Sarah Leonhardt

Background

About Sarah Leonhardt

The most transformative work experience of my life was the time I spent working as a student caller at the University of Richmond’s Phonathon. Every night, I would pick up the phone and call a stranger, building rapport out of thin air between us before asking if they would give to the University of Richmond’s Annual Fund. I watched my peers, the other students working a calling job like mine, come and go in a matter of months; it was a challenging job, and it wasn’t for everyone. But as with all challenging endeavors, the cost is high and the reward is great, and I have always been one to hang on for the reward.That first year of calling was the best hands-on sales experience I could have ever had, better than any class or assignment or externship offered across the entirety of campus. I quickly learned how to sense and adjust to each prospect I was calling, how to find points of connection between us, and how to best represent the Annual Fund by best representing myself. I learned the tenacity and grace needed to ask for a donation four times total before ending the call, outperforming my peers and quickly becoming one of the top callers at the Phonathon. One of the best compliments I ever received was from a prospect in our leadership pool who told me, “I usually give to the university another way — but I’m going to give to you tonight because I want to make sure you get the credit.” By the end of my freshman year, I had raised $42,912.55 for the university and was promoted to student manager, where I continued to build my skills coaching and training other callers.The reason I excelled as a student caller is nonspecific to Phonathons. It is a personal value of mine to produce excellent work, always. I have a true talent for versatility; place something in front of me and I will hand it back to you finished, exceeding expectations, probably color-coordinated. I love to be challenged and I love to have responsibility and creative choice placed squarely on my shoulders — it’s how I thrive. I believe in fostering positivity and camaraderie in the workplace, and I believe in bringing the utmost dedication and respect with me every day of work.I’ve recently completed my Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing, and I cannot wait to utilize my degree in a creative role for a company whose values I believe in. I would love to expand upon my previous experience managing and creating social media content, writing copy, and helping to best brand and position companies.