to someone the other day about, I think, how the main thing that a lot of people don't understand is it's not about we're looking for equality, we're looking for that equity because, like you said, the experiences are different. My starting point of how my career came to be is probably a different path. Because of the way I was brought up, because of the opportunities I may or may not have had, the journey has been different. Not have had the journey has been different. So, whether it's from an HR perspective, so recruiters looking at your CV, they can't look at it as a black and white. You didn't go to this business school, you didn't work at this, you didn't work in magnet consulting, so they write you off. Or your path has been this and this and this. You didn't grow up in the startup accelerator. You need to look at everyone as an individual and actually what can they offer? In that regard, I think there's a mindset shift, isn't it that needs to happen as well, whether it's for women or men?

Sara Russell:

A mindset shift. Yeah, absolutely no, 100%. That's exactly what it is, and so it's not an overnight thing and, in a way, that's why it is a slog, and a lot of the women that I do continuously talk to in a way, who have become mentors to me or friends within this and I include you in that as well, entola that I'm not the first person to come up with something like this. I wasn't the first person in e-commerce to go. Hang on a minute. Are there not many women leaders in e-commerce? This is a conversation that other women and other men have been having for a very long time. Um, but I think it's how we can combine our efforts and that's when we will start to see, um, some real change. You know, I'm an internal optimist when it comes to that. Um, I acknowledge the hard work involved and sometimes all I want to do is fall into a corner with a bottle of ryoko and a sharing bag of doritos, but you know, that's not always the answer. Not always.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Yeah, we have our moments. So if someone's listening for the first time, just describe to them what is the women's domain and what is the purpose of the women's domain.

Sara Russell:

So the women's domain has, if I could be so bold as to say, is a movement within the e-commerce industry where we are a community of women, men, non-binary, whoever the whole spectrum where we are actively trying to address and challenge the issues that we face in our roles and in our careers and how we can ensure that more women in particular are being attracted to our industry and are also able to thrive within our industry.

Sara Russell:

And we do that and we've been working through that with our podcast, with our in-person events, by having panel discussions that are not of the norm, I guess, within our industry. Really trying to digital transformations are great I will always talk about those but it's very much about the impact that um having a more diverse workforce will have on your business and how we can see that e-commerce be and the industry that really really strives for that um. So we talk about anything from apis to menopause and I'm really I don't like to nothing's off the table, put it that way when it comes to the women's domain, but ultimately it is about women empowerment. It's about empowering the individuals within our industry to really thrive in the career that they want, that they deserve and that they're ultimately very successful at as well want, that they deserve and that they're ultimately very successful at as well.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Yeah, I mean, I've attended your events and it's great to see that you have a very diverse panel, from someone who started their business in their bedroom with a thousand pounds and have scaled it up to those who are working in the tech space and talking about how they've sort of risen through the ranks or had challenges, and then, on the other hand, someone talking about having their children and what that means. So really very broad, because a lot of the times I watch a lot of interviews, panels that are happening in the US or in EU and so on, and sometimes you feel like some of these women are out of reach. Of course, they've had an amazing career, but you feel I can't connect with you because I feel like your path is out of reach, which it shouldn't be. No, I know, but the women's domain brings it to light to say, actually I see myself in this person in one way or the other.

Sara Russell:

Yeah, I mean my ultimate dream with the women's domain not dream, but something that we actually actually do, like.

Sara Russell:

We don't make it a membership. So it's not about you paying um hundreds of pounds a month to be have these exclusive invites to these events I do. I do ask for sponsorship because for me it's about making sure that you have um a woman who is just starting out in her career being able to network for free with a woman like yourself and to who can share so much insight and experience, and without them feeling like it's unattainable for them because they're only 25 grand and they've still got all the rent etc. They can't pay £500 a month to be part of an exclusive London Members Club etc. So it has to have that inclusivity for me and to make people. It has to have that inclusivity for me and to make people. I think we learn really well if we're able to mix and have those organic conversations in that way no-transcript, there to just help each other and to learn from each other and to have a bit of, have a bit of a laugh as well and to laugh at ourselves and to find the joy in what we do.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Um, you know, I think that's, that's a really special thing definitely it's about creating accessible, inclusive spaces because, yeah, some of these networking events they, unless you're invited, they're very expensive. You know, just even to be in the room that's a cost that most unfortunately, most companies. They don't see it as training and development so they won't pay for it absolutely, but also if they did pay for it.

Sara Russell:

I mean, I, I know, when I first started in e-commerce, um rupert used to drag me. He didn't drag me. I was very willing to go. But there was all these partner events and stuff that we, that I didn't know anybody. Everybody knows rupert, so I would find myself sort of like attached to him. Um, but if I thought, if I didn't have anybody everybody knows Rupert so I would find myself sort of like attached to him.

