Leading with…Sally Bagshaw
Sally Bagshaw leads content design at Canva, and is one of our Lead with Tempo speakers. I found out what inspires her.
What book have you read that’s really changed how you approach work or life?
When Kristina Halvorson and Melissa Rach first published Content Strategy for the Web in 2009, it gave a name to all the bits and pieces of my work that I really loved but didn’t know what to call it. Then, the first Confab in 2011 marked the beginning of a shift in my career. Finally, I’d found my people!
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Completely random, but when I was learning to drive I used to get stressed out about merging into traffic. My driving instructor would say “don’t worry, there’s always a break in the traffic”. Comforting words at the time but it’s an attitude that I’ve carried forward into my career. There are always moments when you think everything is happening too fast, or there’s too much on, or maybe even not enough on…but there’s always going to be that break if you watch for it. The trick is to recognize it and go for it.
And the worst?
I really can’t think of anything! Few people deliberately give bad advice, so I appreciate that sometimes when you get the wrong steer about something it’s not the intention.
Do you have any of your own advice for someone new to leadership?
The biggest mindset shift from manager or coach to leader is that people want your direction more. I was used to cheering my team from the sidelines, and I’ve had to become more comfortable sharing my own philosophies and priorities. It’s easy to think that being a leader is all about people management. There’s definitely an aspect of that, but in a place like Canva, craft leadership is critically important.
How do you relax outside of work?
For exercise, I love trail running and lifting heavy. Otherwise, I love a good crime thriller novel.
What recent developments in tech and design most excite you about the future?
I’m excited by AI and am looking forward to when it helps tackle complex, systemic issues that we face in the environment, healthcare, and education. I think content designers (and content strategists) are in the unique position to design this future because we understand how to craft language and experiences that meet user needs while building trust — skills that are crucial as AI becomes more integrated into daily life.
Why do you think events like Lead with Tempo are important for the content design community?
My career would be radically different without the friendships and networks I made during the early days of content conferences like Confab. They made me better at what I did, connected me to something bigger than myself, and simply helped me navigate where I was at and what I was trying to achieve.
As you move into leadership roles, it’s even more important to have those relationships. Sometimes, being a leader is lonely, as everyone is looking at you for the answers — when most of the time you’re still just winging it. So conferences like Lead with Tempo are important as safe spaces to grow, learn, and connect.
Can you give us a sneaky teaser about something your talk will cover?
My talk is about how to build a team that thrives in a high-performance culture. I’ll discuss ways to create space for people to develop new skills, how to be clear about what success looks like, and how to keep people feeling motivated and engaged while the work around them changes.
See Sally’s talk — Building a team that thrives in a high performance culture — at Lead with Tempo in June, in-person or virtually. Tickets on sale now.
