Interview Spotlight: Sara Warner, MPH - Missteps, Growth, and Career Resilience

For our inaugural interview in this new series, we sat down with Sara Warner, the Manager of Community Support Services at Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW). Sara opened up about a defining career misstep, how it reshaped her goals, and the lessons she now carries forward as a leader.

The Misstep That Changed Everything

Sara took a job early in her career that, in her own words, was purely out of desperation. The organization, unfamiliar to her, offered lower compensation than expected and required expertise in a system she hadn't used before. Training was chaotic, expectations constantly shifted, and support was limited.

“I was stuck, and I knew I was stuck,” Sara shared. “It paid pennies for what I was doing. It just wasn’t sustainable.”

Red Flags and Reaction

From the outset, Sara spotted red flags: poor onboarding, inconsistent expectations, and minimal mentorship. Emotionally, the experience was draining—made even more challenging by personal circumstances involving her late husband. Professionally, however, the decision sparked a reassessment of her path.

“It taught me I was not infallible. I was perfectly capable of screwing this whole thing up,” she said with characteristic honesty.

Finding the Zig in the Zag

Sara began “buck shotting” her resume, determined to find alignment between her work and her passions. She moved on to managed care, explored Medicaid and Medicare systems, and found herself reconnecting with her community health background. Her leadership style began to emerge from that chaos.

“Success is so not linear,” she emphasized. “Sometimes you zig to gain experience, not just climb.”

Lessons Learned and Skills Gained

• Persistence and emotional intelligence were the biggest takeaways.

• She honed supervisory skills, managing over 60 individuals—an experience that helped shape her leadership approach.

• Her resilience helped her not just recover but grow into her current role.

  
  

Career Strategy Moving Forward

Sara now makes career decisions with deeper intention. She researches opportunities thoroughly, ensuring each move nudges her closer to long-term fulfillment. Her advice: Don’t beat yourself up over missteps—realign and keep going.

“Close your eyes and think about what would fulfill you as a 60-year-old, retiring. Let that guide you.”

Support Systems and the Role of Mentors

Interestingly, Sara didn’t rely heavily on mentors during her toughest times. Instead, she leaned on her internal compass and conversations with her late husband. Now, as a mentor and leader herself, she seeks to challenge—not handhold—those around her.

“I don’t want someone telling me what they did. I want someone who helps me figure it out.”

Advice for Organizations - Fostering a Culture of Failing Forward

To foster a culture of “failing forward,” Sara recommends:

• Building grace periods for new hires before audits and performance metrics kick in

• Encouraging questions and mistakes—especially when no lives are on the line

• Ensuring every leader is committed to learning from missteps, not punishing them

  
  

Sara’s journey reminds us that every zigzag in a career path might just be a step toward your true calling. Her honesty and grit are exactly the kind of insights we want to celebrate here.

Ready to kick off your next chapter the way Sara did? Start by asking yourself what fulfillment looks like—and don’t be afraid to pivot when and where needed!

Ready to join the conversation? Contact us and let's set up your interview!

Until next time!