Every thriving innovation ecosystem depends on people who make meaningful connections happen. Sarah Waschler is one of those people. With more than 26 years of experience producing events and leading complex operations, she serves as Venture Cafe Phoenix's Experience and Event Manager while also running her own event management business. In this conversation, Sarah shares how creating spaces where people can connect, collaborate, and learn has become one of the most impactful ways to strengthen Arizona's innovation ecosystem.

After spending more than two decades in corporate event management, Sarah made the difficult decision to leave the safety of a familiar career to prioritize her family and build a business of her own. She reflects on the unexpected challenges of entrepreneurship—including spending months stuck trying to name her company—and how the Venture Cafe community gave her the confidence to stop waiting for perfect and simply begin.

Listeners will hear how strong communities are intentionally designed, why Arizona's innovation ecosystem grows when organizations collaborate instead of compete, and how programs like mentor hours, hackathons, international delegations, and community partnerships create opportunities that extend far beyond a single event. Sarah also shares why some of the most important work in innovation happens not on stage, but in the conversations taking place before and after the programming ends.

As Arizona continues to emerge as a global destination for entrepreneurs, researchers, investors, and innovators, conversations like this remind us that breakthrough ideas don't grow in isolation. They grow because people like Sarah create environments where relationships, trust, and opportunity can flourish.

• Why community infrastructure is essential to a thriving innovation ecosystem
• How stepping outside your comfort zone can unlock unexpected opportunities
• Lessons from transitioning from a 20-year corporate career into entrepreneurship
• Why collaboration across organizations strengthens Arizona's startup community
• How Venture Cafe Phoenix connects founders, researchers, investors, students, and community leaders
• The role mentor hours, hackathons, and ecosystem partnerships play in helping innovators succeed
• Why flexibility and continuous learning are critical leadership skills in today's workplace
• How global relationships are expanding opportunities for Arizona entrepreneurs
• Why meaningful innovation often begins with simple human connections

Sarah Waschler is the owner of Expos & Events, an event management company with more than 26 years of experience producing conferences, trade shows, and large-scale events across multiple industries. As Experience and Event Manager for Venture Cafe Phoenix, she helps design the experiences, partnerships, programming, and community connections that make Arizona's innovation ecosystem more welcoming, collaborative, and impactful.

Venture Cafe Phoenix: An Extraordinary Podcast explores the people, stories, and relationships shaping Arizona's innovation ecosystem.

Hosted by Alex Koupal, the podcast features conversations with founders, innovators, investors, educators, executives, policymakers, researchers, and community leaders working to make Arizona a place where ideas grow, businesses thrive, and meaningful connections happen.

Powered by CEI (Center for Entrepreneurial Innovation), Legacy Sponsor the City of Phoenix, and produced by Extraordinary.