10 Episode 73: Sarah Kissko Hersh - The Design Of: Getting Unstuck
Thu Dec 18 2025
What if great communication isn’t about saying more, but saying what actually matters?
Sarah Kissko Hersh has spent more than two decades inside agencies, brands, and leadership rooms where words carry weight. She grew up in Indiana, built her career in Chicago and New York, and learned early that clarity, not polish, is what moves people forward. Along the way, she worked across architecture, design, travel, luxury, and global firms, often stepping into messy moments where teams felt stuck and leaders felt unsure of what to say next.
What started as a traditional PR career slowly evolved into something deeper. Sarah saw how often people were promoted into leadership without being taught how to manage. How communication broke down not because of bad intentions, but because of fear, burnout, and lack of direction. And how simple, honest language could reset entire teams.
Today, Sarah is the founder of Type A, a communications and leadership consultancy based outside New York City. Her work focuses on helping people get unstuck, communicate directly without losing kindness, and lead with clarity in moments that matter.
In this conversation, Sarah and Justin talk about what PR really is and what it is not. Why simple stories still win. How bad managers can teach you just as much as good ones. Why constraints often unlock better ideas. And how platforms like LinkedIn are less about self-promotion and more about learning to name what you already know.
For leaders, creatives, and communicators, this episode is about making work feel lighter without making it shallow. About learning while you laugh. And about remembering that the most effective communication is deeply human.
What You’ll Learn
+ Clarity beats complexity. Simple, honest language builds trust faster than polished noise.
+ PR is about truth, not spin. Good communication starts with what’s real.
+ Leadership is learned. Managing people requires skills most of us were never taught.
+ Fear keeps teams stuck. Naming it is often the first step forward.
+ Constraints spark creativity. Less can actually lead to better ideas.
Why It Matters
Sarah’s perspective reminds us that communication is not a soft skill. It is leadership in action. Whether you manage a team, tell stories for a living, or simply want to be understood at work, this episode shows how clarity, humor, and care can change the way people listen and respond.
Listen Now
If this conversation made you laugh, think, or see your work a little differently, share it with someone who leads, writes, or communicates for a living. Follow Design Of wherever you listen, and keep building work that helps people understand what truly matters.
More
What if great communication isn’t about saying more, but saying what actually matters? Sarah Kissko Hersh has spent more than two decades inside agencies, brands, and leadership rooms where words carry weight. She grew up in Indiana, built her career in Chicago and New York, and learned early that clarity, not polish, is what moves people forward. Along the way, she worked across architecture, design, travel, luxury, and global firms, often stepping into messy moments where teams felt stuck and leaders felt unsure of what to say next. What started as a traditional PR career slowly evolved into something deeper. Sarah saw how often people were promoted into leadership without being taught how to manage. How communication broke down not because of bad intentions, but because of fear, burnout, and lack of direction. And how simple, honest language could reset entire teams. Today, Sarah is the founder of Type A, a communications and leadership consultancy based outside New York City. Her work focuses on helping people get unstuck, communicate directly without losing kindness, and lead with clarity in moments that matter. In this conversation, Sarah and Justin talk about what PR really is and what it is not. Why simple stories still win. How bad managers can teach you just as much as good ones. Why constraints often unlock better ideas. And how platforms like LinkedIn are less about self-promotion and more about learning to name what you already know. For leaders, creatives, and communicators, this episode is about making work feel lighter without making it shallow. About learning while you laugh. And about remembering that the most effective communication is deeply human. What You’ll Learn + Clarity beats complexity. Simple, honest language builds trust faster than polished noise. + PR is about truth, not spin. Good communication starts with what’s real. + Leadership is learned. Managing people requires skills most of us were never taught. + Fear keeps teams stuck. Naming it is often the first step forward. + Constraints spark creativity. Less can actually lead to better ideas. Why It Matters Sarah’s perspective reminds us that communication is not a soft skill. It is leadership in action. Whether you manage a team, tell stories for a living, or simply want to be understood at work, this episode shows how clarity, humor, and care can change the way people listen and respond. Listen Now If this conversation made you laugh, think, or see your work a little differently, share it with someone who leads, writes, or communicates for a living. Follow Design Of wherever you listen, and keep building work that helps people understand what truly matters.