Meet Sarah Lisle

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sarah Lisle. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sarah below.

Sarah , so many exciting things to discuss, we can’t wait. Thanks for joining us and we appreciate you sharing your wisdom with our readers. So, maybe we can start by discussing optimism and where your optimism comes from?

My optimism stems from the belief that while we cannot control most things, we can control how we show up in the world, especially when things get tough. I learned this as a young adult when I was diagnosed with cancer at 25. It was a devastating blow when my life was just beginning. I had a choice as I faced the uncertainty of surgeries and chemotherapy – I could wallow and play victim or I could greet everyday with optimism, hope, and a little humor. I chose the latter and the experience has informed my life in so many ways.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

I consider myself an interpreter. That doesn’t mean that I can tell you the meaning of your dreams or that I’m a polyglot. An interpreter helps to tell the stories of places and people that get people thinking and meaning making. Interpretation is all around you once you know where to look for it. You can find it at museums, nature centers, and parks as guided programs, exhibit experiences, and informal interactions.

I founded Sarah Lisle Interpretive Studio, a small Interpretive Design and Planning Studio, in 2021. I primarily work in exhibit development, interpretive planning, and training front-line interpreters (think park rangers). Before embarking out on my own, I served as Director of Interpretation at the Arabia Mountain National Heritage Area. I got my start in interpretation at Texas State Parks as an interpretive planner where I created exhibits and outdoor signage for some incredible places across Texas. I have a MS in Historic Preservation from the University of Oregon and a BFA in Art/Art Education from the University of Georgia.

This work excites me for so many reasons. As a former art student, it sparks my creativity and challenges me to think outside the box. As someone who is constantly curious and loves to learn, it leads me down roads of discovery (and the occasional rabbit hole) everyday. And, as someone who values diverse stories and perspectives, I am proud to help amplify previously unheard voices in my work.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

1. Relationships

One of the biggest things I learned when I started working for myself was the importance of relationships. I was really nervous to go out on my own, even though I had wanted to take the leap for a long time. How would I get work? How hard do I have to hustle? Will I be able to support myself and my family? Once shared my new journey with former colleagues and collaborators, work began to come to me. The organization where I last worked became my first client, and people who I met through my work offered opportunities too. I realized that it cultivating and maintaining those relationships throughout my career was really the key to my success.

2. Trust

I feel like confidence is something I’ve always struggled with. But when I decided to work for myself, I really had to trust my experience and strengths to go for it. When I started I was really lucky to work with folks who knew me and my work. This gave me a little bit of comfort in the midst of something new and scary. It really helped me build trust and confidence in myself, my skills, and my work. I’ve also realized that a big part of my trust-building journey is being OK with messing up or accepting that you might not know everything. These missteps don’t mean that you’re not good at what you do. They are opportunities to learn, do better next time, and ask for help.

3. Collaboration

I’m definitely a “works well with others” type. (See relationships above.) Even though I’m a one-woman shop, I am always looking for opportunities to collaborate with other creatives like designers, historians, architects, etc. Collaboration just makes our work better, and I’ve seen so many beautiful things happen when people come together to create something. Collaboration doesn’t just happen on the consultant side of things, though. I’ve found that including clients and communities as core collaborators in projects creates enriching experiences and products that are more creative, meaningful, and inclusive.

Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?

This is really the cheesiest and the most expected response to this question, but my parents always encouraged us to follow our passions and dreams. Whether it was trying a different sport every year or deciding what to study in college, they always supported our choices. I never felt pressured to follow a certain path or dedicate my life to a specific pursuit. They still support us in this way today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sarahlisle.com
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-lisle-6747773/

Image Credits

Headshot, Mark Tioxon

All photos should credit to Sarah Lisle, except for the photo with the crowd. That attribution is the Arabia Alliance