The Power of Loyalty and Hustle with Samantha Lacher

Keep Hustling

In this episode, Aaron Gordon and guest Samantha Lacher dive into the intricacies of integrating acquired businesses and establishing new departments within their organization. They highlight the expansion of their marketing and PR work, the role of mentorship, and cultural fit in hiring. Samantha shares a personal anecdote about overcoming a missed internship opportunity with her now partner’s help, underscoring the importance of persistence. Samantha discusses her experiences post-acquisition by Finn Partners, emphasizing her remarkable work ethic and loyalty, which persisted even after structural changes. They also touch on the need to reassess work-life balance amid remote work's evolving landscape and share insights on dealing with work-related stress. Samantha and Aaron exchange thoughts on the illusion of overnight success, advocating for continuous hustle and the value of learning from failure. The conversation includes stories illustrating the support for entrepreneurial spirit within family businesses and career growth moments. Finally, they reflect on loyalty and dedication, with a nod to Samantha's 17-year journey at the same firm, revealing the significance of commitment in a transient professional world.

Get To Know Samantha Lacher

Samantha Lacher, Partner, FINN Partners

Samantha specializes in creating campaigns and developing brand positioning that markets to niche audiences. Her ability to spot trends, capitalize on cultural moments and develop storylines in traditional, digital and social media outlets has made a positive impact on destinations, global hotel companies, hospitality brands, restaurants, nonprofits, and more.

Sam has marketed to outdoor enthusiasts, wellness gurus, environmentalists, city-goers, foodies, beauty aficionados, and more across generations. She excels at conceptualizing executive positioning programs that align with business objectives and using thought leadership to amplify special initiatives. More than a decade of media relationships drives feature coverage across industries, and an eye on the evolving media landscape has led to success with influencer campaigns, from negotiating agreements to creating content. From media relations to influencer programs to program development and partnership creation, Sam has directed PR strategy for clients including Travel Alberta, St. Kitts Tourism Authority, Jamaica Tourist Board, Cayman Islands Department of Tourism, Westin Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Aspen, SeriousFun Children's Network, No Kid Hungry, Back on My Feet; and more. She started her career at MFA (Missy Farren & Associates), and joined FINN 5 years ago.

Sam loves the beach, hiking, and DIY home improvement projects

LinkedIn Instagram Twitter FINN Partners

3 Episode Key Takeaways 1. Embracing Corporate Changes: Navigating a company acquisition can be daunting, but Samantha's experience teaches that loyalty and a positive outlook toward change can lead to unforeseen opportunities. The integration of businesses and adaptation while maintaining the core team spirit exemplifies the importance of staying flexible and open-minded during corporate transitions.

2. Importance of Mentors and Culture Fit: Securing a fitting role isn't solely about the skills on your resume. Samantha's journey highlights how personal connections, like her experience with Missy, and aligning with a company's culture can pave pathways to success. Seek mentors and environments that resonate with your values and where your contributions will be appreciated beyond your immediate skill set.

3. Work-Life Balance and Healthy Boundaries: Even in the hustle culture, knowing when to power down is vital. Samantha's reflection on her self-imposed pressure to overwork is a powerful reminder to set and respect boundaries between professional and personal time. The shift to remote work further underlines the need to establish clear lines to ensure a balanced lifestyle while maintaining productivity.

Show Overview: 02:00 Samatha's work ethic and loyalty to company.

03:26 Devoted to MFA and extended work family.

07:14 Personal introduction with Missy, unsuccessful internship.

12:32 Culture of finding the next best thing.

13:46 People leaving and returning to companies surprises.

18:13 Increased awareness of work-life balance and communication.

22:45 Entrepreneurial passion faces pressure to succeed.

25:42 Hiring with confidence, valuing family and loyalty.

28:20 Admiration for someone's willingness to embrace failure.