Sarah Bass
Editor's Note: This article was originally published in the Women of National Association of Tower Erectors (NATE) newsletter, Volume 5, Issue 7, and has been lightly edited for the MOXY platform. Through the establishment of the Women of NATE (WON) initiative, the association is proud to recognize the vital contributions of men and women in the diverse tower and communications infrastructure industries.
Sarah Bass, 41 years, grew up in a small town in Oregon. She was extremely involved in sports and took education seriously. Sarah has an infectious zest for life, finding “value the little things” around her each day. “I put 100% into everything that I do, and I find value in serving others,” she shared. “My husband and kids are my world. We take time to eat together, pray together, and play together.”
She has been in the telecommunication industry for just over a year, and enjoys being a part of a close knit working community that promotes one another and works hand in hand.
“The cell phone industry can seem male dominated, but the outstretched arms to our female community is encouraging,” said Sarah, a recruiting and onboarding specialist at Meridian Blue Construction. “I attended my first NATE UNITE Convention last year and immediately felt connected. There is nothing like rubbing elbows with other companies and not being dog-eat-dog but seeing each other’s value.”
Sarah answered some fun questions to help us get to know her more.
Tell us something about yourself that would surprise us.
When I was younger, I was in a small circus that traveled to different towns and schools. We were called "The Flying Hickman Sisters".
Top three life highlights?
Serving the Lord wholeheartedly. Marrying the Love of my life. Having two amazing children.
How does your education connect to your professional career? What about personal experiences?
Personal experience has taught me that events in life have occurred to bring me to this exact time. Becoming stronger through those experiences allows me to share my story and connect with new hires. People coming in for a possible job want to be seen. They desire to be heard. They want to show what they can do. I have taken my experience of being in many large group interviews and seeing how others conduct themselves, and how to present myself as one of the interviewers. My education has taught me to have a learner’s mentality.
What does leadership mean to you?
True leadership means that you lead by example. Plain and simple. You are not above those around you. You are not afraid to get your hands dirty. You see others with a different lens, and you seek to pull their strengths to the surface.
If you could be anyone from any time period who would it be and why?
Queen Esther. She was a woman who was not afraid to stand up for what is right, no matter the cost.
If you were to write a book about yourself, what would you name it?
Love Your Glass House. Everyone has a story, and everyone feels like people are watching them. They choose to compare themselves to others and try to perfect their glass house, instead of loving their glass house.
How do you balance your career and family?
In life there are three things that we need to do:
We need to work hard.
We need to play hard.
We need to rest hard.
Applying balance among all three, I have realized that this is what allows me to be the best me.