Podcast Summary: The Leadership Dance
Episode 19: From Fired to Fearless & Leading Boldly with Sarah Rob O'Hagan
Host: Alissa Hsu Lynch
Release Date: June 9, 2025
Introduction to Sarah Rob O'Hagan
In Episode 19 of The Leadership Dance, host Alissa Hsu Lynch engages in a profound conversation with Sarah Rob O'Hagan, a dynamic leader renowned for her transformative roles in major global brands. Described as a “Superwoman, Undercover, and the Pied Piper of potential,” Sarah brings a wealth of experience from her tenure as CEO of Exos and her pivotal role in revitalizing Gatorade as its Global President. Her journey from being fired twice in her twenties to becoming a celebrated turnaround artist offers invaluable lessons in resilience, leadership, and human performance.
Early Life and Influences
Sarah begins by sharing her multicultural upbringing, which significantly shaped her leadership style. Born in New Zealand and spending her formative years in both London and New Zealand, Sarah reflects on the cultural empowerment stemming from New Zealand being the first country to grant women the right to vote. This environment instilled in her a strong belief in her ability to achieve anything she set her mind to.
Notable Quote:
“I come from the first country in the world to give women the vote... I never thought I couldn’t do anything I wanted to do.”
(00:22)
She also discusses her experiences with repeated failures during high school, such as struggling to make the field hockey team or land a speaking role in a school play. These setbacks fostered a grittiness and determination that would become foundational in her career.
Lessons from Sports and Creativity
Sarah attributes much of her success to the lessons learned from both her involvement in competitive sports and creative endeavors. Participating in diverse sports like tennis, field hockey, and sailing taught her teamwork, resilience, and the ability to handle both victory and defeat. Simultaneously, her participation in music and theater nurtured her creativity and public speaking skills.
Notable Quote:
“The combination of the ambition of sports, the competitiveness of sports, with the creativity of the music world is a huge piece of what shaped who I am in the business world.”
(04:05)
These dual influences enabled her to excel in business innovation and effective communication, essential traits for leading large teams and driving organizational change.
Overcoming Failures and Learning Humility
One of the most candid parts of the conversation revolves around Sarah being fired twice in her twenties. She recounts her initial success at Virgin Atlantic Airways, working alongside Sir Richard Branson, and the subsequent missteps that led to her dismissal. Her first firing resulted from overconfidence and a lack of understanding of the rapidly changing retail landscape during the advent of Napster.
Notable Quote:
“I was using all the things I'm good at and applying it to this challenge. And I couldn't have been more off base. And I did end up, after a year, getting fired.”
(07:45)
Following a layoff from Atari due to another business struggle, Sarah reflects on how these experiences cultivated her humility and reshaped her approach to leadership. She emphasizes the importance of listening and adding value rather than assuming she had all the answers.
Notable Quote:
“Don't come in like you have all the answers. And it was just one of the greatest lessons that stood me, well, right up to today.”
(11:15)
Leading Turnarounds at Gatorade
Sarah delves into her role at Gatorade, a $5 billion global business she led during the onset of the 2008-2009 recession. Initially perceiving the position as an exciting new challenge, she quickly faced a severe business downturn. Her creative instincts drove her strategic vision, but she realized that effective leadership required empowering her team rather than relying solely on individual efforts.
Notable Quote:
“The greatest leaders, you have to have the vision, you have to have the confidence, you have to be pushing the team to a new place.”
(12:07)
She acknowledges that while Gatorade’s turnaround was successful, she would approach it differently today to prevent burnout and ensure sustainable growth.
Preventing Burnout and Building Healthy Work Culture
A significant portion of the discussion focuses on Sarah’s personal experience with burnout during her time at Gatorade. Balancing a high-pressure role with motherhood, she recounts how relentless work hours led to a crisis point, highlighting the urgent need for work-life balance and mental well-being.
Notable Quote:
“I still remember... a massive burnout moment where just exhaustion, a heap in the floor of the kitchen in the middle of the night.”
