Leaders We Love ??: Get To Know Sarah Chapman Bacerra, Founder & CEO Of Trailblazing in Color

Welcome to 'Leaders We Love', a series of interviews that spotlights pioneering leaders who are creating purpose-led brands with a focus on conscious marketing. My goal is to inspire brands to adopt a more positive, sustainable, impactful, accessible and inclusive approach to marketing.

This week, I am so excited to feature Sarah Chapman Bacerra , Founder & CEO of Trailblazing in Color . She is such an inspiration, and I’m grateful for her participation.

And, before we dive in, I just wanted to take a moment to share an exciting opportunity Sarah Chapman Bacerra has to offer.

"If you are a changemaker focused on creating more equity in the spaces you occupy and looking to better embody your voice, find ways to increase your impact, and get empowered to keep going, then you don’t want to miss the Trailblazing in Color podcast!

???Subscribe to the Trailblazing in Color podcast: https://trailblazing-in-color.captivate.fm "

What's your brand's mission, and how does it align with your personal values?

Trailblazing in Color is a people + organizational development firm focused on supporting those who are paving the way and lifting while they climb. We’re guided by a mission to help historically underrepresented leaders thrive in and change the systems that were not designed by them or for them. From an intersectional perspective (and as a mixed race and queer leader, activist, woman, daughter, sister, mother, and friend), I am deeply connected to these efforts. After more than a decade in culture transformation and people development, I started Trailblazing in Color to work towards amplifying our collective influence and impact.

The work that we do is fixated on going beyond traditional, superficial means of organizational culture transformation, and is laser-focused on the intentional architecture of systems that move us toward achieving pay equity, gender parity, and racial justice. We work with corporations, non-profits, and academic institutions to engage in strategic planning initiatives, team-building experiences, and one-on-one coaching rooted in equity-centered practices.

How do you integrate social impact into your marketing decision-making process?

Right now it's less difficult to integrate, as we are still (intentionally) bootstrapped in terms of our traditional marketing efforts. We maintain social impact as a throughline when it comes to decision-making around the clients we choose to work with. We want to ensure that there is a commitment to -? and a level of readiness for - challenging the status quo.?

How do you educate and engage your community about your brand's mission and social impact?

Last year, I created the Trailblazing in Color podcast as a way to begin building awareness about our mission, as well as a tool to amplify collective knowledge on what’s needed to create systemic change. Now in its second season, the podcast has become a powerful tool for increasing our brand awareness, engaging with our community, and conveying what matters to us.?

I’ve continued to be surprised by who finds the show, what sticks with them, and the relationships I’ve built as a result. We just surpassed 1200 downloads, which to me is pretty wild. I’m really proud of what we’ve been able to discuss on the show, particularly when it comes to innovative practices around building intentional community, creating systemic change, PLAY, and REST.

What marketing activity, campaign, or initiative have you worked on that has brought you the most joy? Why?

Ooh, I love that this question is focused on joy! The marketing activity that brought me the most joy was the branding photo and video shoot we did for the Trailblazing in Color website.?

Each of the individuals who were a part of that shoot is a true trailblazer in their own right. It felt symbolic to be going out on my own (terrifying!) while already being surrounded by such a special, loving community that day. I knew I wasn’t going to be alone on this journey, and that has stayed true.

Our logo/brand design process also brought a whole lot of joy, as it helped to bring to life the vision of this colorful, vibrant brand and community. <3

What has been your biggest challenge in marketing a purpose-driven brand so far, and how did you overcome it?

As the only full-time employee of the business, it can be overwhelming to be the Chief Marketing Officer, CEO, COO, CHRO, and more. Making informed decisions can feel impossible at times. For me, staving off the overwhelm has looked like joining intentional communities, such as The Upside and We Should All Be Millionaires, building my personal advisory board, and taking advantage of people's offers to help share their time and unique talents with me. I'm so grateful.

What new developments, trends, or technologies give you hope for the future of marketing and keep you energised?

Like many, I am energized by several of the AI technology integrations coming out right now. Some of the content creation tasks that used to take me hours are now taking me minutes using various AI tools. As someone who easily gets stuck in analysis paralysis when it comes to content creation, the ability to have a starting point, rather than staring at a blank page, and then fine-tune it using my writing style has been a game-changer for me. I see it enabling marginalized entrepreneurs and thought leaders who can’t yet afford to invest in external marketing support to leverage AI to scale their content creation.

A Final Word?

Thank you again, Sarah Chapman Bacerra , for sharing your insights and expertise with us. Your participation has given us valuable insights into creating a purpose-led brand. And thank you to you, my awesome reader, for joining me on this journey. Every one of us has a role to play in making the world a better place. Let's continue to learn, grow, and make a positive impact, one step at a time. ??

TL;DR

Get inspired by Sarah Chapman Bacerra , the Founder of Trailblazing in Color , who is on a mission to help historically underrepresented leaders thrive in and change the systems that were not designed by them or for them. Sarah prioritises social impact in client selection and uses her podcast to raise awareness and engage the community. Her most joyful marketing moments include a meaningful branding photo shoot and logo design. Managing multiple roles can be challenging, but Sarah finds support in communities and advisors. She's excited about AI tools that make content creation faster and more accessible for marginalised entrepreneurs and thought leaders.?

Become a part of the Conscious Marketing Movement

We're incredibly excited to officially open our doors!

The Conscious Marketing Movement is a global online community shaping the future of marketing for a better tomorrow. We bring together purpose-driven entrepreneurs and conscious marketers to learn, connect and grow so that we can create social impact and profits.

If this speaks to you, be part of our 90-day pilot period as one of our founding members! ?? More information here

That's all for today!

Whenever you're ready, there are 2 ways I can help you:

1. If you believe marketing can change and become a force for good in your business and the world, consider exploring my conscious marketing services. These services focus on building a brand that motivates and gives back, allowing you to make a difference in your community.
2. If you're all about positive impact and want to be part of an online community that brings together purpose-driven entrepreneurs and conscious marketers, this journey is for you. ?? Conscious Marketing Movement

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