Story & Lesson Highlights with Sarissa Thrower of Los Angeles

We’re looking forward to introducing you to Sarissa Thrower. Check out our conversation below.

Sarissa, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
I value integrity first because it shapes everything else. When someone’s grounded in their own principles, you can rely on their judgment, their follow-through and their communication, but that’s not to say that intelligence and energy don’t matter because they absolutely do. Intelligence matters because good work requires strong thinking. Energy matters because momentum keeps teams moving. But integrity is the piece that lets all of that function without friction. It creates stability, trust and cleaner decision making, and it is what lets me do my best work and support the people around me effectively. My relationships are high quality because I choose people who tell the truth through their actions, and being in community with people like that allows me to relax, observe, decide and stay sharp without carrying the entire weight of the connection all alone.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Sarissa and I come from a PR and crisis communications background, and I now combine that with various metaphysical and intuitive work, in a very practical way. In my day to day work, I help people and organizations understand how they’re coming across, what moment they’re in, and how to respond without making things worse. A lot of my work is systems-oriented. I look at patterns, feedback loops, and pressure points, then translate intuition into frameworks people can actually use. I build workshops, guides, and tools focused on reputation, timing, perception, and decision-making when things feel charged. The throughline is that I guide people to a place where they’re better able to read the room accurately, stop reacting on instinct alone, and move forward with their dignity intact.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Working in crisis communications shaped it. Watching how quickly a small decision turns into a system-wide, long-term problem taught me that most blowups come from timing errors, ego, and people misunderstanding the role they’re playing in a larger machine. I saw how narratives harden fast, how silence reads as something even when it isn’t, and how calm, well-placed action changes outcomes. That experience trained me to think in systems, not just moments, and to respect how important it is to take a bird’s eye view on how much leverage exists, before things spiral.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes. There was a stretch where I realized I could keep being rewarded for competence while slowly burning out. I was good at fixing messes, absorbing pressure, and holding things together, and that skill set can quietly turn into a trap. Stepping away from that identity felt (and, at times, still feels) risky and disorienting. That moment forced me to decide whether I wanted stability at the cost of myself or to build systems that actually fit how I think and work. I chose the second option, even though it took longer and required rebuilding from scratch.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
That visibility equals power, that authenticity guarantees safety, and that reacting fast proves leadership. I see the opposite play out every day. Power comes from intelligent positioning, not the volume of the reaction. Being open without structure creates risk. Speed without context creates messes. The industry talks a lot about transparency and courage and bold moves, then quietly often punishes the people who understand systems, timing, and restraint.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Have you ever gotten what you wanted, and found it did not satisfy you?
Yes. Early career wins did that for me. The titles, the access, the proximity to power all arrived, and the internal experience stayed flat. I learned that achievement without intentional personal authorship feels hollow. If I’m not able to help shape the system I’m operating in, the reward fades fast. That realization pushed me toward work where I contribute to the designing of the standards instead of just performing well inside them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thesixthhouse.co
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesixthhouse.co
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarissathrower/

Image Credits
Tea at Shiloh/Jer Aquino
Tyler Topacio