Sarah Bernard

Activist, Business adviser, Concerned citizen, Consultant, Entrepreneur, Idea generator, Producer, Single, Social entrepreneur

Sarah Bernard has spent her career working at the intersection of digital media, storytelling, news, and politics and is a seasoned entrepreneur and operator specializing in stewarding ideas from concept into high-growth businesses. She is currently consulting with TED. Most recently, as founder and Co-CEO of production company BoBCat Studios, Sarah worked to erase the artificial divide between “content” and “content marketing” producers and created a production company model that was multi-platform from the start of concept development and best positioned for audience and community growth for each and every project. During President Obama’s first term, Sarah was appointed by the White House as Director of Online Engagement where she drove its online communications practice and led the White House’s digital properties and partner collaborations. Before her time in public service, Sarah built and scaled two award-winning, news-focused startups: The Huffington Post and 23/6 for IAC; advised Viacom for their re-launch of MTV News from its linear TV focus to a 24/7 digital focus; launched and helmed AOL’s first line extension for small businesses, and developed online classified products for The Washington Post during the early Craigslist disruption period. The personal through line within this otherwise diverse career is Sarah’s interest in giving voice and agency to the under-represented -- documenting the stories of family farmers, bringing the White House directly to voters, and building platforms for bloggers, small businesses, women and the next generation. Sarah often mentors new entrepreneurs in the Los Angeles area, is a founding member of the political action committee, LA Women’s Collective, and serves as a trustee for the LA Chapter of the Awesome Foundation.