In-Depth with the Think Big i-Team: Sara Heins

This summer, Think Big Partners proudly took on its biggest project of all—managing 9 rockstar interns!  We were so excited to bring on these 9 eager students that we felt like we had to come up with name for them—they are now known as the i-Team. We can’t wait to teach the i-Team all about the world of entrepreneurship, startups, marketing and all things in between.  Learn more about i-Team member Sara Heins, one of our four copy interns: 

NAME: Sara Heins

PERSONAL MOTTO: “Work Hard, Play Hard and on Occasion, Laze Around”

3 WORDS TO DESCRIBE SARA: Funny, loyal, fun

SOCIAL MEDIA PREFERENCE: Facebook

FUN FACT: Sara has been a regular in several videos on her friend’s YouTube channel

Sara Heins is a native Missourian, born and raised in South County, St. Louis. She attended Mehlville High School where she excelled in tennis and soccer. And being the ambitious person she is, Sara was a member of many different high school organizations and clubs...too many to name.   

Upon graduation, Sara made the two-hour journey west to Columbia, where she attended Mizzou. Sara spent her time watching old T.V. shows on Netflix, running and drinking the occasional beer. Oh, and she also graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in journalism with an emphasis in strategic communications (which is basically advertising) and a minor in both business and French. In other words, she majored and minored in everything.

During her junior year at Mizzou, Sara traveled to Brussels for a study abroad program with Procter and Gamble. After returning to the States, Sara said she turned into a “beer snob” until her bank account felt the negative effects.

Sara has dreamed of becoming a writer ever since she visited an advertising agency in elementary school. The advertising environment inspired her and meshed well with her creative side. Her future dream job is to be a creative director at an agency, like Don Draper from the T.V. series “Mad Men” (but without the sexism).

In the next five years, Sara plans to move to Kansas City (she currently commutes 2 hours from Columbia.  Talk about Think Big dedication!) and gain a new family member, a kitten. After working for a few years, she’d like to take time off for traveling. Sara wants to go “anywhere but western Europe” since she’s already been to Brussels, but “is thinking South America” for her next trip.

Sara joined Think Big Partners in June of 2012 as a summer associate/junior copywriter/content developer. Her entrepreneurial experience goes back to high school where she was a part of DECA. She was also a part of collegiate DECA and won awards including Top 10 in Fashion Merchandising.

Sara already enjoys working in Think Big Partners’ coworking space, bizperc.  “I love the energy and the environment,” she says. “The office space is great and all the people are super friendly”. The biggest challenge for her, so far, is the 2-hour commute every week from Columbia. But that’s nothing compared to her 4-year stint at JCPenney, where she said, “People [customers] were mean to me and I would have to cry in the fitting rooms!”.

How Does Sara Think Big? “I try to be open to new experiences and not say no.”