#040 From Two Employees to 75: Building a True Dream Team with Sarah Boyd

Built For This Podcast, with Carly Pepin

April 23, 2026 by

Carly Pepin

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In this candid episode of Built for This, Carly Pepin sits down with Sarah Boyd, Co-CEO and CRO of The Digital Dept., to explore what it really takes to scale a business beyond your own capacity and build a high-performing team.

Sarah shares her early journey founding Simply with a small team, handling every aspect of the business herself, until she reached a turning point. Realizing she could not grow further alone, she made a bold move, reaching out to potential acquirers, which ultimately led to the next stage of expansion.

Carly and Sarah dive into the emotional and strategic shifts that come with scaling, including stepping out of day-to-day operations, overcoming imposter syndrome, and learning to trust others as the business grows. They also unpack the complexities of merging companies, aligning cultures, and building a unified team that feels true ownership in the business. From hiring for grit and accountability to prioritizing culture and retention, Sarah shares the leadership mindset required to grow from a small startup into a company of 75 and beyond.

This episode is an honest look at leadership evolution, team building, and what it takes to create a business that thrives beyond the founder.

Key Themes:

Letting Go to Grow: Why scaling requires stepping out of execution and into leadership.
Culture Through Inclusion: How involving teams in decisions creates alignment and ownership.
Hire for Mindset: Why grit, accountability, and problem-solving matter more than experience.

Memorable Quotes:
“I didn’t want to feel like an island anymore.”
“You just have to jump in and take the lead. That’s what your team is looking for.”
“Once you have something good, you don’t want to lose people.”

Sarah Boyd

About Sarah Boyd:

Sarah Boyd is the Co-CEO and CRO of The Digital Dept., a full-service influencer marketing and talent management firm that provides brand strategy and creator representation. The company was formed in 2023 through the merger of Socialyte, where Sarah served as President, and Be Social.

Prior to this, Sarah founded Simply, a creative collective built around connection and collaboration. Today, she leads a growing team representing top creators such as Lauren Lane, Jana Kramer, and Becca Tilley, while working with major brand clients including Crocs, H&M, Molson Coors, and Function Health.