Sara Russell:

But if I thought, if I didn't have him at the beginning introducing me, helping me build my confidence, mentoring me through that, and I'd have to rock up to these events, these partner summits, etc. Where I knew someone's name but didn't really know anything about them, I'd find it really hard not to just stand at the wall with a glass of Prosecco and just hope no one talks to me, because sometimes not, there's not a lot of women in the room. There's, there's always quite a lot of men in the room, which is not. That's fine, but at the same time it's really daunting and I think whether you have been in the workplace for a year or 10 years, it's still it's it's still a big ask for people. So, yeah, there is all of that to contend with.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Yeah, it's humanizing those experiences. So thank you for explaining what the women's domain is and how it is an inclusive environment. So we will put in the show notes how people can sign up to the newsletter, find out about the next events that we have more women and men.

Sara Russell:

You know we need our allies um rocking up to the events and just um continuing the movement as well absolutely, and I would say that we have some wonderful male allies that for the women's domain who are always proactive and supportive and are showing up, more importantly as well, when, when, when we need them to, which is fantastic.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

So let's talk about the Women's Accelerator Program which you announced at your last event, and it sort of came off the heels of shout out to Megan, who then said what can we do? What's the next step? How can I help? She was amazing with that, saying okay, how can I help, how can I support? And you gave us a sneak peek of what was to come. But I think you can now talk about it as to what that is and what your vision is for the women's domain in this next step.

Sara Russell:

Yeah. So I think we're entering our third year, I think, for the women's domain and I really I was sort of having conversation with Rupert and we were both what's next? Because I think we could do another year of podcasts and in-person events and having these panel discussions, which are all they're fun, they're great, they have great conversations, but what are we actually? Let's really try and aim big here. And, after speaking to a lot of women in the industry, particularly brand side, that investment issue keeps coming up about the disparity in investment and things like that and and how the female-led businesses are actually so innovative and profitable as well and how we, as the women's domain, can really hone in on that and support it. So, yes, we are launching the Women's Domain Accelerator. It's going to be it's quite a substantial program actually, and we are going to release details of that imminently.

Sara Russell:

I'm literally doing the final touches to the landing page. I'm very um, but ultimately we're going to um invite 10 brands into our program where we're going to offer um, yes, that kind of um the virtual get-togethers, the master classes. We're going to have um expertise across the e-commerce space. We already have partners who are throwing their hands up, excited to get involved with this and initiating some mentorship programs, etc. So, um, obviously I'm looking at you and tola as someone that I really want to be a mentor I mean, I mean, I mean she's got it here first, guys, but it ought to me.

Sara Russell:

It's. It's about trying, um. The aim is for these brands to, at the end of this program, to give them the tools and the resources they need to really accelerate their growth, to expand their network and really gain some proper insight into how they can grow their business, particularly their e-commerce business. So it's not necessarily for those brands who are literally just starting. They've already established their brand, they're already, they're already on e-commerce essentially, or on whatever way. But it's what those next steps are, um, and we're offering it to a six to twelve month um program, which is which is substantial. But for me, it's about offering um some real, real takeaways here and really putting the right people together and taking that time to really work with the individuals rather than just a one-size-fits-all so it's now bringing it to life, isn't it to actual individuals?

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

so not just people in a room who are coming to events, but now connecting the dots, isn't it between brand people and and empowering them in the next way? Exciting, but scary as well isn't it?

Sara Russell:

it's daunting and we have um, so obviously, myself, rupert cross, um the founder of 5874, michaela weber, um who's the cns vice president at um big commerce as well, um, we, this is our, this is our baby, and we are um utilizing the context, we contacts we have in order to um connect the right people to the right, to the right brand, to the right individual because, like we say, depending on who, depending on the 10 brands that actually enter the program, their needs and wants are going to be very different. So it's about understanding what they are, taking the time to understand that and utilizing all the contacts we have within the industry to bring the right people together.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

That that's amazing. It just feels like you've just taken it up a notch and, I guess, elevating not just yourself but 5874 and just really contributing to the broader e-com marketing community, isn't it which was your intent from the beginning?

Sara Russell:

Yeah, absolutely. That's exactly what it is. And also we are, as an agency, b Corp certified. So being able to putting our purpose and values at the forefront of whatever strategic objectives that we have is really important to us, and this is one of the many ways in which we want to do that.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

I think that's the great thing about B Corp is that it's not just a stamp of approval for a consumer perspective, but it makes you actually reflect and actually ask yourself the question, saying, okay, we're about people, what are we really about? What does that mean, whether it's our external, internal stakeholders and putting those key three points as well. To say, okay, this is what we're going to focus on and then purpose people throw that word around a lot but to define it for yourself and as an agency and to say, okay, these are things we know we can actually achieve and starting small. It's always interesting when people have, or brands have, these larger objectives which are linked to political ones and we want to be net zero and say, but what does that actually mean? What are you actually going to do when, actually, when you can set tangible ones which can support the teams around you and you can actually see the benefits?

