Author: Sarah Wadle
The Story of First Position Media
People often ask how a media agency gets started. The truth is, it begins one conversation, one step, and one solution at a time.
First Position Media probably started the moment I spoke my first words. As a child, I was always known as “the talker.” Teachers and family would joke that I had the gift of gab, and a few report cards may have mentioned a tendency to socialize a little too much. What no one knew then was that those early tendencies—talking, connecting, asking questions—were actually the beginnings of a career in communication.
As I grew up, I discovered other ways to communicate too. Dance became a huge part of my life. Through movement, I learned how powerful expression could be—how emotion, storytelling, and messaging could happen without a single word. Between dance and my natural curiosity about people, I found myself surrounded by friends from all kinds of backgrounds: creatives, academics, introverts, extroverts, adults, and seniors.
Over time, I realized that communication wasn’t just about speaking—it was about listening. Learning to truly hear people became just as important as learning how to share ideas.
My professional career started in banking and financial services, where I worked in sales, marketing, and the adoption of new and emerging technologies. Even in that corporate environment, my passion for communication and strategy was always front and center.
When I went on maternity leave in 2003, something interesting happened. While caring for my young children, I found myself constantly brainstorming marketing ideas for friends who owned businesses. I loved helping them think creatively about how to grow and connect with customers. Around that same time, I was watching The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch on CNN—long before Shark Tank existed—and I remember thinking, I could do that. I could help businesses like this.
The seed for my own marketing company had officially been planted. I began taking online classes using as many free resources as possible.
Sarah meeting Jenny Finke in Las Vegas.
During the early preschool years, I connected with a local mom who was bringing baby products to market. I offered to help her think through creative marketing and sales strategies, and in the process I really began developing my public relations skills.
Sarah at an exhibition promoting Roundhouse
That opportunity led to an unexpected connection. In 2009, I reached out to Jenny Finke, founder of Red Jeweled Media in Colorado. We had never met, but I simply called her for some advice and later connected with her on LinkedIn, saying, “If you ever have any spillover work, let me know.”
Two weeks later she called—and a four-year professional partnership began.
During that time, I worked with numerous clients in the baby and consumer product industry. We secured media placements in pregnancy magazines, blogs, television segments, and influencer campaigns. Social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter were just beginning to change the PR landscape, and I dove in headfirst—developing creative engagement campaigns to connect brands with their audiences. Mom bloggers were just emerging at the time, and it was exciting to be part of that early shift in the media world.
Around that same time, another preschool connection introduced me to Angelini Wine. What started as a project turned into a relationship that has now lasted more than 15 years.
Sarah and guests from early days at Angelini Wine.
As I continued working with Red Jeweled Media, I slowly began taking on a few of my own clients as well. Many of these client opportunities were made through connections I had made throughout my career. When Jenny eventually decided to close her agency, I had a realization—it was time to do for myself what I had been doing so successfully for others.
It was time to build something of my own. Thankfully I had a “board” of mentors who helped inspire and direct me along the way.
Sarah’s first Blogher 2012 conference.
With the help of trusted creative collaborators at Dreamscapes Design Group, who had worked on branding and websites for many of my clients, I started building the foundation for my own company. But before anything else, I needed a name.
A dear friend helped guide me through the deeper work of defining the brand pillars. What story would the company tell? What would it stand for?
The answer came back to dance.
In ballet, first position is the foundation of every movement. It’s where everything begins. In business, everyone wants to be in the first position in their market. And when starting any strategy, you have to ask: Where do we begin first?
The metaphor felt perfect.
Sarah’s dance shoot.
In 2015, with a logo, website, and vision in place, First Position Media officially launched.
Sarah’s first headshot.
From there, growth happened organically. Clients came through word of mouth. Relationships deepened. The team slowly expanded. Each new project helped strengthen our skills and our reputation. I remain incredibly grateful to the clients who trusted us early on and helped shape the agency into what it is today.
One thing that has always set First Position Media apart is that we were never just a PR and marketing agency. From the beginning, I could see that small and mid-sized businesses needed something more integrated. They didn’t just need press—they needed strategy.
Long before the term became popular, we were essentially providing what’s now known as a fractional CMO model—consulting across PR, marketing, social media, and business development to help organizations grow in a cohesive and intentional way.
My background in corporate financial services combined with a lifelong passion for creativity and communication created a unique business model—one that clients have come to trust.
As we look toward the future, emerging technologies like AI will certainly play a role in how communications and marketing evolve. But one thing I firmly believe will never change is the importance of authentic human connection.
Technology can support communication, but it can’t replace it.
Humans still need humans—through eye contact, tone, intuition, empathy, and real conversation.
And in many ways, that simple truth goes all the way back to where this story began: with a talkative and social kid who loved connecting with people.
