Sarah Quaeyhaegens

Read: Alchemy – Rory Sutherland 

Sarah loves Rory Sutherland’s book Alchemy because it challenges the idea that humans are purely rational beings. “We like to imagine ourselves making logical decisions”, Sarah explains, “but reason actually plays a much smaller role than we think.” Instead, Alchemy reveals how unconscious desires and emotions drive our choices. Sarah was particularly struck by Sutherland’s argument that “the best ideas aren’t rational – they make you feel more than think.”  

After hearing him speak at the brightonSEO conference, Sarah became fascinated by Sutherland’s approach to influencing human behaviour by bypassing logic. “Take the bicycle. Before it was invented, the idea that you could balance on two wheels would have seemed illogical – ridiculous even – and now it’s the most normal thing in the world.” The main takeaway? When looking for the best solution, don’t limit yourself to ideas that make sense.

Watch: Minimalism: A Documentary About the Important Things – Matt D’Avella

The central message of Minimalism resonates deeply with Sarah: “a life with fewer material possessions can lead to greater meaning and fulfilment.” The documentary challenges the idea that excessive consumption brings happiness, sparking Sarah to reflect, “How can we, as an agency, create real value in a world overwhelmed by ads?” She sees D’Avella’s philosophy as a guide for marketers to focus on meaningful connections and authentic communication. “It’s about building long-term relationships and fostering a sense of community rather than pushing superficial promotions”, she explains. 

Listen: Crawling Mondays – Aleyda Solis    

Sarah is an avid listener of Crawling Mondays, a podcast hosted by Aleyda Solis, for its timely insights into the ever-changing digital landscape. “With the rapid pace of AI advancements and Google’s frequent updates, keeping up with SEO trends is no small task”, Sarah says. Scrolling through Spotify for search marketing content, she stumbled upon Crawling Mondays – and was instantly hooked. “Aleyda Solis is a leading lady in the SEO community, and her episodes provide actionable tips backed by real cases and data.” Sarah also follows Aleyda on LinkedIn and subscribes to her newsletter, #SEOFOMO. “She is my go-to source for staying up to speed.”

Hungry for more? 

There’s other content that makes our colleagues’ hearts sing too. Find out what inspires copy lead Lies Xhonneux, managing director Dennis Nicholls and strategic director Pieterjan Van Wyngene.