We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sabrina Stratford a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sabrina, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
Does any little girl grow up thinking, “Someday I’d like to fight sex traffickers?” I thought my special purpose was going to be as a private pilot flying the Dallas Cowboys around and telling jokes to Roger Staubach. Funny thing happened on the way to flight school… I spent 25 years in software traveling the world, managing partnerships, and enjoying an expense account. Life was good and I have reason to believe that #12 made it to his games just fine without me or my jokes. Then came the great reset. The disruptor known as Covid-19 yanked the slack right out of me and I began questioning my life choices. I remember the first week of the pandemic when we really didn’t know what was going on and if humankind was going to make it. It was the perfect storm to stir up my comfortable world and set me on the path to my special purpose.
I met a woman working for a non-profit fighting human trafficking and when she told me how they were making a difference something clicked. Two weeks later I resigned from my career and accepted a position as the first domestic project manager to lead a sex trafficking transit monitoring team with Love Justice International. They sent me where we could make the biggest impact and I ended up at the epicenter of Anchorage Alaska’s trafficking hub.
How could such a life change happen so quickly? Why was it so easy to quit my job and lease my new home to strangers? I can tell you what it feels like to catch a glimpse of your special purpose. It makes you lightheaded, impulsive, and slightly nauseous. I knew in my knower that I needed to fight bad guys and protect women and children. I knew that I was going to be fearless and that I would produce outcomes that would make a difference. I just didn’t know the WHY.
To better serve the vulnerable I worked with the Alaska Department of Public Safety in the Sex Offender Registry. It took a journey 3,433 miles away from home and divine intervention to figure out my WHY, but once I got that sorted I was unstoppable. Today I can take a step back and reverse engineer the whole experience.
I’ve always thought of life as an adventure map. I get energized by meeting new people, trying new things, and having meaningful conversations. I know what lights me up and it’s the first step in shining light on your passion. When I’m researching and creating a message that I know has the potential to help people I can barely sleep and can’t wait to get up in the morning. Getting in a groove like that feels like the discovery of your own personal North Star.
I know that in order to grow, I had to get out of my comfort zone. Way out. I will never shy away from things that make me uncomfortable because that’s where the good stuff is. Purpose often hides in the shadows of challenge and hardship. Mistakes will be made, and they make solid stepping stones. Lessons from failure are foundational to purpose.
I know that curiosity is my super power. The books I read, the programs I watch, the questions I ask are all indicators of a distinct mission. I listen to my gut. My internal GPS is a gift and when I rely on it, I end up in the right place at the right time. Intuition knows all the shortcuts to special purpose. I’ve come to understand that my past is scattered with clear signs directing me to my purposeful future. When I take the time to reflect and read them, my destination is clear.
Sometimes I wish I had identified my passion sooner and wonder how my life would have looked if I had acted sooner. When I look closer though it becomes clear that everything I learned in my I.T. career ended up serving me well in my role as a human trafficking abolitionist. I would never have reached this destination without the journey. And I may have never had the opportunity to meet Roger Staubach but I know I’m playing for the right team!
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am an abolitionist and dedicated advocate against human trafficking. I use my experience as a Global Business Development Manager and first-hand insights from fighting sex traffickers in Alaska to inform organizations about modern slavery and provide corporate responsibility planning to corporations.
The work is heavy, but my favorite part is watching a survivor overcome unthinkable trauma and pursue a new life. Hearing their stories and understanding how predators operate makes me feel like we can get the upper hand with insider information. I love it when I see people hear about the reality of sex trafficking and then figure out what they can do to join the fight. It’s empowering!
I have some events coming up that will help raise awareness. On Jan. 23rd an interview with the Executive Women’s Forum on Linkedin. https://lnkd.in/gzeJ7EXb .
April 16th – Frankfurt, Germany, Passage Terminal Expo – “How to Fight Human Trafficking Without Getting HR Involved”.
April 20th – Beijing China, TEDx – “Is A.I. Fueling or Fighting Human Trafficking?”
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
1. Curiosity 2. Empathy 3. Faith
1. Curiosity is the spark that sets exploration in motion. It pushes us to venture into the unknown, to try new things, and to peek behind the curtains of our comfort zones. In doing so, we stumble upon aspects of life that might align with our special purpose. Questions lead to answers.
2. Empathy – by understanding others we begin to understand ourselves. By understanding the experiences, needs, and emotions of those around us, we gain deeper insights into our own values and passions. Connections can provide support, inspiration, and even reveal new opportunities aligned with our purpose and serve as a catalyst for compassion.
3. If I didn’t have faith in my Creator I would never be able to pursue this particular passion. It’s too heavy for anyone to carry alone. It’s where I get my sense of direction, assurance, and courage for the fight. I build my faith by reading scripture, praying, and worshiping God.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Nine out of ten people are willing to earn less money to do more meaningful work. Not every organization can build tools or offer services that fight human trafficking. There are more than 45 million people in modern slavery today. I want to partner with organizations that want to assess their corporate policies and support the fight in a way that best fits their culture and goals. Companies that assess and address human trafficking risks in their operations and supply chains are better equipped to identify and mitigate potential risks. This includes risks related to reputation damage, supply chain disruptions, and regulatory penalties. Employees are increasingly attracted to workplaces that prioritize ethical practices. Companies committed to fighting human trafficking create a positive workplace culture, boosting employee morale. This, in turn, can contribute to higher retention rates and increased productivity.
Investors are increasingly considering ethical factors when making investment decisions. Companies with robust policies against human trafficking are more likely to attract socially responsible investors, contributing to financial stability and growth. In today’s interconnected world, news of unethical practices can spread rapidly. Taking a stand against human trafficking enhances a company’s global reputation. It positions the company as a responsible corporate citizen committed to making a positive impact. Addressing human trafficking aligns with the broader commitment to upholding human rights. It reflects a company’s dedication to respecting and protecting the rights of individuals, both within its operations and throughout its supply chain.
Corporate anti-trafficking policies can have a direct positive impact on communities. By ensuring fair labor practices and ethical sourcing, companies contribute to the well-being of the communities in which they operate.
Assessing and implementing policies to fight human trafficking is not only a moral imperative but also a strategic decision with far-reaching benefits for the company, its stakeholders, and society as a whole. It aligns with the principles of ethical business conduct and contributes to a more sustainable and responsible corporate landscape.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://sabrinastratford.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sabrinastratford/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sabrinalovesjustice
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrinastratford/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/SabrinaStrat
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/UYBTr-BVBOc
- Other: TEDx – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kvEO1QQ2mVY
