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Inspiring Disruption: Women Redefining Authentic Leadership

06/03/2024
Marketing Network
New York, USA
300
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Sarah Mehler, founder & CEO of Left Field Labs on her experience defining her own path as a female leader

In the lead up to International Women’s Day, I have spent time reflecting on my journey as a female founder, entrepreneur, and leader—the many challenges I have faced, from moments of self-doubt to pressures to conform to more masculine leadership models. My journey began in 2008, when C-suite women role models were few and far between. This was the time I realised I needed to make a change for myself by creating my very own leadership model. 

 

The Imperfect Protégé

Before I founded Left Field Labs, I worked at a traditional agency that didn’t embrace the “always learning” approach that I find essential in the workplace. Rigid lines were drawn around who could do what, and learning from other departments or cultivating new skills was discouraged. Why change the way things have always worked? I was told not to get too creative and to stay within the confines of my business development role. My curiosity was diminished, creativity was restrained, and the approach didn’t make business sense to me—not to mention the lack of fundamental human needs, such as a sense of safety and belonging.

A defining moment at this agency was with my former boss (previously a Wall Street broker) who tried moulding me into his antiquated sales approach, rather than inspiring and supporting me to find my own voice. I resisted following his footsteps for two reasons: it felt phoney—the slick, used-car salesman approach, and it was an incredibly inefficient way of going about business. He didn’t feel I deserved success if I hadn’t sweat or bled in the process like he did. I was an imperfect protégé in his eyes. However, I began winning work by forging a path of my own, with my own unique way of building honest, trusting relationships with clients. Much to my boss’ dismay, it was more successful than his way of doing things, and it was a turning point in my career. 

This was my first lesson in learning to never let the limitations others put on me to hinder my potential. My boss let his preconceived notion of “the right way to do things'' limit his own potential, but it would not define my own. Sometimes the intention of staying true to yourself is the exact disruption needed, and it ignites the spark to keep on going.

As I continued to grow and pave my own path, one day a colleague commented that I would make a wonderful CEO. While flattered, it also stunned me. How could I ever be a CEO? They were authoritarian figures, removed from their teams, and rarely human-centred with the values I saw as essential. I didn’t fit that mould…but what if I could break the mould? What if I could lead a company which embraced my values and encouraged the same in others? 

 

The Humanity in Positive Disruption 

When I founded Left Field Labs, my vision was clear: to become the undisputed place where people come to build what’s next. This journey began out of a desire to transcend the traditional work environment that often felt misaligned with my values and aspirations. I sought to create a space where creativity and care for one another are paramount, and where technology serves as a bridge to connect, empower, and inspire humanity.

When building “what’s next,” people must feel safe to take risks, as those brave leaps pave the way for innovation. By approaching our work from a human-centric place—asking how we want audiences to feel while challenging ourselves to be better in how we show up for one another—we’re more fulfilled humans, who better understand humankind and whose projects are more successful. 

In the work we do, authenticity (staying true to yourself, even if it’s against the grain) is not just a component of the strategy, but a necessity. An integration of personal and professional missions also allows us to lead with empathy and a deep sense of purpose. Leaders must foster environments where everyone feels valued, understood, and empowered to take risks and innovate. When we’re using technology to create useful products and inclusive experiences for the good of humanity, bringing one’s whole self to the work is vital. And the outcome? A positive disruption that benefits all.

At Left Field Labs, our commitment to positive disruption has led to the creation of impactful digital experiences that resonate on a human level. Our collaborations with brands like Hasbro and Google have not only pushed the boundaries of what's possible with technology but have also prioritised inclusion, accessibility, and the human experience at the core of our endeavours. By leading with authenticity, we unlock creativity and innovation that has a real and tangible impact in the world.

 

The Courage to Break Patterns

Nothing is gained by playing small. It doesn’t help you, or anyone else, and it doesn’t help the planet.

This advice, from a wise mentor, helped me see things in a whole new light. As I grew in my career, I still subconsciously struggled with old patterns that affect women. Avoid tension. Don’t take the spotlight. Dress to blend in. Play it small to stay safe. It reminds me of America Ferrera's monologue in Barbie that touched so many of us. We’re called to be everything while disrupting nothing.

This last year, while working with an incredible coach, I was sharing a scenario that I felt would be “too disruptive,” when they stopped me in my tracks. “If your business and your life mission is to disrupt the status quo, then how could anything be too disruptive?” 

I have come to understand that it takes daily effort to release those patterns. Engrained guardrails exist for so many women—fabulously talented and brilliant women—and only serve to hold us back. However, the work we do to free ourselves from those molds will drive us forward into new systems where we all truly belong. Disruption requires disruption, and women, with the strength, empathy, and resilience that spans the history of humankind, possess this inherently.

 

Forward Together

The future is not just about building new technologies; it's about reimagining how we lead, innovate, and impact the world around us—designing a future where being human is key to designing for humans. On this International Women's Day, let us celebrate the strides we have made towards a more inclusive and humane approach to leadership and technology. Let us also renew our commitment to being agents of change, pushing forward with courage and a deep belief in the power of human connection. 

For myself, that ethos has shown itself when a staff member tells me our company is a place where women can belong and lead. It has also shown itself recently when I looked around at our team during CES and they were all beaming with pride at the incredible work we launched together. And personally, I feel gratitude when I look back to 2008, when I began LFL with a tiny team of rogue disruptors packed in a Venice Beach studio. It’s truly inspiring how far we’ve come.

Today, my 10-year-old daughter sees an image of a strong and powerful woman and she says, “That woman is like you, Mom!” Her reality is seeing femininity as a strength versus a limitation, and she’s brimming with self-confidence. And when I tell her that I’m proud of her she replies, “I’m proud of you too, Mom.” 

I’m so proud of the progress made by women in leadership—our endeavours have been made possible by the powerful, courageous women that came before us. Let this year’s celebration remind us all that we each have something to give, and we do not need permission to do it our own way. Our gifts—our perspectives, our whole selves—are exactly what our future demands.

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