Meet Jackie Sanders | Marketing Strategist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jackie Sanders and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jackie, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
When discussing risk, we often focus on the thrill that the decision may evoke. Risk is really about the measure of our potential failure. The greater our perceived chance to fail, the greater our perceived risk. We often think actively about risk at the start of new things. We associate it with adventure and growth. Risk-taking is a part of my DNA, and I naturally tend to jump into new things. I like the adventure and the chance to realize the possibility of “what if.” I credit risk-taking with many of the outstanding experiences I have had in my life, traveling around the world, my education, building companies, and even taking a sabbatical on a remote island in the South Pacific (this was when I had my first will put in place).

What intrigues me even more about risk is the risk associated with endings—quitting a job, closing a business, or turning away an opportunity. It is not nearly as sexy. When leaving something, there is a natural tendency to assume it is because something terrible or unfixable occurred. It is often seen as coming from a place of loss or hurt rather than new rewards—whether that is, in fact, true or not.

We do ourselves a service to understand better and embrace the power of the risk of closure. I hypothesize that people who are good at endings end up rising to even bigger and better opportunities. At times, we must say goodbye to say hello, and embracing this perspective with the tools to do it compassionately and effectively is vital to benefit from the entire spectrum of risk. Take risks enthusiastically and frequently because they are the on-ramp to growth. But don’t forget that risks take place at all points along the spectrum of life, and understanding their unique power at different times ensures your ability to evaluate and make decisions to your best advantage.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My journey through the life sciences and wellness industries is fueled by a passion for doing things that matter. Our health is a sacred gift, and having a modest role in nurturing new advancements and supporting greater access to those who will benefit is a privilege. With an extensive background in pharmaceutical advertising in New York City and leading agency teams for renowned clients like Sanofi and Novartis, I’ve developed a keen insight and fascination with the intricate dance between marketing, ethics, regulations, and complex stakeholder relationships. With this experience under my belt, I launched Purple Carrot. In its first iteration, it was a health tech platform designed to lift the voices of nurses within acute care settings to identify challenges, source solutions, and share their valued experiences through a collaborative and evidence-based approach.

Today, Purple Carrot is a boutique marketing strategy firm focused on the broader purview of health and wellness. Our clients range from F100 firms to ambitious health tech startups and private foundations. While the range of client types is wide, our role as a change agent has been consistent client after client.

At Purple Carrot, our ethos is rooted in a comprehensive understanding of the healthcare continuum—from patients to the myriad of solutions and places of care that support healing and overall better health. Through an embedded approach, I work with clients to deeply understand their goals, processes, needs, and values and then translate these criteria into insights, strategy, and execution to bring them to fruition. I aim to support teams in addressing immediate needs and elevating their vision to deliver solutions aligning with more significant opportunities.

Today, more than ever, it is vital to navigate the healthcare landscape with a marketer’s eye and a caregiver’s heart. At Purple Carrot, we strive to make every strategy resonate on a human level relevant to the complex world in which we all live. We work to craft experiences that matter, messages that motivate, and strategies that lead to sustainable growth and better care outcomes.

In terms of the company’s journey, it has been a mix of highs and lows. The feeling of working well with a client and solving their challenges is fantastic and energizing. However, this is a competitive field, and as a small firm, it can be difficult at times to be seen by more sophisticated client-targets who value how our approach to strategic marketing is integral to creating compelling work that is both enduring and impactful. It takes balance and belief to stay faithful to the rigorous methodology that supports our works’ strong results and ensures the pipeline remains full. It is as much about saying “yes” as it is about saying “no” to evolve in a way that stays true to our values, vision, and continued plans for growth.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love hosting friends from around the world and bringing them to our fair city in Cleveland, Ohio. They often leave pleasantly surprised because Cleveland is such a well-rounded city with culture, fun restaurants, amazing neighborhoods, parks, and more. There are a few standards on my itinerary: Chagrin Falls for the quintessential New England town right here in the Midwest, the famed Cleveland Museum of Art (my most favorite place), a ride through the leafy suburbs of Shaker Heights and Cleveland Heights, and a gentle hike through one of our many parks (the Beachwood Park along Shaker Blvd is one of my favorites these days).

Gigi’s is a super cute restaurant with great food and fun drinks. The Van Aken District is fantastic to discover interesting gifts with local flair and great lunch and dinner spots. 78th Street Studios is a special place to explore new artists in their very own habitat. Playhouse Square is another one of our treasures that can rival that of any city in the US. Cleveland is what you make of it. I returned to Cleveland after years of living in NYC and a brief stint in London. It is great to be back home.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I enthusiastically dedicate this Shoutout to my parents, especially my mom. Yes, the ones who often question my leaps and bounds but have always been 110% outwardly supportive. Ultimately, what we achieve is up to us and our ability to go out there and show up; however, our chances of success are directly related to opportunities, experiences, and support that establish the skills and confidence to pursue our dreams and reach new milestones.

My parents have always been there for me, instilled in me and my sisters the belief that we are loved, bright, capable, and count, and the importance of maintaining financial independence. With these instilled core values, we were given the essential framework to lead productive, successful, and fulfilled lives.

Website: purplecarrotideafarm.com

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jackie-sanders-454b194

Twitter: JS_purplecarrot