Sara Russell:

Absolutely. Yeah, I think you're right. It is quite difficult, though, as an e-commerce agency when it comes to sustainability, and we're all remote now as well. So we have to pivot in how we are, what our ESG, et cetera is and what we're doing to achieve what we want to achieve. But the women's domain is a great tool for us because, on hand, it has and continues to attract more women into our business because they see that's what we're championing and that's something that they want to be involved with. So we saw an increase in how many female developers we had within the business as well, which was a big thing for me, because when we started, there was one female web developer and we saw that increase as the campaign went on but also how we can support those female-led brands and female-driven brands, et cetera, and making sure that we're using the skills and the expertise we've got to really help those businesses thrive.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Reflecting on yourself. So there might be a marketing director listening to this, or an aspiring marketing director. Your role is very broad and not the classic definition of a marketing director. I would say what are some of the lessons that you would like to impart in terms of knowledge? So A from joining 5874 in this role, but it's sort of evolved over the years and obviously now with the women's domain and the accelerator program, what are some of the lessons that you've learned about, about yourself and about how this role has evolved over time?

Sara Russell:

I think if someone was to ask me what that you know, for me it's about don't conform, think outside the box. What are you going to bring? What is the thing that you bring to the table that the other person that applied for the job wouldn't have brought? Now, for me personally for 5.8, it was the women's domain, it was that narrative of women in the industry, et cetera. Yes, it's not something that Rupert wasn't aware of before I joined and it was always something he was talking about, but it was having me on board and me bringing it to the table with him and working together in which we were able to succeed in that.

Sara Russell:

But with marketing, it's such a creative role that sometimes we do get kind of bogged down with the AI and the data analytics and the spreadsheets and all of that is, like I say, really, really important and it helps your role, but don't forget, it's a creative role and there's a to think outside the box, to take a step back and really hone in on what that compelling message is. What is that message you're trying to achieve? To get out there, um, and when it comes to brand awareness in particular, as as the agency or whatever you're working in, um, to really kind of take the time and and and and create that kind of holistic kind of message that you want to put out there. So yeah, don't conform, it's not a tick box exercise Marketing is. There's definitely an analytical side to it, but yeah, don't forget, it's creative as well and that's a really important part of it.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

And has your view to networking changed as well? Because I remember when we spoke, we spoke we talked about oh, it's about going to events, etc. I sort of feel like over time I've I've learned that networking is about people.

Sara Russell:

That's been the biggest lesson for me yes, um, so my views to networking, they have changed. You know I am far more comfortable, particularly, you know I really love this industry. You know I really love the people within it. I've made some wonderful um friends, also colleagues and connections. So actually now I'm quite comfortable going to an event most of the time uh, you know, without holding Rupert's hand metaphorically, obviously. But yeah, I think it is about the people. It's about, um, you giving yourself a pep talk and and sort of remembering that have something of value to offer, that you, what you say and what you think and your experiences are are valuable, um, that there are people within the room who do want to talk to you. Um, yeah, and like you say, it's absolutely about connecting with people. Don't be the arsehole in the room. Really go out there and talk and understand and connect and listen to people.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Yeah, that's a really good point about you are of value, just even as a mantra. When you wake up every day to say you are valuable, you are here in this world to offer something, so use when, when you go out there um, that's a good one.

Sara Russell:

I will take that with me, actually, because and don't be afraid of what you don't know. So if you're involved in a conversation where you feel like it's totally over your head, ask, ask a question. It's not, there's no stupid question. You know there's a lot of tech speak sometimes which kind of you know. It's not that I can't understand it, it's just I think sometimes everyone's brains work differently and when you hear a lot of acronyms, like some people's brains, like mine, sort of shut off and go. You know, does not compute. But just stop, take a breath, ask a question, and actually I've never encountered a situation where people kind of roll their eyes at me's like, oh, they're really actually excited to explain what they mean, they're really excited to go into more detail. So, yeah, just don't. That's it. Just remember your value. Ask questions and listen.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

That's all you need to do I remember last year I'd set myself a goal that I wanted to attend um startup pitches just to understand what are investors looking for, what are the trends in terms of what businesses are starting, in terms of what are going to be the businesses of the future. And I tell this story all the time because they were using words such as or acronyms POC, mvp. So I'm thinking in my head, I'm saying why are they talking about person of color, or people of color and most valuable player? Because I'm thinking basketball terms. And I had to then ask someone who was sitting next to me. I said, well, of course I could have Googled, but I said, excuse me, could you just tell me what is a POC and an MVP? And he was like it's okay to ask as as well.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

So, proof of concept and minimal, viable, um, what is it? Product? Um, product, market fit was another one. So there were all these acronyms and they were throwing them around and I said, thank god there was someone there to to explain, and it was me, taking myself out of my comfort zone because I wanted to learn, I wanted to understand the startup space, the investor space from a practical perspective versus just reading loads of books and it was me just jumping in there and I feel like now I can read a pitch deck. I understand what the key points are, what investors will be looking for. So even when I'm dealing with brands from a consultancy perspective that are probably looking to bring in investment, all the terminology is now in my head, but that was a big learning curve for me. So never stop learning, isn't it? There's always something out there.

