Sara Fernandez on Paid Ads, Lead Systems, and Smarter Growth

In this episode of Founders Future, with host Zach Young, we’re joined by Sara Fernandez, co-founder of Lead Rush Social, to unpack her journey from political campaigns and agency work to helping local businesses build scalable, sustainable lead systems. Drawing on more than a decade of experience across marketing, advertising, and strategy, Sara shares how seeing the gap between expensive agency retainers and real results inspired her to create an education-first, coaching-driven approach for business owners.The conversation explores how local businesses can cut through marketing overwhelm, decide what actually moves the needle, and build lead systems that adapt to rapid shifts in AI, paid advertising, and consumer behavior. Sara also opens up about running a business with her husband, setting boundaries while working together, and why combining paid ads, organic strategy, and clear decision-making frameworks is key to long-term growth in 2026 and beyond.