Behind the Screens: Meet Sales Account Planner Sarah Cart

Welcome back to ‘Behind the Screens,’ a monthly blog series in which we introduce members of our Cox Media team and share their stories.

This month, I was joined by Sarah Cart, Sales Account Planner at Cox Media Oklahoma-Arkansas. We discussed her unique role and how she collaborates cross-functionally to best serve our clients.

Tell me a little bit about yourself and how long you’ve been with Cox Media.

I came to Cox Media in 2006 right after college, so I am working on my 17th year now! I started with the sales services team when it was a newly created area of our business and have been working with that group in different capacities ever since.

Your position is relatively new and unique to our business. Can you share how this role came about and what drew you to it?

I was leading a sales services team at the time and in working with different departments, I noticed there was a need to make internal processes more efficient. Apparently, I was not the only person who noticed the need, as a new role designed to manage our internal processes was developed in the Oklahoma-Arkansas market.

The Sales Account Planner role is designed to identify areas in which we can be more efficient across our business, as well as manage projects that improve speed to market and, ultimately, make our clients’ experiences better. With that, I jumped on the opportunity to make an impact for the internal team and for our customers.

You interact regularly with Sales, Sales Services, and Marketing. Can you give me examples of ways that you collaborate with different areas of our business?

My role acts like a project manager among the different departments. I attend strategy sessions with our awesome sellers and marketing team where I learn about client goals. I also work with sales services and inventory to ensure we’re being good stewards of the clients’ investment. Those are just a couple examples of my cross-functional collaboration.

It’s fun to fill in the gaps, work wherever there’s a possible need, and elevate the experience of our team and our clients.

Looking externally, what are some ways that you interact with and impact clients?

This is my favorite part of the job! I’ve been able to build relationships with some incredible clients. We spend time together reviewing campaign objectives and showcasing how Cox Media can reach their goals of course, but we’re also getting to know each other’s families, and sharing life’s milestones and laughing together.

How would you describe the culture or the team here at Cox Media?

We’re a diverse group of people who have chosen to come together as a work family to work hard towards a common goal, and everyone wants success for each other. The amount of support, encouragement, positive energy this team has truly is special. At the end of the day, it creates incredible drive and motivation in the individuals as well as together as one team.

My last question for you is, if there is one thing you’d like current or future clients to know, what would it be?

I want them to know we have their back. We know every client is different and every campaign is different. We are here to ensure each solution is tailored and customized to meet the need of each client. They have a lot going on running their businesses, like taking care of their own customers. We have an entire team of experts who are excited to be part of their journeys and take their businesses and advertising strategies to the next level.

Thanks for sharing your experience, Sarah! We hope you enjoyed our conversation about how Cox Media is always looking for ways to streamline our business and ultimately better our clients’ experience.