Sara Ballard is a Fractional Marketing Leader and strategic business partner who helps growth-oriented brands clarify their market position, align stakeholders, and execute initiatives that support long-term business objectives. With a background spanning big advertising agencies, boutique creative shops, experiential marketing, and master-planned community development, she specializes in connecting strategic vision with operational execution.

Known for her collaborative leadership style, Sara brings structure, agility, and strategic perspective to complex organizations and high-visibility projects. She has led integrated marketing and communications initiatives, guided cross-functional teams, managed agency and consultant relationships, and partnered with executive stakeholders to turn ambitious visions into actionable plans and measurable results. Her experience ranges from managing multi-faceted workstreams for American Express' nationally recognized Small Business Saturday® campaign to helping shape the marketing, placemaking, and growth strategies behind emerging master-planned Painted Prairie and Windler.

Through Lion X, Sara partners with organizations navigating growth, transformation, and market expansion—aligning brand, marketing, communications, and go-to-market strategy to strengthen market position, build stakeholder confidence, and drive business performance.