By: Brenda C. Holland

In a saturated world of digital marketing noise, Sara Nay stands out not just for her experience or leadership—but for her unwavering belief that successful marketing starts with trust, relationships, and emotional intelligence. As CEO of Duct Tape Marketing, she’s bringing a human-first approach to a field often overrun by automation and hype.

Marketing That Feels Personal

Under Sara’s leadership, Duct Tape Marketing isn’t just a service provider—it’s a strategic partner. Her philosophy is simple: stop selling tactics, start building trust. In a time when countless agencies promise “10x growth” through one-size-fits-all solutions, Sara’s voice is a refreshing departure. She champions strategy as the foundation of any effective marketing plan and prioritizes deep understanding over quick wins.

Sara believes the best marketing is invisible—it’s seamlessly integrated with a company’s goals, culture, and customer experience. Her approach encourages businesses to view marketing not as a megaphone, but as a listening device. The result? More aligned branding, stronger customer relationships, and higher-quality conversions.

“Marketing should solve business problems, not just fill a funnel,” Sara notes, echoing her core belief that real impact happens when you align marketing with the human side of business.

Redefining the Role of the Marketer

Sara has spent more than a decade at Duct Tape Marketing, rising from intern to CEO. She’s worn nearly every hat—community manager, consultant, COO—and now leads the company into a new era where marketers are no longer seen as vendors, but as advisors.

This perspective is reshaping how small businesses perceive marketing support. Instead of outsourcing execution and hoping for the best, they now engage strategic partners who understand their business inside and out. That’s a direct result of Sara’s influence on the agency certification model—a hands-on program that not only teaches marketing strategy but also reinforces business acumen and client empathy.

Empowering Agencies Through the Marketing Leadership Accelerator

Through the company’s innovative Marketing Leadership Accelerator, Sara trains solo consultants and small agencies to elevate their roles into that of the trusted advisor. This shift from task execution to strategic partnership is at the heart of Duct Tape Marketing’s growing influence in the industry.

Participants in the program are given the tools to create systematized offerings that bring clarity to their clients. They’re taught how to lead strategy conversations, align marketing with business goals, and create long-term plans that deliver measurable results. This certification is more than training—it’s a mindset shift. It’s about stepping into leadership, building client trust, and fostering scalable agency models rooted in clarity and confidence.

Rooted in Empathy and Leadership

Sara’s leadership is guided by empathy and a deep understanding of burnout, balance, and the psychological demands of entrepreneurship. She is also a Certified Mindset Coach, helping business owners scale not just their marketing, but their inner capacity to lead and grow.

Whether it’s through masterminds, speaking engagements, or coaching sessions, Sara brings a people-centric lens to every conversation. She emphasizes the importance of scaling sustainably—a value that resonates deeply in today’s fast-paced, pressure-driven business culture.

Her experience mentoring hundreds of consultants has given her unique insight into the emotional highs and lows of running a marketing business. She frequently addresses themes like imposter syndrome, delegation fatigue, and decision paralysis—challenges that are rarely discussed in mainstream business circles, but which impact daily agency operations.

Beyond Business: The Personal Side of a Marketing Leader

Outside of her professional life, Sara Nay is a mom, outdoor enthusiast, and lifelong learner. Her commitment to continuous growth, both personally and professionally, is the invisible engine driving the success of Duct Tape Marketing.

She often shares behind-the-scenes insights into her life—balancing parenting, business leadership, and her passion for reading and wellness. This transparency makes her highly relatable to other entrepreneurs juggling similar responsibilities.

Sara’s story is one of evolution—not just of her career but of an entire industry she’s helping to reshape. And in a world where marketing is often reduced to algorithms and ad spend, her human-first approach is a powerful reminder of what really drives connection.