Wendy Sachs

Wendy Sachs is an American political filmmaker and author who is known for her books Fearless and Free and How She Really Does It, and for directing Surge and October 8 – The Fight for the Soul of America (October 8) (2025). For her book How She Really Does It, Sachs interviewed over 100 women about balancing career and motherhood. She noted the importance of reliable child care, a supportive spouse, and an ability to let go of perfectionism. The book's title was inspired by Allison Pearson's novel I Don't Know How She Does It.

Sachs's book Fearless and Free: How Smart Women Pivot and Relaunch Their Careers discussed "failing fast and learning from your failures". In order to bounce back from career setbacks and re-invent themselves, Sachs advised women to network, use any volunteer experience as a strength, and develop their brand. She stressed the importance of confidence, which may require a fake-it-till-you-make-it approach. Her motivation to make the film began after her profound dismay at the 2016 presidential election results, when Sachs joined women's protests, and then was intrigued when numerous women declared they were running for political office. Sachs was surprised at the response of her fellow progressives to the attacks, including feminists who seemed to endorse "Me Too Unless You're a Jew." Co-produced with Debra Messing, the film includes interviews with Michael Rapaport, Noa Tishby, U.S. Representative Ritchie Torres, U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Sheryl Sandberg, Dan Senor, Scott Galloway, and Mosab Yousef. The film also covers the role of social media in stoking antisemitism among young people.

Works Surge (2020 documentary) Fearless and Free: How Smart Women Pivot and Relaunch Their Careers (AMACOM, 2017) How She Really Does It: The Secrets of Successful Stay-at-Work Moms (Da Capo Press, 2005) October 8– The Fight for the Soul of America (October 8) (2025 documentary)

Awards Forbes' Forty over 40, 2017