Sarver Strategies

04/08/2026

04/08/2026

I recently had the incredible opportunity to travel to the top of the iconic UT Tower to take in the incredible view and learn more about the major renovation taking place. Following the tour, I attended the Texas Leadership Society Luncheon to learn more about the amazing things happening at The University of Texas at Austin and how our students, professors and researchers are making cutting edge discoveries in a wild range of fields. Incredibly proud to be an alumnus of the Moody College of Communication and to serve in a number of capacities across campus. What starts here changes the world, and my enthusiasm for being a Longhorn is stronger than ever! More on the Tower renovation here: https://lnkd.in/gxTqMaaM

01/07/2026

Leadership has never been easy — but today’s environment demands extraordinary clarity and conviction. Last fall, I had the chance to keynote the Texas Society of Association Executives Annual Conference. They later asked me to turn that talk into an article, and the topic couldn’t be more timely.

Leaders today are navigating nonstop pressure — polarization, constant news cycles, member skepticism, and cultural flashpoints that can pull organizations in a dozen directions at once. In the piece, I explore how organizations can move from survival mode to strategic momentum by finding their version of “swing” — that moment of alignment when everyone is pulling in the same direction.

A few takeaways:
• Why mission, vision, and values must anchor decision-making
• How to build trust before a crisis hits
• How to stay strategic instead of reactive when the stakes are high

If you lead a business, nonprofit, or association — or serve on a board — I think you’ll find ideas you can put to use right away.

Give it a read and let me know what resonates. And if you’d like help guiding your team through high-stakes moments, I’m always happy to connect.

https://www.associationleadershipmagazine.com/2025/11/24/finding-your-associations-swing-leading-with-clarity-and-conviction-in-a-high-stakes-era/

12/03/2025

Interested in running for office?

Don’t know where to start?

Join us for the next cohort of the LBJ Women's Campaign School!

Apply today to the LBJ Women’s Campaign School!

There’s no application fee, and if you apply by December 14, you’ll be considered for priority funding.

Thanks to the Center for Women in Government at TWU, eligible Texas residents can receive Reimbursement Funding Awards that cover the full program fee.

🔗 Learn more and apply here: https://lbjwcs.lbj.utexas.edu/how-apply

Let’s build the next generation of powerful leaders—starting with you. 🤘✨

10/16/2025

People often ask what books I recommend for becoming a more proficient public speaker and communicator. I continue to recommend Dale Carnegie’s classic book, “How to Win Friends and Influence People.” Here’s a great summary of some of his key lessons that continue to resonate with me. If youre looking for one-on-one coaching or a workshop for your team, I would love to connect and work with you on bringing these lessons to life for you and your teams.

10/07/2025

Proud to be on the steering committee for this event. Come join us in Austin to hear from leaders on both sides of the aisle about what the next 50 years for women in public life will look like!

📣EARLY BIRD ALERT!
Grab your early bird tickets for the 50th Anniversary Women in Public Life Symposium before prices go up on October 8! 🎟️

🔗Register at the link in bio!

We’re so excited to welcome you — let’s celebrate 50 years of powerful women making history! ✨

10/02/2025

🎙️ New Podcast Alert: Better By Association, LIVE from New Ideas! 🎙️

Recorded at TSAE's New Ideas Annual Conference in San Antonio, hosts Steven Stout, FASAE, CAE, and Katy Jo Markert sit down with communication expert Jenifer Sarver from Sarver Strategies. In this episode, they explore:

🌟 How associations can use clear, authentic communication to build trust in times of change
🌟Strategies from media relations, crisis communications, and leadership training
🌟Why transparency and mission focus matter now more than ever
🌟Fostering curiosity in conversations

👉 Tune in and learn how to lead with transparency, integrity, and clarity:
https://tsae.info/4gF9AUN

Huge thanks to our episode sponsor Freeman Company and Association Briefings!

09/13/2025

Looking forward to again joining the The Patman Center for Civic and Political Engagement this fall! These events are free and open to the public. Join us!

08/22/2025

If I can't show you a picture, I need to paint a picture for you.

The goal of a story is that the listener will walk away remembering who you are and the point you were trying to make. Infuse your stories and communication with visuals that will linger in their brain for long after they leave.

Small additions to a story - like the bright red color of someone's sweater, the ashen gray sky or the glistening sky scrapers towering above - all help your audience visualize what you are talking about, helping ensure that long after you're done talking, they still have a mental picture of what you said.

08/20/2025

Proud to work with clients like Common Ground USA to promote messages of civility in these divisive times.

A Republican and a Democrat agree: Here’s how to make Texas functional again.

08/15/2025

Remember, every talk should be a conversation - not a presenation. Be personal, authentic, transparent and don't be afraid to incorporate words that your audience will easily understand and relate to.

Be clear with the points you are trying to get across in your story. Avoid jargon, even if your audience knows the lingo, and get to the point. Ask yourself: Can you explain it to a 6-year-old?

Don't be afraid to use humor and analogies to explain complex ideas. Incorporate photos when you can and when you can't use words to paint mental pictures for your audience.

08/08/2025

As your audience is listening to your story, they will try to connect what they are hearing to their own experiences. This is because different parts of your brain light up as you listen to stories.

Using language that is descriptive of sound, smell, touch, sight, and taste are crucial to keeping your audience engaged. Immersing an audience in the story helps them internalize and remember the story but it also magnifies the impact the story holds. This New York Times story highlights fascinating research into just how this works in our brains. https://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/18/opinion/sunday/the-neuroscience-of-your-brain-on-fiction.html