And (not at all) just like that, I've reached the most exciting milestone of my entire career: a full plate of sustaining consulting projects in my independent strategic communications practice.
With bright and bold flowers to mark the moment.
This is more than a job. I am running my own business as Founder and President of Sarah Rand Strategies, a company I built myself. Turns out it was me all along. It took courage, relationship-building, persistence. It took refining my craft, building my brand, and finding my voice.
At a time when it feels like the world is on fire, there is a fire that burns within me too. I believe every mission-driven organization deserves a powerful voice in a world that's constantly evolving. I'm energized to do work that elevates powerful missions: amplifying the voices of racially and economically diverse students, advancing learner-centered education, standing up for social justice. And supporting people who need it most: adults and children with disabilities, teachers, students with learning differences.
Consulting allows me to partner with organizations to bring steadiness when things are chaotic, clarity when things are complex, and the passion to help them grow their reach and influence. It's how I build connections between strategy and story, mission and audience. It's work I love.
Hear how my husband David Rand and I pivoted to consulting (and are making full-time careers of it) on WBEZ Chicago's In the Loop with Sasha-Ann Simons and The New York Times journalist Noam Scheiber.
The pickleball-playing retirees at the rec center will need to find another rookie to crush with their sneaky spin serves on Wednesday afternoons. I've got work to do.
I just launched my website and newsletter.
I'm proud of this gorgeous site, but I’m even more proud of how it captures my expertise, who I am, and why I care so much about this work.
I'd love for you to take a look.