We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sara Defibaugh. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sara below.
Hi Sara, thanks for joining us today. Can you share an important lesson you learned in a prior job that’s helped you in your career afterwards?
Two huge professional lessons I’ve taken from previous jobs are:
(1) Treating others as humans rather than employees will get you much further as a leader.
(2) This is your career—always prioritize what’s best for you.
Despite being relatively young in my career, I have experienced a diverse array of work cultures—both good and bad. I’ve learned that treating others with grace and empathy will get you much further as a leader than treating others as cogs in the machine. My favorite managers and mentors tend to have much more fulfilling careers than those who mistreated me and my peers. Those managers often have trouble finding their next role—and I’ve even seen some switch out of their profession entirely—or have cultivated work cultures that eventually implode, revealing their true, negative nature to a much larger audience than they had contained internally. Don’t be manager number two. Be a human.
Also, this is your career. Always make the best decisions for your mental health, safety, and financial security. As we have seen profoundly since COVID-19, 99.9% of companies will act in a way that best suits their own financial interest and business goals. You can be valued one day and on the out the next. While guilt is a valid and normal feeling when leaving a team—especially one you have bonded with—never forget that this is your livelihood.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a marketing, communications, and behavior analysis consultant for clients in the NGO and B2B spaces. Prior to this role, I was a marketing generalist for various organizations and received my master’s in organizational communication from Ohio University.
Like many marketing professionals these past few years, though, I was laid off from my job in December 2023. Knowing how difficult the job market was (and continues to be) for applicants, I began taking contract jobs to make ends meet. Little did I know that these jobs would turn into a full-time career.
Today, I consult for five organizations, providing expertise in Google Ads, go-to-market strategy, digital marketing, content marketing, and project management.
I am proud for not giving into the shame and guilt that comes with losing a job, for picking myself back up, and for doing the dang thing.
What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?
This question goes back to my first piece of advice: Be a human. I have become quite attuned to corporate red flags—toxic positivity, unrealistic expectations, micro-management—and see those flags for what they are and adjust accordingly. Whether that means bringing a contract to a close, speaking up for myself, or advocating for my peers, I don’t shy away from difficult decisions or conversations.
And difficult decisions don’t need to be accompanied by drama or aggressive confrontation (though that is sometimes inevitable). As women, it’s easy for us to seem “too forward” or “confrontational,” and truthfully, there is no avoiding that, but that should never stop you from doing what’s in your best interest—and what’s in the best interest of your peers.
Check-in with your co-workers. If someone makes a mistake, give them grace. Stop with the toxic positivity and be real. Ask yourself: “Is this how I’d approach a difficult conversation with someone I care about? Or is it coated in corporate lingo?”
Most importantly, check yourself. Are you projecting your insecurities on your direct reports? Are you close-minded to someone’s professional advice? We are not racing against each other to win. We should always look out for each other and grow as people on a personal level.
I am certainly not perfect at showcasing the above, but by building my reputation on these fundamentals, I have successfully grown a roster of work in a matter of a few months.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
I am extremely fortunate to have such a well-connected network of peers, mentors, and current/former colleagues. Don’t be afraid to share with your network that you are looking for work. Be vulnerable but confident. Your honesty, partnered with your credentials, will speak for itself.
If you don’t have many connections in your field of work, seek out local/community opportunities to meet like-minded professionals. Building a community is important to our mental and physical health, as well as our financial health and ultimate success.
And if you’re more introverted and shy, don’t fret—there are many online communities you can join. Look on LinkedIn, for newsletters in your field, and join webinars to gain more knowledge that you can then employ when speaking with new connections. And always advocate for yourself among friends and family—they want to help you more than you may realize!
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @saradefibaugh
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saradefibaugh/
