Alyssa Nicoll

International Women’s Day always makes me pause and reflect on the women who have shaped my career. For me, that person is Sara Faatz. There isn’t one specific moment I can point to. It’s something she’s shown consistently, over and over again. Sara leads with empathy and logic in both fists. She has shown me that being a strong corporate woman doesn’t mean shutting down your emotions — it means learning how to wield them well. One of the things I admire most about her leadership is how fiercely she protects her team. In a corporate environment where priorities and pressures can shift quickly, she absorbs the chaos from above and filters it down to what actually matters. She shields her team from the noise so we can focus on doing our best work. At the same time, she trusts her team fully. When something needs to get done, she delegates, sets high expectations, and checks in on progress — but she never micromanages the minutiae. That kind of trust is rare. And it changes you. When a leader believes in you that deeply, it makes you want to believe in yourself. It pushes you to work harder, think bigger, and rise to meet the trust that’s been placed in you. I’m also incredibly grateful to work at Progress Software, where strong women leaders aren’t the exception — they’re part of the culture. In an industry where that dynamic is still far too rare, it’s something I don’t take for granted. Sara, thank you for being the kind of leader who empowers the people around you to become stronger themselves. I’m grateful for the time I’ve spent on your team and everything I’ve learned from you. #IWD26

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