Forget everything you think you know about career success, this is the secret playbook of one of Hollywood's most influential female executives. In this special episode, Em sits down with Sarah Harden, the Australian powerhouse who co-founded and was the ex-CEO of Reese Witherspoon's $100 million media empire, Hello Sunshine.

Sarah reveals the exact strategic moves that transformed her from a politics grad into a leader who built a company responsible for hits like Big Little Lies and The Morning Show. Her philosophy? You have to "stretch and take yourself out of your comfort zone—there is incredible learning and growth in that."

This is your practical blueprint for accelerated career growth.

What you'll learn: 


The Accelerator Move: The specific career decision that turbocharges growth (and why most women skip it).


Doubt vs. Curiosity: How to strategically swap out self-doubt for a curious mindset when evaluating opportunities.


The Fastest Path: Why stepping into discomfort is the non-negotiable step for exponential career success.


The Money Framework: The powerful process for turning consumer insights intomulti-million dollar business decisions.


Authentic Culture: Sarah's keys to building a strong, inclusive company culture that lasts.

Connect with Sarah and Hello Sunshine:
Follow Hello Sunshine on Instagram
Learn more about Drop of Sunshine wines
Visit their website: Hello Sunshine

Must Watch Shows: 
Morning Wars
Big Little Lies 
Little Fires Everywhere

Our new BIZ hosts are Lisa Lie - a former Head of People & Culture and Organisational Coach - and Mamamia’s Em Vernem.

Learna is Lisa’s microlearning app for practical people skills at work. Expert-led lessons to build confidence, solve challenges, and work smarter - in under 7 minutes. Get it on Apple or Google Play.

Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here


THE END BITS
Support independent women's media.
Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes - send us a voice note or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain anon! 

GUEST: Sarah Harden

HOSTS: Em Vernem
SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell
AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

Forget everything you think you know about career success, this is the secret playbook of one of Hollywood's most influential female executives.&nbsp;In this special episode, Em sits down with Sarah Harden, the Australian powerhouse who co-founded and was the ex-CEO of Reese Witherspoon's $100 million media empire, Hello Sunshine.
Sarah reveals the exact strategic moves that transformed her from a politics grad into a leader who built a company responsible for hits like Big Little Lies and The Morning Show. Her philosophy? You have to "stretch and take yourself out of your comfort zone&mdash;there is incredible learning and growth in that."
This is your practical blueprint for accelerated career growth.
What you'll learn:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>
The Accelerator Move: The specific career decision that turbocharges growth (and why most women skip it).
</li>
<li>
Doubt vs. Curiosity: How to strategically swap out self-doubt for a curious mindset when evaluating opportunities.
</li>
<li>
The Fastest Path: Why stepping into discomfort is the non-negotiable step for exponential career success.
</li>
<li>
The Money Framework: The powerful process for turning consumer insights into multi-million dollar business decisions.
</li>
<li>
Authentic Culture: Sarah's keys to building a strong, inclusive company culture that lasts.
</li>
</ul>
Connect with Sarah and Hello Sunshine:
<ul>
<li>Follow Hello Sunshine on <a>Instagram</a></li>
<li>Learn more about <a>Drop of Sunshine wines</a></li>
<li>Visit their website:<a href="https://hello-sunshine.com/"> Hello Sunshine</a></li>
</ul>
Must Watch Shows:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://fave.co/468wBMU">Morning Wars</a></li>
<li><a href="https://fave.co/44DVEq5">Big Little Lies</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li><a href="https://fave.co/4luldzL">Little Fires Everywhere</a><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/janemartino/"></a></li>
</ul>
Our new BIZ hosts are <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-lie-42b705a1/?originalSubdomain=au">Lisa Lie</a> - a former Head of People &amp; Culture and Organisational Coach - and Mamamia&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilyvernem/?hl=en">Em Vernem</a>.
<a href="https://www.learna-app.com/">Learna</a> is Lisa&rsquo;s microlearning app for practical people skills at work. Expert-led lessons to build confidence, solve challenges, and work smarter - in under 7 minutes. Get it on <a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/learna-people-skills/id6443828538">Apple</a> or <a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details/Learna?id=user.learnaapp.com&amp;hl=en-AU">Google Play</a>. <a href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/DKymlmzzCYg/?igsh=aXR6ZGN4emQ4bmdk"> </a><a href="https://mamamia.au/3Eli0BR">Sign up to the BIZ newsletter here</a>
<a href="https://www.mamamia.com.au/podcasts/biz/ep-1-pay-rise"> </a>THE END BITS <a href="https://mamamia.com.au/subscribe/?utm_source=shownotes&amp;utm_medium=podcast&amp;utm_campaign=quicky&amp;utm_content=mm-birthday&amp;code=TQBIRTHDAY">Support independent women's media</a>. Got a work life dilemma? Send us all the questions you definitely can't ask your boss for our Biz Inbox episodes -<a href="https://help.mamamia.com.au/en-US/send-a-podcast-voice-note-467960"> send us a voice note</a> or email us at podcast@mamamia.com.au. You can remain anon!&nbsp;
GUEST: <a href="https://www.iadas.net/membership/bio/sarah-harden/15424#:~:text=Sarah%20Harden%20is%20the%20CEO,change%20the%20narrative%20for%20women.">Sarah Harden</a>
HOSTS:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/emilyvernem/?hl=en">&nbsp;Em Vernem </a>SENIOR PRODUCER: Sophie Campbell AUDIO PRODUCER: Leah Porges
Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

BIZ is a podcast about work and how to make it work for you.

This season, we're promising new wisdom, fresh energy, and zero fluff. Co-hosts Em Vernem (ambitious but efficient) and Lisa Lie (founder of Learna) bring real talk, real hacks, and real experience. No vague inspo, no recycled advice—just smart, straight-up strategies that actually work. Because work is hard enough without having to figure it all out yourself.

Because work is hard enough without having to figure it all out yourself.

BIZ is a podcast about work and how to make it work for you.
This season, we're promising new wisdom, fresh energy, and zero fluff. Co-hosts Em Vernem (ambitious but efficient) and Lisa Lie (founder of Learna) bring real talk, real hacks, and real experience. No vague inspo, no recycled advice&mdash;just smart, straight-up strategies that actually work. Because work is hard enough without having to figure it all out yourself.
Because work is hard enough without having to figure it all out yourself.

Biz 

Sarah Harden: The Career Playbook of Reese Witherspoon's Ex-CEO

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/3ea926be-9be7-482a-8ac3-a44f016e43d1/clips/e95b8da7-e18e-4efd-99de-b372004a0bba/transcript

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