An Inspired Chat with Sara Grossman

Sara Grossman shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Good morning Sara, we’re so happy to have you here with us and we’d love to explore your story and how you think about life and legacy and so much more. So let’s start with a question we often ask: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Last year, I temporarily moved back to my home state of Florida, after living in New York and Colorado for the last 18 years. Over the last 12 months, I have reconnected with so many of my old friends from college, and this little community of people has been my everything. We have Mario Kart tournaments and explore the beaches for shark teeth and sea glass. I’ve found that really honing in on the micro of my life and taking a short pause on the macro has brought me immense joy.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sara Grossman, and I am a writer, storyteller, and communications strategist who is passionate about using words to create change. I’ve spent my career working in LGBTQ+ advocacy, digital communications, and social media, helping organizations and public figures craft narratives that spark empathy and move people to action. My background spans everything from political campaigns to healthcare education to amplifying the voices of artists and activists who are making culture more inclusive.

I’m especially proud of weaving together urgency and humanity in my work — whether it’s writing an op-ed about gun violence from a deeply personal lens, running social campaigns that celebrate queer joy, publishing my children’s book ‘Schnauzer in a Sweater Vest’ to help kids learn about friendship and empathy, or finding creative ways to connect brands with their communities. Right now, I’m focused on projects that merge my creative writing roots with my digital strategy skills, telling stories that leave a lasting impact with a little sparkle sprinkled on top.

At the heart of everything I do is a belief that storytelling is one of our most powerful tools for change, and I’m lucky enough to make that my life’s work.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What an interesting and thought-provoking question. I think misunderstanding and lack of empathy breaks bonds between people. We are all so different—we each use so many different lenses to look at the world and it can be difficult to see or understand the intersectional lenses other people see through.

This can mean how a person was raised—did they have a happy childhood or did they grow up with a lot of strife in their home? Did the person you’re interacting with grow up religious? Do they have leftover shame from that? Did they grow up with food on the table every night, or was that a struggle? Are they a different race than you are? A different gender or sexuality? A different zodiac sign or enneagram? These are ALL lenses that we look at the world through, and sometimes you have to pause and try to try on someone else’s glasses or step into their shoes to really be able to understand where they are coming from.

What restores this is empathy, understanding, acceptance, and the willingness to work on all of the above. We are toddling on an apex right now where so much feels so big and scary and like the slightest move in the wrong direction will blow over the entire house of cards. I think people need to feel free to leap and trust that taking chances on people and things outside of their norm may open up new ways to see the world, and that is what restores bonds between people.

Do not give in to the theory that we all need to be rugged individualists. That’s how things break. That’s how we have gotten to where we are right now in history. Together, in community, we can restore the world.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Through so many of my wounds, I have forced myself to be a phoenix and rise from the ashes into action. This happened when gay marriage was on the line over a decade ago. This happened for me when I lost my friend Drew Leinonen at the Pulse shooting. This continues to happen with every smack of our existence is politicized. I run head first into advocacy. I’ve told my story to rooms of 10 or 10,000 people. And the ripple effects of the couple of stones I’ve thrown into the water have been huge. I’m very grateful for that and to have had the platform I’ve been given.

I also believe in knowing when it’s time to step back from being on that front line to fight, and right now I have taken a back seat to work on myself, to heal from a lot of anxiety and turmoil that has plagued me the last few years both personally and politically, and am slowing down.

I have found so much healing lately in going to the beach, listening to the waves, collecting sea glass, and enjoying the quiet ebb and flow of my personal life. If we are not healed ourselves, we cannot heal others, so I would really emphasize others to let wounds heal and fill your cup up every once in a while before heading back to the front lines.

Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? Is the public version of you the real you?
One of the things that I am most proud of is my authenticity. Every person who gets a version of me gets the same version of me. I don’t know how to be anything else, and I think it would be too difficult to not present the authentic version of me to everyone. In fact, the times where I have tried to water down my personality or be something or someone I’m not have been the most exhausting and short-lived periods of my life.

This is probably why I’ll never be a politician – ha!

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people will share stories of how my authenticity helped inspire others to live their truth. I hope that people will remember my kindness and determination and how those two factors helped me shine through both tragedy and triumph throughout my life.

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