Sara Taylor-Demos
Co-Founder & CEO
Cora Home
Chicago, IL USA
“Be resourceful. Don’t think that your employer is going to hand you what to do on a silver platter. If you can go and just figure stuff out, you’ll have a job forever.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationSara Taylor-Demos
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
Attended Iowa State University.
Started out majoring in fashion with the goal of becoming a fashion producer who assists designers in making their creations come to life.
Got the opportunity to study abroad at the London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London.
After watching classmates graduate and then struggle to start their careers in fashion in New York City, she made the decision to change her major.
In 2005, graduated with a degree in accounting and finance.
Decided to move to Chicago, IL—began working as an accountant, but lost interest in due to the fact that it’s a field largely focused on the past and not the future.
Transitioned into digital media and began working as a project manager, producer, and strategist—had to teach herself how to code, the basics of marketing, analytics, advertising, and more.
In 2017, utilizing her skills in technology, advertising, and finance, she co-founded her company, Cora, an AI-enabled visual furniture curator that helps you make cost-effective choices.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Career
Co-Founder & CEO
I run an AI-enabled visual furniture curator designed to help you make cost-effective choices.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Technology
Business
Learning / Being Challenged
Day to Day
Each day is drastically different. On any given day, I'm a delegator, coach, therapist, UX expert, designer, marketer, project manager, copywriter, public speaker, sales manager, negotiator, HR manager, coordinator, and cheerleader. We have a team of 7 people now, so I spend a lot of time delegating tasks to them. I am also now spending a lot of my day fundraising and reaching out to investors.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for college students
Find a role working with or under a digital / marketing strategist. These roles touch on everything: business, making money, innovation, technology, customer experiences, UX and public speaking.
Recommended Education
My career is not related to what I studied. I'd recommend this path instead:
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Peers:
"She's really too inexperienced to handle this client."
Challenges I Overcame
Changed Major
Gender Discrimination
Career Change
Interviewed By
Venture Forward
Tech entrepreneurship’s next generation
