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She Built the Gilbert Chamber’s Business Resource Center Used by 800+ Businesses in 18 Months | Sarah Watts

Jän Simon interviews Sarah Watts, president and CEO of the Gilbert Chamber of Commerce and newly appointed chair of Arizona Chamber Executives, about leading the community where she grew up. Sarah shares her East Valley upbringing in Chandler, her long relationship with her high school sweetheart Sean, and early leadership through choir and color guard, including a year at ASU. She explains studying journalism with a PR emphasis, switching away from hard news after covering a disturbing Ahwatukee murder case, and working in communications at St. Mary’s Food Bank. Sarah details joining the Gilbert Chamber in 2008, building programs and the Chamber Foundation in 2016, and defining “leading with love” while balancing nonprofit demands, advocacy, and motherhood. She also describes the Catalyst business resource center launched after COVID, used by 800+ businesses in 18 months.

00:00 Student Journalism Shock
00:45 Meet Sarah Watts
02:47 East Valley Roots
05:00 Chandler High Memories
05:59 Color Guard Captain
11:04 College and Career Pivot
13:24 Early Mentors and Responsibility
16:58 Leading With Love
21:15 Finding the Chamber Path
25:39 Evolving as CEO
27:09 Mom First Leadership
31:01 Chamber Mission Today
34:36 Town Partnership Explained
36:17 Representing Business Voice
38:15 When Council Disagrees
40:45 Building Relationships With Electeds
41:45 Solving Zoning Roadblocks
43:27 Chamber Programs And Networking
45:27 Foundation Workforce Pipeline
47:57 Catalyst Origin Story
52:04 Family And Parenting Teens
54:14 Leadership At Home And Work
56:20 Unplugging And Self Care
59:19 Future Of The Chamber
01:02:21 Legacy And Leading With Love
01:08:46 Truth Telling And Community Involvement
01:10:41 Dream Vacation And Closing

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