Sarah Friar CEO of Nextdoor

In this edition of ‘The Fabric of My Life’, we spoke with Sarah Friar, Chief Executive Officer of Nextdoor. Sarah previously served as Chief Financial Officer of Square and has held executive leadership roles at Salesforce, Goldman Sachs, and McKinsey.

Tell us a bit about your career journey so far

I attended the University of Oxford to study metallurgy, alongside business and eco, and then went on to intern at a gold mine in Ghana (and was the only woman studying engineering onsite). Fast forward after this, and I went on to hold executive roles at Goldman Sachs, as well as leadership positions at McKinsey in both London and South Africa.

I then got my MBA from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business, where I graduated as an Arjay Miller scholar. I then moved on to become the SVP of Finance & Strategy at Salesforce, before joining Square as the CFO. Ultimately, I decided to leave Square and join Nextdoor because there weren’t many female CEOs and I wanted to increase visibility.

What’s the best career advice you’ve ever been given?

A dear friend of mine, John Hope Bryant, gave me the best leadership advice that I often reference: God gave you two ears and one mouth so you can listen twice as much as you talk. His words and how he shows up for his community are inspiring.

The Irish female founder you most admire is…

Co-founder and CEO of Wildfang, Emma McIlroy. This is a clothing brand based in Portland Oregon whose mission is to rethink gender norms and how they show up in fashion. Her TED talk about how she found a dinosaur skull when she was 7 and it’s now in the Ulster Museum is truly brilliant.

What does a typical day in your life look like?

I wake up early, normally around 5.30am, and go straight to the gym. Then I catch up on emails, read the morning news headlines, and connect with Nextdoor’s teams in Europe. Afterward, I wake up the kids and at 7:30am head into the office, usually taking a call along the way. Then I attend meetings from 8:30am-5:30pm before heading home. Once home, I take an evening stroll around the neighbourhood and listen to a podcast to unwind, before dinner with the family.

How do you unwind?

My favourite way to decompress is by hiking the mountain behind my house with neighbours, family, and friends. I also love reading, traveling, and family game nights. One of my favourite books is Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe.

What’s your personal style signifier?

Heels –– I believe you can’t get anything done without a pair of heels on. Plus, it’s a power move to be one of the tallest in the room. I also carry a big handbag for my laptop and all my items – I class it as part of my daily weightlifting!

What are some of your favourite fashion brands?

For the office, I like jeans (classic Levi’s, a wonderful San Fran staple), and a go-to for me is Max Mara because they make everything long in the leg. For an easy throw scarf to dress up or down at the office or home I love Slate and Salt.

The grooming products you always carry in your hand luggage?

Essential oils! They help me create calm amid chaos and a home away from home wherever I am.

The best gift you’ve ever received is...

One hundred years of solitude – a novel from my college roommate.

Tell us about your summer wardrobe essentials

With Irish skin, a hat that folds and still looks good. Linen everything –– and Irish if available. And lots of sunglasses, which I lose and forget regularly. Beauty-wise, I use Bobbi Brown tinted SPF, and multi-purpose oil for my hair and body.

What’s your favourite destination to visit, and how would you dress for dinner there?

I have a deep love for the huge Knockalla beach near Port Salon. Of course, it’s Donegal so I pack my Eres bathing suit, and rain gear.

Does sustainability influence your shopping habits?

Definitely! I love Veja sneakers. Female-founded and female-run is where my heart lies, and if it brings sustainability into the picture too, even better. I think that it is possible for luxury brands to be ‘greener’, and I enjoy investing in high-quality items, that will last. Every company should be looking to put sustainability at the heart of their brand values.

Championing positive change is at the core of everything Brown Thomas does. They are on a mission to reinvent retail, imagining and striving for a sustainable future for their customers and communities because they believe luxury should sit lightly on the earth. Yes you can have extraordinary style and create positive change in the world!

That’s why they created The Sustainable Edit – to allow their conscious customers to have it all, giving them the ability to filter items by sustainability features which makes it easy to find conscious fashion. Whether it’s locally sourced suppliers in Ireland, vegan and cruelty-free beauty products, or sustainable homewares made with low-impact materials, you can find hero products you look and feel good in, whilst keeping your footprint light.

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