We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Wakeman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.

Sarah, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

The creation of my company began around 2021 while I was working for a small, family-owned business. I started hosting small events and handling marketing for the company. At the same time, I launched my own jewelry business and attended vendor events across the city. I loved connecting with other business owners, networking at these events, and gaining a deeper understanding of how small business owners achieve their goals, often while juggling full-time jobs.

In 2023, I began working with KARMA Community Market, a local artisan boutique in Blue Springs, MO. The owners had the space, and I had the network, allowing us to form a wonderful partnership. Together, we hosted events and DIY maker activities, which was an incredible experience. The owners shared my vision and gave me the freedom to implement new ideas, which helped me grow significantly in marketing, social media, and event planning. Their mentorship was invaluable, leading to both personal and professional development.

In 2024, I officially launched my marketing and event planning company, Sparking Ambition Marketing. Having experienced firsthand the challenges of being both the artist and the social media manager, I knew I wanted to help other business owners alleviate the stress of managing their online presence. My goal is to give them back valuable time to focus on growing and developing their businesses.

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?

Sparking Ambition Marketing is a dynamic digital marketing and consulting firm specializing in empowering creators and small businesses. Our mission is to ignite entrepreneurial journeys and transform efforts into pathways for success. We are dedicated to catalyzing growth, reducing stress, and optimizing creation time. Through tailored services, we not only enhance engagement but also craft distinctive strategies that set our clients apart in a competitive landscape. We are committed to driving sustainable success and supporting our clients as they elevate their endeavors to the next level.

Another key aspect of the company is event hosting. I organize a variety of events, but I have discovered a unique space where local authors deserve more representation. From this realization, the Kansas City Local Author Book Fair was born. We’ve hosted two successful events under this banner, our third event is Phantom Pages Festival which is October 5th and 6th from 11am – 3pm at KARMA Community Market. These fairs feature local authors, ranging from newcomers to seasoned veterans in the literary world. They are amazing events for other authors to network and build up their local community!

At our very first book fair, I met my now business partner, Jessica Disciacca, a local author. After the event, we discussed our goals and dreams over coffee at Parkville Coffee, and from that conversation, the Dark Flame Society was born. Within a month, we created our debut event, the Flame & Fantasy Ball and Book Market which will be April 26th, 2025 downtown Kansas City! We are thrilled with the connections we’re making in Kansas City and are excited to see how both our individual businesses and the Dark Flame Society will grow in the future.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

Nearly a year into running our boutique, KARMA Community Market in Blue Springs, we faced significant challenges. It became clear that we needed to reassess our direction for the coming months. During this period, we made the difficult decision to transition the shop from a full-time operation, as it was no longer sustainable. This shift prompted all of us to refocus on our individual paths, and it was during this time that the idea for my marketing and events company was born.

Fortunately, we were able to keep the space open for pop-ups, make-and-take events, and private gatherings. This change allowed me the flexibility to establish Sparking Ambition Marketing. Sometimes, what feels like failure is actually a push toward where you’re truly meant to be.

Any fun sales or marketing stories?

One of my favorite marketing experiences was when I found myself surrounded by local authors who had no dedicated space to showcase their work. At artist and maker pop-ups, we featured a few authors, but I noticed that attendees were primarily focused on shopping and often overlooked the authors. This sparked the idea to host a book fair—a space designed specifically for readers who are passionate about discovering new works and supporting local authors. That’s how the Kansas City Local Author Book Fair came to life.

These events are about more than just selling books. They cultivate a forward-thinking, community-driven environment where collaboration thrives. It’s truly inspiring to witness people coming together to help one another succeed. In just two events, we’ve seen countless connections made between authors and book lovers, helping to raise awareness and appreciation for the local author scene.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sparkingambitionmarketing.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sparkingambitionwithsarah/
• Facebook: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sparkingambitionmarketing/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sparkingambitionmarketing/

Image Credits

Professional photos by Chadwich Christopher owner of Wreckcreation Co Studio