(14:09)
Her husband’s encouragement to take a six-week break was pivotal in her recovery, leading her to implement healthier work practices upon her return. Sarah criticizes the pervasive culture of overwork in corporate America and stresses the importance of setting boundaries.
Notable Quote:
“These were the kind of mentalities... I have now become a student of human performance. It's like we did everything wrong to get the most productivity and creativity and clean decision making out of our team.”
(16:19)
Steering Exos Through the Pandemic
Transitioning to her role as CEO of Exos, Sarah discusses how the company faced an unforeseen pandemic-induced crisis just two weeks after her arrival. Unlike her previous experiences, she approached this challenge with a calmer and more strategic mindset, recognizing the long-term nature of the recovery needed.
Notable Quote:
“We were running a marathon here. It's not a sprint.”
(17:24)
Sarah and her team collaborated with experts like Adam Grant to redesign their work culture, introducing measures such as mandatory breaks, walk-and-talk meetings, and a four-day workweek (UDU Friday). These initiatives successfully maintained productivity while significantly reducing employee burnout.
Notable Quote:
“We took burnout from 70% of people experiencing it before to 30% after.”
(19:04)
The Breakout Leader Course
Building on her extensive leadership experience, Sarah has developed an immersive course called Breakout Leader. This program aims to equip individual leaders with the skills necessary to transition from managing effectively to leading boldly. The course emphasizes the importance of soft skills, such as engaging and inspiring teams, making bold strategic moves, and fostering a culture of human performance and recovery.
Notable Quote:
“Soft skills are the hard skills. Like, I think so many executives early in our careers... when it comes to leadership, how you engage with, interact with, bring people along is the only thing that matters.”
(23:11)
The curriculum incorporates case studies and interactive debates, ensuring that participants can apply lessons in real-time scenarios. Additionally, it covers strategies for managing team energy and promoting well-being, drawing parallels to techniques used by professional performers and athletes.
Advice on Leading Boldly
Concluding the episode, Sarah offers profound advice on bold leadership. She encourages leaders to reframe their perception of risk, emphasizing that bold moves are often no riskier than playing it safe. Staying within one’s comfort zone can lead to unforeseen challenges, whereas taking calculated risks fosters growth and learning.
Notable Quote:
“The risk associated with bold moves is actually no more than the risk associated with playing it safer. You just have to reframe it in your head.”
(25:22)
Sarah underscores the importance of self-belief and maintaining a positive narrative. She advises leaders to understand that their self-perception is more critical than external judgments.
Notable Quote:
“It's all in your head. At the end of the day, it's the narrative in your head. It's not what other people around you are thinking.”
(27:07)
Closing Thoughts
Alissa Hsu Lynch wraps up the episode by expressing gratitude for Sarah’s insightful contributions and encouraging listeners to embrace their leadership journeys with confidence and intentionality. Sarah’s story—from facing significant setbacks to becoming a beacon of bold leadership—serves as an inspiring testament to the power of resilience, continuous learning, and the importance of fostering a supportive and sustainable work environment.
Notable Quote:
“Like follow and share The Leadership Dance, where we explore how to choreograph the career of your dreams and chat with visionary leaders who are breaking barriers in the arts and business worlds.”
(27:32)
Key Takeaways:
- Resilience Through Failure: Experiencing and overcoming failures can build the grit and humility necessary for effective leadership.
- Balanced Leadership: Combining competitive drive with creative innovation fosters a well-rounded approach to business challenges.
- Preventing Burnout: Implementing structured work-life boundaries and prioritizing employee well-being are crucial for sustainable success.
- Bold Decision-Making: Leaders should reframe risks and embrace bold moves to drive personal and organizational growth.
- Continuous Learning: Investing in soft skills and fostering a culture of human performance enhances team dynamics and productivity.
Sarah Rob O'Hagan’s journey exemplifies the dance of leadership—balancing boldness with empathy, creativity with resilience, and ambition with well-being. Her insights provide a valuable blueprint for leaders aspiring to navigate the complexities of modern business with confidence and grace.