Story & Lesson Highlights with Sarah Rowan of Sydney, Australia

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Sarah Rowan. Check out our conversation below.

Hi Sarah, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: Who are you learning from right now?
As a self-confessed podcast junkie, I’ve realised that endless “snack bags” of expert opinions can create a false sense of wisdom. This year, I am devouring every book by Elif Shafak…some in paperback, others as audiobooks brought to life by brilliant narrators. Right now, I’m listening to her Booker-shortlisted How to Stay Sane in an Age of Division.

A common thread is woven through her novels…empathy. In a world more polarised than ever, and a humanity that seems to be fading like an evening campfire, her words stoke the embers and give me hope. Elif’s novels also weave real history through their pages, and I find myself learning about conflicts and nations in a way that no classroom or teacher has ever illuminated. Cannot recommend Elif’s works highly enough.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Sarah Rowan, but I go by Rowan. It suits me better. I’ve spent over twenty years becoming one of Australia’s leading speed painters and keynote speakers. ’ve performed live on more than 600 stages, weaving art and storytelling into experiences that inspire audiences to unlock their own creativity. My work has raised over $400,000AUD for charity, and my murals, books, and workshops all share one mission: to make creativity accessible to everyone—from boardrooms to classrooms.

What makes my brand unique is the fusion of art with impact. Whether I have 5 minutes to create a painting on stage, or leading interactive team workshops, or publishing resources like my book The Creativity Cycle, everything I do is about sparking imagination and leaving people with a lasting sense of possibility. Right now, I’m expanding into global stages, community murals, and creative products that carry that same message: reconnecting humanity to their creativity.

Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
I believe nothing breaks the bonds between people faster than the mindset of “I’m right, you’re wrong.” I know this firsthand…I grew up as a conservative Christian in South Carolina, immersed in a culture of self-righteousness and certainty. My beliefs became a fortress, convincing me I had all the answers and anyone outside my worldview was wrong, sinful, or broken. That fortress nearly destroyed me, compounded by twenty years of conversion therapy.

After four decades, I finally broke free. What restores bonds is listening…truly listening. When we pause our judgments and hear another person’s story, their beliefs, struggles, and experiences begin to make sense. That opens the door to empathy, and empathy is what rebuilds connection.

When you were sad or scared as a child, what helped?
When I was sad or scared as a child, the same things that help me now helped me then: music and talking. Music shifts energy…when our vibration is low, uplifting songs can lift us out of that dark space in our minds and give us a higher perspective.

The other is speaking. Fear festers in silence, but when I share it with a trusted friend or my partner, it loses its grip. Once our emotions are acknowledged…seen and heard…they can finally move through us and move on. And when you combine good music, a vulnerable conversation, and the added bonus of home made meal…you have a beautiful recipe for peace, understanding, and healing.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
This question absolutely thrills me because between the ages of 20-40, I would have wanted to say yes, and maybe even convinced myself that I was telling the truth. In craving acceptance, I wore a mask, and it was exhausting! I allowed my family, community and belief system of the time to mould and shape me as they desired, while inside I was slowly dying. It took me a while to figure out who I was, but I got there. These days, I am authentically myself on both the stage and at home,..and there is no greater feeling.

Brené Brown describes authenticity as the “daily practice of letting go who we think we’re supposed to be and embracing who we are.” The more I love who I genuinely am, the quiet dork who easily gets distracted when working from home…I stop berating myself like a drill sergeant and love the creative journey each day unveils.

Now I show up authentically both on stage and at home. On stage, you see my vibrant, high-energy side; at home, I’m a quietly content introvert, happiest in my studio or garden. Different aspects of my personality …but both are honest. If someone overheard how I treat my partner, kids, friends and clients, they would hear gratitude, joy and love in every conversation…consistent, vulnerable, raw, me.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
For a decade, I dreamed of owning a caravan. It showed up on vision boards, in daydreams of driving around Australia, living free on the open road. In 2020, I finally bought one…an old ’80s Viscount with plenty of character and the promise of a mini renovation project. At the time, with my speaking and speed painting work on hold during the pandemic, it felt like both a dream come true and a backup plan if things got tough.

But reality soon hit. I didn’t have a car big enough to tow it, a safe place to store it, or the money to renovate it. And honestly, I didn’t even have the guts to haul that beast around the nation. The dream quickly lost its shine. To add to the twist, the very day I bought the caravan, I met the woman who is now my fiancée…and with seven kids between us, a caravan was the last thing we needed.

Eventually, I sold it for a loss (though not before giving it a pretty cool paint job!). What I realised is that I never needed the caravan. What I truly wanted was adventure, and that’s exactly what my partner and I have found…road trips, camping, even sleeping in the car. It turns out it’s not about how you travel, it’s about who you’re with and the memories you make along the way.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Image one/ the headshot with me looking at camera – Liz Sullivan

Images 2/4/5 – The vertical ones were all by: @atlantis.creative (Chris Rockstroh)

Image 3 – me with hat/ landscape: Josh Woning

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