Sara Russell:

Absolutely. But I think you know, you and I might learn in the same way, where you kind of have to drive you know, I've never been I can absorb information, obviously, but I think, just reading it off a book or a slide deck or something, I need to sit in the room, I need to really get to grips with you know, and actually proactively and practically get involved with something in order to immerse myself in that knowledge. So yeah, there's all those different tools et cetera you can do and ways of working which will help you.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Yeah, and what are you seeing in terms of the young workforce that you have coming in? What's inspiring you about the next generation that you're bringing in to?

Sara Russell:

5874 um, I think their, their creativity, their, their sense, uh, their sense of value, I think they've got a real um, they've got a real confidence, which is really great to see, of of what they can offer, and even people, even those that are literally just starting out and don't have a wealth of, they've got a real confidence, which is really great to see, of what they can offer, and even people, even those that are literally just starting out and don't have a wealth of experience, et cetera, et cetera, in the workplace. But what they do have is a tenacity to really learn and to grow, and I think that's been really exciting to see.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

I agree. I think also them embracing technology and just being swifter. I take the approach of okay, what can we learn from them that will probably help the business and help the bottom line, and how can we embed that in the processes or lack of processes that might be there within an organization is key.

Sara Russell:

Yeah, I think they've also seen a lot more self-made millionaires than I have growing up, so they've got that to aspire to as well, which is fantastic.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

but yeah, there's definitely a confidence there, which is really, really good to see. So, circling back, trailblazer takeaway tips. We always end the podcast with three tips you'd love to share. What would they be?

Sara Russell:

I didn't prepare those in tola. Three tips I'd love to share just be you. And that's something that megan stabler once said to me. After, uh, many of her imposter syndrome-esque comments that I started making, she just sort of shut me right down, went just be you, because there's no one else like you, like you're the only one. That's like you. Just be you, and that's what you can. That's, that's more than enough. Um, don't conform like always, always remember your value in that way and the ideas that you have and see them through.

Sara Russell:

I think there's a lot of times where I know in my in in my career that I have an abundance of ideas that I don't write down or I start and then I get distracted and things like that. Just really try and start something, finish it, particularly if you have that, if you think it's a good thing. I don't know, this is probably really flippant, but if you're not having fun it's not worth it. But if you're not having fun, it's not worth it. I know that sounds really blasé, but in everything that I do, I was saying to you before we started recording that I'm the co-chair of my son's school's PTA. Now I don't need to do that. I certainly don't have time to do that, but it's fun and I've made a lot of friends with it. If I wasn't having fun, I wouldn't do it. If I wasn't having fun at 5'8", if I wasn't having fun with the women's domain and really enjoying it, there wouldn't be any point in doing it. So do what serves you. If it's not serving you, leave it alone.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Move on Brilliantly summarised so.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

I just want to say Well, if the ones you didn't prepare, that are the most authentic cause. It's coming from the heart. Okay, yeah, exactly. Um, I just want to say thank you because you've been such a big advocate and supporter of me in the podcast and when I think, 55 episodes in and all the amazing women who I've met virtually across the globe, it's all actually because you just said just do it, just go for it. And if anyone watches the first interview done, there's been so much progress as well. We had to record twice and we had sound issues and all of this stuff. I had wine, so I was good. I know that's always good, that's always a good thing to have on the side, but thank you for being a positive inspiration, positive disruptor in the industry, in the sector and, three years in with the women's domain, really excited about the Women's Accelerator Program that's coming up and all the things that can be done really to empower women in the industry, in the sector, and have our allies supporting us along the way. So thank you so much.

Sara Russell:

Thank you, but I could say the same for you. Thank you for leading by example Entola and producing such a brilliant podcast and being consistent with it, which has been brilliant to see as well, but for always showing up, always showing up, and that makes such the world of difference to women like me. So thank you for that.

The Trailblazers Experience Podcast :

Awesome. So audience, that was the Trailblazers Experience podcast. Where to find us. Please tell another woman about the podcast and remember to like, follow, share, subscribe. We do need all those important things and elements to feed the algorithm and grow the podcast. Thank you very much.