About the episode
In this episode, we sit down with Sarah Kaplan, Director of Internal Communications at Smarsh. With a background that spans from opera performance to corporate communications, Sarah has led transformational change while building Smarsh’s internal communications function from the ground up.
Carolyn Clark, Simpplr’s VP of Communications and EX Strategy, moderates the conversation as they discuss leading through acquisition and leadership changes, why ruthless prioritization is key to scaling small teams, and how communication can support a company’s transition from startup to mature organization.
Playlist
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01:35Getting to know Sarah
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4:06From opera stage to comms strategy
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6:27Launching a comms function during transformations
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17:06Becoming a strategic advisor and cultivating trust
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31:14Fueling creativity and reflection
Guest information
Sarah Kaplan
As Director of Internal Communications at Smarsh, Sarah leads strategic initiatives that connect employees across a growing global organization. She joined Smarsh at a pivotal moment — shortly before a major acquisition and CEO transition — and built the internal communications function from scratch.
Today, she partners closely with executive leadership to shape companywide messaging, foster culture during transformation, and align communication with strategic goals. Sarah is known for her thoughtful approach to scaling small teams, building trust at every level of the business, and helping organizations evolve from early-stage growth to enterprise maturity.
Before entering tech, Sarah studied opera and worked at an opera company, a background that still informs her work today. She brings an acute emotional intelligence, storytelling ability, and people-first mindset to every communication initiative.
Sarah lives in Portland, Oregon, and continues to draw inspiration from the performing arts in her leadership and personal life.