Leading With Heart: A Conversation With Operations Manager Sasha Cox

At Katy Responds, rebuilding homes is only part of the mission. Rebuilding confidence, dignity, and community, that’s where the deeper work happens. Sasha Cox leads with a philosophy rooted in people: their gifts, their stories, and their potential to change lives.

In this conversation, Sasha shares how she develops leaders, sustains team health, and keeps the mission alive in every corner of the organization.

Developing People Through Their Passions

When asked how she identifies the strengths of her team, here was her response:

“I actually don’t identify them,” she said. “People show you their strengths through their passions, what excites them, where they spend their time, what they naturally talk about.”

For her, leadership begins with listening. Most people already know what they’re good at, they just need someone to help them shape those gifts into meaningful service.

“It’s not my idea, it’s theirs. My role is to help make their ideas functional for them and for the community.”

Sasha believes people thrive when they feel heard, trusted, and empowered to shape their own roles. And sometimes, thriving means change.

“Some people need a different role. Some need a different organization. That’s still serving the community. It’s not always about what’s best for us, it’s about what’s best for them.”

Drawing Out Potential Through Confidence

“Everyone has potential,” Sasha said. “Most people just need confidence.”

She sees leadership not as a title but as the courage to act.

“People step into leadership because they had the courage to speak up. My biggest fear is a missed opportunity. I’d rather try and fail than never try at all.”

Understanding how each person works best, independently, collaboratively, with praise, or with space, is part of drawing out that potential.

Tools like personality assessments help teams understand one another’s needs and work styles.

Autonomy, Direction, and the Power of Clarity

Sasha is clear about her leadership style:

“I’m not a micromanager. If you can’t trust your people to do the job you hired them for, you probably have the wrong people.”

Her approach blends trust with structure.

“Clear is kind.”

She sets expectations early, communicates openly, and builds enough alignment that her team can make decisions confidently, even when she’s not in the room.

Supporting the Team Through Struggle

When someone is struggling, she never begins with blame.

“There’s always a root,” she said. “It could be personal. It could be a lack of resources. It could be a process issue. My job is to investigate before assuming.”

Support might look like adjusting workloads, providing tools, hiring additional help, or simplifying a process. Sometimes it’s simply helping someone see the bigger picture when they’re “too in the weeds.”

Keeping the Mission Alive, Every Day

For Sasha, mission alignment isn’t a slogan, it’s a rhythm woven into daily work.

“We return to our mission constantly,” she said. “We ask: Does this align with community, integrity, compassion, and Christ‑centered service?”

People stay emotionally invested when they see the impact of their work.

“It’s not just the home we repair,” she said. “It’s the heart of the client, the volunteer, the donor, and our partners. That’s the greater mission.”

And sharing that mission well matters.

“It’s not the community’s job to listen. It’s our job to be heard, through stories, prayer, data, and the way we show up.”

Human Capital, Retention, and Team Health

Sasha believes people feel valued when they know their voice matters. Regular one on one meetings create space for honest conversation, support, and new ideas.

Sometimes value looks like something simple, like stocking someone’s favorite drink in the office fridge.

“I care about you,” she said. “How can we serve the community well if we’re not serving each other?”

Retention, she believes, comes down to love and flexibility.

“We walk into broken homes, broken minds, broken hearts. We have to meet people where they are, with grace for them and for ourselves.”

Leadership, Humility, and the Wisdom of Experience

Sasha credits much of her leadership style to moments of humility, times she had to seek wise counsel or admit she didn’t have all the answers.

“Humility shaped me,” she said. “I’ve eaten a big slice of humble pie more than once.”

One lesson she wishes she’d learned earlier:

“It’s not just about the work that needs to get done. It’s about developing the person doing it.”

Remembering the details—birthdays, anniversaries, children’s names—matters.

“Listening is good. Remembering is better.”

The most rewarding part of her role?

“Seeing people take the lead and make it their own. Even if it impacts just one person, that’s enough.”

Staying Grounded in Faith and Community

Sasha stays grounded through her family, her circle of wise friends, and her faith.

“When doubt creeps in, God reminds me: if I can, I should.”

She referenced a parable she read that morning, the servants entrusted with bags of gold.

“We’re meant to multiply what we’ve been given. For me, that means developing people who can serve. There’s no limit to how many lives can be touched through them.”