SARAH GELMAN

Give her a follow and say hello!

1. Tell me a little bit about you, who is Sarah outside of work?

I’m a Pittsburgh native who has lived in Seattle for almost 12 years. I met my husband on my third day in Seattle, and we have two little boys (4 and 2), two dogs, and two cats. I’m a huge reader and fully geek out on books, magazines (especially gift guides), and the Trader Joe’s Fearless Flyer. I was extremely shy growing up and although that’s not true anymore, I’m introverted and am one of the happy ones while working at home. I still watch Grey’s Anatomy, am addicted to coffee, and dream of living on a farm. If I weren’t doing what I’m doing, I would be a veterinarian.

2. What do you do for work?

I’m the Director of PR & Editorial for Books at Amazon. I’ve been at Amazon for almost 12 years, always working on different areas of PR, and I added the editorial piece about two years ago. Books are my passion and I feel pretty darn lucky to do what I do.

3. As a female, what are some of the biggest obstacles you have faced within your industry / the workplace?

I had a pretty tough time when I was pregnant. I felt so exposed when I was pregnant, and although I know my colleague’s intentions were coming from the right place, I felt like I was being treated differently than my non-pregnant self. It didn’t help that I gained a million pounds (literally) with both pregnancies and had to suffer indignities like shin splints while walking to meetings and hormone-induced sweats. I also burst into tears several times, and fell asleep in a meeting once. I hated the feeling that a personal (and private) choice was playing out so publically at work. Returning from maternity leave was slightly better, although I am still grateful for my executive assistant at the time who discreetly held blocks of time for me to pump in the Mother’s Suite at regular intervals throughout the day.

Now that the pregnancies are behind me, I try to really embrace my role as working mother and be transparent about how I’m juggling my different roles. I think being a working mom has given me a unique and valuable perspective.

4. What women in your life inspire you and why?

Most of the women in my life inspire me in some way. I am fully in awe of my fellow working moms and stay-at-home moms, especially during COVID. There is literally no time off, and I would have gone crazy without our socially distant walks and silly Marco Polo messages.

I will also always remember the way my fellow female colleagues have supported each other behind the scenes this past year. I’ve received more texts just checking in on my sanity level or sharing silly stories. I’m incredibly inspired when women lift up other women, and this year has given us all a unique opportunity to do just that.

5. What advice would you give to women who want to pursue a new life direction -- whether that be moving to a new city, pursuing a new career path, starting a side hustle, or choosing a new major in school?

First of all, stick with your passion, even if it’s not the shiniest object. There will always be something new and exciting, but if you’re working on what you’re passionate about, you’ll feel fulfilled.

Secondly, you are the only person that can advocate for yourself. It’s nice to think that our mentors or managers are looking out for us, but unless you make clear what you want—and deserve—you can’t expect new opportunities to come your way.

Finally, when I was 30 I made a huge life change. I decided to leave New York and my publishing job to move to Seattle, where I knew no one, and work for a tech company. I wasn’t horribly unhappy at the time, but I realized that instead of living my life, my life was living me. And for too long I thought someone else would make the decision for me, but I was single and it was just me, so I took a chance. That chance has been the best decision in my life. Sure, it was scary and lonely at times. But I’ve never regretted it.

6. How do you balance a job, personal life, and passions? Is there such a thing as balance?

I guess that depends on what you consider to be balance. I don’t think there’s ever a time when I have equal time and energy spent on every aspect of my life, but that’s ok with me. My kids always come first and that’s non-negotiable. Having one clear priority is really helpful. I love my job and a huge part of my identity is tied up in it, but I also have supportive colleagues and a strong team that can step up when I can’t be there. I’m extremely lucky that reading is one of my main passions since I also need to read for work. I know I can get really grumpy when I don’t move my body, so that’s always a priority, whether that means waking up extra early to ride the Peloton or multi-tasking by taking the puppy on a long walk during work calls.

But I also know I can’t do everything myself. My husband manages all of the food and cooking in our house, and he also does school drop-off and pick-up for our kids. He’s also pretty good at knowing when I need a glass of wine brought to my computer at the end of the day. Having someone else to support you—whether that’s a partner, friend, or relative—is really key.

7. What are some ways you implement self-care?

I was a very awkward kid, but found my inner athlete in college. Since then, I just don’t feel like myself unless I’m active. I am a former devotee of Bar Method and when the (woman-owned) Seattle/Westlake studio was still open, would try to make it there as often as possible. Right now I’m recovering from an ankle injury but I make it a priority to walk our dogs through the wooded park at least once a day. I used to listen to podcasts or audio books when I walked, but now I just try to focus on the sounds around me.

My older son has always been a really awful sleeper, so every Friday night my husband gives me a break from the inevitable nightly disturbances by having a “camp out” in our playroom with him. I look forward to Friday nights all week. Right now on Fridays I’m binging Firefly Lane on Netflix (I also love tv!) and that’s normally a night when I do stereotypical self-care things like a face mask or taking a bath. I also remind my husband and kids every Friday night: “tomorrow I’m sleeping in.” Sleeping in can mean 8:30 (somewhere, my 22-year old self is laughing), but it’s still more sleep than I get on a typical night.

My younger son still naps in the afternoon and I’ve been known to nap when he’s napping on the weekends, too. I’m not sure I’ll ever feel fully rested again, but I keep trying!

8. What advice would you give to the next generation of female leaders, movers, and shakers?

Be kind to each other. There’s so much power when women band together, and too often we’re pitted against each other. Stop apologizing. And don’t be afraid to say no.

9. How can women advocate for each other?

I always make time when women want to talk about their career path. Even if I don’t have actionable advice for them, I try to listen and offer a different perspective. Also, I think it’s important for women to celebrate each other’s victories. Take the time to write a note or check in by text if someone has done an incredible job or just needs a little support.

10. What advice would you give to women trying to break into a male-dominated field or an industry where there aren’t as many female leaders?

Women add incredible value to companies. Don’t forget that. And while the idea of networking makes my introverted heart quiver, it’s really helpful to create your own “board of advisors” in an industry, especially if it’s comprised of both men and women.

I am a big advocate for asking for what you want. That’s hard as a professional woman, but it becomes easier the more you do it. The worst you can hear is “no.”

11. What is your power color and why?

Blue. I always gravitate to blue tones. I think it’s partially because I think it makes my eyes pop and that makes me feel confident, but also because I’m a Cancer and water is central to who I am. (Gosh, sometimes I sound like such a PNW-er I can’t believe I was born in Pennsylvania!)

12. What is your female anthem – the song that hypes you up and makes you feel like a girl boss and that you can take on anything in the world?

I always use music to hype me up and my anthem can change a lot depending on my mood. Two of my all-time favorite female anthems are “Elevator Love Letter” by Stars and “Suddenly I See” by KT Tunstall. (And yes, I’m sure the latter is because of the opening scene in The Devil Wears Prada movie. I want to put this song on every time I get dressed for an event.) My current favorite is “Julianna Calm Down” by The Chicks. That whole album is pretty amazing, but there’s something about the line “put on your best shoes and strut the f*ck around like you’ve got nothing to lose” that makes me feel like a boss.

Portrait illustrations are by Hailey Coral.

WOMEN ARE MAGIC | Sarah Gelman