Sarah Johnson joins the Caller ID Podcast to talk about her path from healthcare marketing to Case Western Reserve and now Chief Communications Officer for the City of Cleveland under Mayor Justin Bibb, overseeing everything from media and social to internal messaging for 8,000 employees—plus crisis communications during incidents like shootings and a cyberattack. She shares why she initially resisted government work before being pushed to meet the campaign and buy into the mayor’s vision, and why the role is both chaotic and deeply fulfilling because of resident impact. Sarah also opens up about imposter syndrome, the power of relationships over “networking,” and having a long-term mentor who validates and challenges her. As a Black woman in high-stakes rooms, she describes being scrutinized, navigating biased comments with grace, and showing up confidently in “male, pale, and stale” spaces.

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New episodes drop weekly, featuring conversations with people across disciplines who are thoughtful about their work and honest about the cost of doing it well.

I’m Brandon Davis Wells and thanks for answering the call.