Sara Bradley of Indigo Elephant on Systems Strategy and GoHighLevel for Scaling Businesses

Sara Bradley of Indigo Elephant on Building Scalable Systems for Women Entrepreneurs

Sara Bradley is the GoHighLevel Expert and System Strategist behind Indigo Elephant, where she helps female founders turn backend chaos into streamlined, scalable systems. With a background supporting six and seven figure business owners as a virtual assistant and online business manager, Sara developed deep expertise in operations, automation, and the technology that keeps businesses running smoothly behind the scenes.

Through Indigo Elephant, Sara partners with coaches, consultants, and service providers who want to reclaim their time by building systems that support growth instead of creating more work. Her approach focuses on operational clarity, automation, and thoughtful system design so founders can step back into the role of CEO while their businesses continue running efficiently.

Please share a brief introduction and your business:

My name is Sara, and I’m a GoHighLevel Expert and system strategist who is deeply passionate about helping female founders turn backend chaos into scalable systems. Because I believe when you log in Monday morning, it should feel like stepping into a warm bath because you feel supported by your systems, your team, and your tech.

Do you have a co-founder?

I used to have a co-founder, and the biggest advice I can give is to find someone who has the opposite skill set to you. It allows you to come together and support each other's strengths and weaknesses.

Take us back to when you launched? What was your marketing strategy?

I am not going to lie...marketing is not my biggest strength, which makes sense as I have an operational mind. However, I tried all the things. I posted every day on TikTok for 30-days, doing weekly blogs, Pinterest, and Instagram. None of it made me happy...I would be consistent, then stop out of nowhere because I would burn out.

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I didn't really see success; however, clients still managed to find me! After my business partner and I split, that is when I dove into networking. That is what has changed my life. It helps me find my community, refine my pitch, and be around like-minded people.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

No I did not. I easily fell into the trap of you go to school, get good grades, so you can then get a good job. However, after a summer being a bank teller, I knew working a 9-5 was not for me.

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It felt like high school all over again...At the same time, my fiancé was diving into entrepreneurship for himself. By watching him grow his business and encouraging me to think bigger helped me to embrace being a business owner.

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There were many variations in being a food blogger for a hot second, to being a health coach & reiki healer, to now doing what I absolutely love! It has been a wild ride, however I wouldn't change it for literally anything.

What accomplishments are you the most proud of to date in your business?

Being able to live off my business. Which sounds weird to write out; however, it is true. I am in awe that the work I am putting in, all by myself, allows me to pay my bills & live my life.

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I am so grateful for the freedom I have to do what I want when I want. To have no ceiling on how much money I can make. To truly make an impact on my own terms and timeline. Some people never get that experience, and I am happy I trusted myself enough to make this leap.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

To take your time getting incorporated into the community. I love to put unnecessary pressure on myself, so when I first joined, I felt I had to do all the things...

Once I got over myself, I focused on the areas of the community that made me feel the most fulfilled. For me, that is joining the Member Connects each month and doing a post here and there.

It is truly a space that meets you wherever you're at and is there for you when you need more support.

What did you do before starting your own business?

Before launching Indigo Elephant, I spent several years working as a VA and OBM supporting six and seven-figure business owners across industries like health and wellness, content creation, digital marketing, CPAs, and even health insurance billing. I started with customer support, graphic design, and website development, but over time, my role grew. I became a key part of launching memberships, building sales funnels, and expanding my skill set beyond just operations, but into marketing as well.

Through all of that, I was building a foundation of what it actually takes to run a business behind the scenes. I fell in love with taking a business owner's big dreams and visions and actually partnering with them to figure out the strategy, build the systems, and map out the next step so those dreams can become a reality. Whether that's launching something new, or being able to finally step away because they're expanding their family, or need to show up more for the people they love.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

It was actually my fiancé! Back in 2020, I invested in a mentorship as I wanted to have a business in the health & wellness space. Through that mentorship, I got the opportunity to be the VA of the person who ran it. Ever since that moment, I started doing admin & operational work as a side hustle. I figured I would stop once my coaching business took off.

