Dynamic Duos: Sarah Fischer Letts and Claudia Alvarado
Totally Awesome's head of content solutions, Sarah Fischer Letts and sales director NSW and QLD, Claudia Alvarado, discuss how the pair bonded over their shared love of their families and of rosé as they grew TotallyAwesome from a team of three to a team of 20.
In Dynamic duos, Mumbrella each month asks two members of the same organisation with a professional and personal affiliation, to share with readers the importance of workplace relationships in an increasingly work-from-home world.
Sarah Fischer Letts, head of content solutions, Totally Awesome
Sarah Fischer Letts: TotallyAwesome now have a team of over 20 employees in Australia but back then it was only myself and my then boss – until Claudia joined early in 2019 and we became a band of three.
I vividly remember meeting Clauds for the first time. It was in the lobby of Harper Collins (because we didn’t have an office back then) and we only had minutes to align our thoughts before a big pitch. My first impression was that I liked her vibe and loved her style. Totally professional, totally together and killer heels (I’m a big heel afficionado too, but hers are on steroids). I was excited to find out that she was a mum of two girls. I’ve got three kids and I felt like I was getting a comrade.
We fell into an easy acquaintance as we had some commonalities from the get go. Aside from both being working mothers, we’re both positive people and had some shared former colleagues from Turner days. But we’ve also got some key differences; notably that I’m a totally open book whilst Clauds is (initially) more reticent. So, our true friendship developed organically as we figured out how to work together and grow TotallyAwesome’s business in Australia.
Many of these conversations unfolded in cafes or in the back of my multivan before meetings, not to mention during frantic late night phone calls trying to problem solve our way through a work drama. And Clauds would invariably come up with the solution. She’s a deep thinker and can really see the whole picture. The word visionary sounds a bit overblown but Clauds is so smart and strategic, it kind of fits. That’s not to say she isn’t willing to get hands-on in the business either. I’ve been impressed by her willingness to get down and dirty to help me on client shoots. I’ve got a background in production and TV so I’m used to it, but I’d never worked with someone on the executive side who’s been so willing to jump in when needed. She’s also a killer set stylist, for a someone whose core function is being a sales gun. Clauds’ hidden talent is that she could easily trade jobs and head up the props and wardrobe department of the next Marvel movie instalment without missing a beat!
One of Claudia’s most impressive qualities is that she’s a power listener. Like many people, I can often be in a rush or keen to articulate my own ideas, but Clauds is always actively listening. Whether it’s a client, colleague or friend she has a remarkable way of being in the moment, listening, analysing and – only then – speaking. Consequently, if Clauds is saying something in a meeting, I can guarantee it is of great value, which can be a rare quality in our overly verbose media world. She’s certainly influenced me to take that pause before speaking (although as many of my colleagues may testify, it doesn’t happen all the time).
Claudia Alvarado, sales director NSW and QLD, Totally Awesome
Claudia Alvarado: When I met Sarah in the lobby of Harper Collins, I could tell immediately that she was going to be a force for good. Anyone that has met her will know what I mean, she is warm, open, talkative, creative and fun.
It may sound unlikely in this day and age, but before I joined TotallyAwesome, I’d never directly worked with a woman who also a full-time working parent with a full-time working partner before. I’d worked with women who had a stay-at-home partner, those who worked part time, those who had live-in nannies and so forth, but for the first time I felt like there was someone who ‘got it’. It felt serendipitous to come upon someone who has such an amazing work ethic but was also totally committed to family life. We’re certainly on the same path there and as Sarah’s kids are a bit older than mine, she’s taught me a lot about balance, managing the inevitable guilt and (in a good way) taking no prisoners.
Sarah was a great resource in helping me navigate the change from working in highly structured corporate office culture, to working from home and helping develop a nascent business in the kids and teen space. She’s got a real growth-mind set and thrives on team work, embracing diversity and challenges with huge energy. I also love the way she combines being a consummate professional whilst also giving a lot of her personal self to the business. I’m naturally much more of a ‘hold back’ person than Sarah. My parents were immigrants and as they didn’t share the language or have experience of the culture, growing up I had to learn to advocate for myself. I did this by looking outwards to how others navigated situations so I still tend to observe and listen before I speak up – or open up. But Sarah has a magical way of breaking down barriers and I’ve learned a little more about how being vulnerable can be a strength. I used to be fearful of people looking at me through a different lens if I opened up about certain things but I’ve shared some big life moments with Sarah and talking through them has helped us both come out stronger.
Although Sarah is one of the most empathetic people I know, she is also very good at cutting to the chase. I can sometimes consider things for a bit too long. We’ll be in meetings and I’ll be thinking of a question but waiting to formulate it and ask it at the right time, whereas Sarah just has the confidence to be in the moment and sort things out immediately.
Sarah on Claudia:
Most memorable moment with Claudia: It was during a long taxi ride when I learned more about her background. She was already impressive to me, but knowing the extent to which she has had to create her own opportunities and the consistent hard work she has had to put in to get where she is today, blew my mind.
Best word to describe Claudia: Cerebrally-strategic (can I hyphenate it to make one word?)
Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour: She never ever gets a hangover; as we share a love of Rose this is deeply annoying and frankly unfair.
Claudia on Sarah:
Most memorable moment with Sarah: A couple of months after I joined, we got stuck at the airport after our flight was delayed. We fell into what would be the first of many deeper, meaningful chats about subjects other than work or our kids. With hindsight, it was the beginning of a really special friendship for me.
Best word to describe Sarah: Superwoman
Most annoying habit or endearing behaviour: This is both. Sarah LOVES to talk with a capital L. Mostly this is great, but when I call her saying “just quickly I’ve only got five minutes” it always ends up being closer to 25. She packs a lot into that 25 minutes though!
If you and a colleague would like to submit your story to Dynamic duos, please email kwelch@mumbrella.com.au.
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