Gardian of the Month: Sarah Sain

Our Gardian of the Month is Sarah Sain, CAE, Vice President of Content Services, Naylor Association Solutions! 

Learn: What's your favorite part about learning something new? 

Every time I learn something new I feel pushed out of my comfort zone – as uncomfortable as that can be, it’s my favorite thing about learning. Learning allows us to continually test ourselves and challenge our preconceived notions, and it opens up our minds to new perspectives, ideas and opportunities. I love taking a class or reading a book, thinking I’m going to take away one thing and then being completely surprised by learning something else instead.

Network: How might you help a wallflower, who's not comfortable networking at a professional event, loosen up?

As an introvert, I usually am that wallflower in networking situations. Instead of bringing them into a big group, start by connecting one-on-one. If you know something they’re passionate about in their career, organization or personal life, that’s a great place to start to get them excited and engaged.

Transfer: Think about a topic in which you feel quite knowledgeable. How would you use this knowledge to better your industry?

As a mom of three teenage sons, I am a master meal planner. I have a lot of mouths to feed, and everyone has their own preferences of what they like. Each week involves seeing the big picture (our menu for what dinners will keep everyone fed and happy), the details (each ingredient that needs to be added to the shopping list), and what resources we may already have available (what’s already in the pantry and freezer so we can use to avoid waste). A lot of times on a big project, looking at it from all those angles with different stakeholders in mind can be particularly helpful in implementing a successful plan.

Please share with us a resource and why you can’t live without it.

A book that’s helped me in recent years is “I Think You're Wrong (But I'm Listening): A Guide to Grace-Filled Political Conversations” by Sarah Stewart Holland and Beth Silvers. Whether it’s politics, professional or personal, we interact and are in community every single day with people who think, believe and act differently than we do. We can learn from each other if we’re willing to listen with respect and look for common ground.

Just for Fun: If you could live someone else's life for a day, who would it be and why? 

I’m rewatching Schitt’s Creek for the 100th time, so I’d have to say Alexis Rose. At the end of the day, she’s always looking to better herself and has a heart of gold. Plus, the clothes would be so fun!