SARAH O'SHEA
Global Community Manager, Strategic Partnerships
Miami,FL
Summary
Community, customer engagement, and partnerships leader with 10+ years of experience building communities, advocacy programs, strategic partnerships, and member experiences that drive retention and long-term growth. Experienced launching and scaling 0→1 initiatives, building customer feedback loops, developing ambassador and super user programs, and leading cross-functional projects across Product, Marketing, Partnerships, Community, and Operations. Brings a unique combination of community-building expertise and firsthand experience supporting plaintiff law firm operations.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Global Community Manager, Strategic Partnerships
PEXELS (AT CANVA)
09.2021 - Current
- Lead global community strategy and engagement initiatives for a creator community of more than 350,000 contributors worldwide
- Built and scaled the Pexels Hero Program, a super user and advocacy program serving 3,000+ top contributors
- Developed engagement programs including challenges, coaching initiatives, newsletters, recognition systems, and community perks designed to increase participation and retention
- Established the Hero Feedback Committee, creating a structured contributor advisory group that provides feedback on programs, platform improvements, and community initiatives
- Partner cross-functionally with Product, Marketing, Finance, Operations, and Community teams to improve contributor experience and engagement
- Lead strategic partnerships with global brands and organizations to support creator engagement, community growth, and platform initiatives
- Managed partnership activations, sponsored campaigns, and community experiences with external partners
- Led global creator programs and engagement initiatives across North America, Europe, India, and Africa
- Facilitate community discussions, feedback sessions, and stakeholder conversations that strengthen relationships and generate actionable insights
Head of Community & Partnerships, Co-Founder
MENTAL NYC
01.2019 - 09.2021
- Co-founded a wellness-focused community centered around movement, mindfulness, and meaningful human connection
- Led community growth, member engagement, strategic partnerships, and brand development initiatives
- Built the community from concept through launch, developing programming, member experiences, and engagement strategies that drove growth and retention
- Developed partnerships with brands including Soho House, Madhappy, My Wellbeing, and The William Vale
- Created premium community experiences including retreats, workshops, networking events, and wellness activations
- Managed relationships across sponsors, venues, facilitators, community leaders, and brand partners
- Designed community initiatives that increased member participation, engagement, and referrals
- Oversaw event strategy and execution for experiences ranging from intimate workshops to multi-day retreats
Community Manager
HOEFLER & CO.
03.2016 - 01.2019
- Managed customer relationships and support operations for a leading typography and software company
- Partnered with Product, Engineering, and Leadership teams to resolve customer issues and improve user experience
- Led customer engagement and retention initiatives through community programs and social channels
- Gathered customer insights and translated feedback into product improvements and operational enhancements
Founding Community Manager
EVERYWARE
07.2014 - 01.2015
- Built and managed the company's founding user community through events, customer outreach, and engagement initiatives
- Supported customer onboarding, client relationships, and community growth efforts
- Partnered with leadership on business development and customer acquisition initiatives
Legal Operations Support
O'SHEA & REYES LLC
05.2013 - 06.2014
- Supported attorneys and staff with client intake, case inquiries, documentation management, and claims-related workflows
- Managed client databases and legal records systems used to track active claims and case status
- Maintained accurate client records and case information across active matters
- Assisted with client communications and operational processes throughout the case lifecycle
- Developed firsthand experience with plaintiff law firm operations and client service workflows
Education
Bachelor of Science - Information Technology & Communications
Florida State University
Tallahassee, FL06.2014
Skills
Community-Led Growth
Customer Advisory Boards
Strategic Partnerships
Program Management
Cross-Functional Leadership
Event Strategy & Production
Customer Experience Design
Stakeholder Management
CRM & Database Management
Canva
Google Workspace
Microsoft Office
Certification
Dev Bootcamp - Ruby on Rails Full Stack Web Development
Timeline
Global Community Manager, Strategic Partnerships
PEXELS (AT CANVA)
09.2021 - Current
Head of Community & Partnerships, Co-Founder
MENTAL NYC
01.2019 - 09.2021
Community Manager
HOEFLER & CO.
03.2016 - 01.2019
Dev Bootcamp - Ruby on Rails Full Stack Web Development
07-2014
Founding Community Manager
EVERYWARE
07.2014 - 01.2015
Legal Operations Support
O'SHEA & REYES LLC
05.2013 - 06.2014
Bachelor of Science - Information Technology & Communications
Florida State University