Dr. Sarah Buchner featured on 97% Effective Podcast
How do you go from a challenging childhood in Europe to rise within a notoriously tough industry – and then building one the hottest global startups in your sector? In this episode of 97% Effective, host Michael Wenderoth speaks with Dr. Sarah Buchner, CEO at Trunk Tools, about the mindset and strategic moves that has put her in the driver’s seat of her career. They discuss how she broke in and stood out in the male-dominated construction industry — and the ways she harnesses data to increase the odds of success. Dr. Buchner loves the chip on her shoulder and hates labels – and by the end of this episode you will see the power in that too.
- The two German phrases that embody Sarah’s ethos
- What are the next few steps that seem just out of the realm of the possible?
- About Trunk Tools
- The chip on Sarah’s shoulder: how being told “you can’t do that” has powered her
- Turning disadvantage into advantage
- Why she hates labels
- Seeing vs Looking: where do you want to focus your view?
- Sarah’s boldness and how being direct and concise was needed to survive as a child – and stills serves her
- Managing corporate politics vs raising capital – when to dial up, when to dial down
- Managing backlash and not being invited
- How Sarah found the right mentors, got them on her side and was clear about her goals – and how those mentors could help her
- “My goal is not to play nice” — To be or not to be: warmth vs competence
- “I don’t care about being liked, I care about people trusting me.”
- Study the path others have taken – then map what you need to do to get from A to B
- Sarah’s most challenging transition when she became CEO
- Forming a Board of Advisors: Would you ask your medical doctor how to fund raise?
- Most people lack strategy!
- The importance of pattern of recognition and looking at the data: When Sarah sat down and studied the CVs of top management and their path to the top
- Why Sarah has become more careful with the words she uses as CEO
- Building a culture of feedback
- Look for the “distance people have travelled” when hiring for grit
- Sarah on keys to building resilience
- “It’s not about the hours” – think in terms of psychological work life balance
- Why everyone should have a therapist, and how Sarah has used one since she was 18
- Create a work pre-nup!
- Sarah’s two keys for success