UNIC: Tell us about your daily habits that keep you inspired and motivated.
Sarah: I usually start and end my day with reading or watching the news. I like to stay on top of what’s happening around the world, politically, economically, and culturally. So much this past 2 years has been dispiriting however, so I balance this with some uplifting content from Upworthy or Good News Movement to remind me about all that’s good in people and the world. I also practice yoga nearly every day. It’s precious time for me to clear my head and to breath.
UNIC: What is great leadership in your opinion?
Sarah: Great leadership is about being both compassionate and strong. It’s about leading with purpose and inspiring the best out of your team. Great leaders surround themselves with even greater people, they listen attentively and recognise that the best business results come from having a diversity of opinions, ideas and voices.
UNIC: Looking back at your career journey so far, what are you most proud of?
Sarah: There are probably two pivotal moments that stand out and make me proud: The first was when I stepped back and the second is when I stepped up. Stepping back was when I recognised I needed a massive life change and resigned from my role at Cineplex in Canada to move to Europe. I took a lot of self-belief and a dose of bravery to take that leap. The second moment was last year when I became the first ever female C-level executive in Movio and in Vista Group. I still sometimes feel awkward introducing myself with that title; in many ways I still feel like the 18-year-old who started her career popping popcorn in a cinema!
UNIC: What were the most important leadership lessons that you learned while climbing the career ladder?
Sarah: There are probably three key things I’ve learned along the way:
- To not assume your manager knows what you want for your career. Sometimes you need to speak up and advocate for yourself.
- To create your own opportunities. For instance, just because your dream role doesn’t exist, doesn’t mean it can’t exist. There’s been a few times where I’ve seen a gap in our organisation and helped design my role to fill that void.
- To feel confident in being your authentic self and not feel pressure to confirm to traditional leadership frameworks.
UNIC: What were the biggest challenges for you as a woman leader in the sector?
Sarah: The biggest challenge for me has been, and probably still is, that often people assume I am more junior than I am in my role. I’ve also had occasions when people have assumed more junior members on my team are in fact my boss, simply because they are male. I used to find that frustrating, now I just laugh at it and find it adds motivation for me to help our industry to challenge those traditional leadership stereotypes.
UNIC: Knowing what you know now, what would you have done differently?
Sarah: Not very much to be honest. I think even my most challenging experiences have been character-building, and I am probably a stronger woman and better leader as a result. Perhaps apologising a little less along the way; it’s a very Canadian quality that I say ‘sorry’ far too much!
UNIC: With such a demanding career, how do you keep the balance between work and your personal life?
Sarah: I have learned to embrace a flexible working schedule. Two days a week I start mid-afternoon and work quite late to ensure good overlap with our LA and Auckland offices. Which means I can have some personal time in the mornings to exercise, do life-admin, sleep in! I also am pretty good at switching off while on vacation.
UNIC: You were a mentor in the UNIC Women's Cinema Leadership Programme. How was that experience for you?
Sarah: It was tremendous. I think I got just as much out of it as my mentee (Deliah Kyburz) did! UNIC provided a great framework for mentees and mentors working together. I also now feel part of a bigger broader community of women in our industry. I know that the other regional teams I manage are envious that such an amazing programme exists in Europe. I hope UNIC can inspire other industry bodies in other territories to follow suit.
UNIC: Did you have mentors in your career journey? Why do you think mentoring is important?
Sarah: While I’ve never had a single mentor or formal mentor relationship, I do have a small network of trusted people to lean on for different perspectives. Having been part of the UNIC programme now though, I see so many benefits to mentorship. It helps to build confidence, can help you to navigate complex situations or unchartered territories and can challenge your thinking. Having someone outside of your organisation who can provide thoughtful, honest guidance is a gift.
UNIC: What advice would you give to current mentors and mentees?
Sarah: You will get out of the programme what you put into it! If you are organised and dedicate the time and energy to preparing for your mentorship meetings and then following up on some of the advice and actions stemming from them, you will be sure to glean more from the relationship.