Well, the Universe had different plans. I was really struggling with the coaching business while at the same time getting endless opportunities as a VA/OBM. On a walk, my fiancé lovingly called me out. He saw how frustrated and stubborn I was with the coaching business. He encouraged me to pivot and start Indigo Elephant. I listened to what he said, and since I lacked the self-trust and confidence at the time, I knew I wanted someone in the trenches with me. I proposed the idea to my then business partner, and Indigo Elephant was born.

Do you have any recent wins?

I would say splitting up with my business partner. That was such a wild time, I wouldn't change it for the world. I truly hold my then business partner with so much respect. She helped me become the woman you see today.

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Through that experience, I learned valuable business and personal lessons. Navigating that split was the first time I put myself first. I allowed myself to be vulnerable with her. I allowed myself to grieve. I easily could have let things slide and kept my rose colored glasses on. However, Indigo Elephant is my mission and purpose; I needed to fight for it.

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I am proud to say we ended on mutual terms, which cannot be said for other business partnerships. From this experience, I was able to refine Indigo Elephant to truly represent me in all shapes and forms.

What's one app on your phone that you cannot live without?

Opal. It blocks me from accessing specific apps (i.e., social media). It has eased my brain so much!

Who are your customers?

My ideal clients are the successful coaches, consultants, or service providers who are exhausted. You love what you do & you transform people's lives. But somewhere between serving your clients and showing up for everyone else in your life, the backend of your business becomes a whole other job. One you didn't sign up for.

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You're the one manually onboarding clients, chasing down follow-ups, and constantly patching up tech glitches & errors. You stopped being the CEO of your business and became an employee of it. And it's following you everywhere. You're checking messages during your kid's soccer game, or canceling date nights again.

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You started this business for freedom, and that's what you can experience once you have the right systems in place. Imagine actually logging off and knowing things are still moving.

Because you're not just a CEO. You're also a wife, partner, mother, friend, and so much more, and you deserve a business that works as hard as you do, without it costing you everything else.

What's your top productivity tip?

To start mapping out standard operating procedures (SOPs) ASAP. It can be as simple as word vomiting to AI on what you do for a given task and having it organize it into something readable.

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Too many business owners keep all of this in their head, which will bottleneck them when it comes to scaling or outsourcing. By getting these SOPs in place, you are laying the foundation for a business to be able to support you rather than depend on you.

What's your favorite business tool?

GoHighLevel, of course! I see it as the home of your business. It is where you get to nurture your leads and have a luxurious onboarding experience.

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When you're ready to expand your products or services, you don't need to hunt for a new tool. You can do it right inside GoHighLevel, whether it be a webinar, course, or membership.

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It is an all-in-one software that can keep you feeling supported no matter what season of business you're in.

What's your approach to work-life balance?

That it has to be flexible. What may work today may not work a month from now. I used to always think "balance" is something you achieve and stick with forever. I have come to learn it is a constant journey of being present to discern what you need in order to feel grounded.

How do you avoid burn-out?

I have slow mornings to take care of myself (i.e., meditate, read Webtoons, etc). It allows me to fill up my cup so I can then pour into others.

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I have also started to schedule in eating lunch, working out, and taking breaks. If you're anything like me, you'll sit for 8 hours straight and forget to eat anything, then wonder why you feel like sh*t. By having these scheduled in, it creates peace of mind that I always have time to take care of myself.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Don't be afraid to post! I was hesitant at first, but you never know what tip or experience can change someone else's life.

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By combining operational strategy with deep technical knowledge of platforms like GoHighLevel, Sara Bradley helps entrepreneurs build businesses that run with clarity, structure, and ease. Through Indigo Elephant, she continues to empower founders to move out of backend overwhelm and into systems that support both growth and freedom.

If you are a woman founder looking to grow your business while connecting with a powerful network of female entrepreneurs, Entreprenista provides the community and resources to help you scale with confidence. Learn more about joining Entreprenista League.