My coaching sessions with Sarah have been powerful. We created tangible plans for creative career growth that I've already been actualizing! On a deeper level, we dove into unpacking systems that have been especially difficult for me, including people-pleasing and feeling hesitant about my value. I am coming away feeling more confident as I take my next steps.

— J. A.

Welcome.

If you’re a woman or non-binary individual who wants to grow professionally and personally, you’ve come to the right place.

I see you:

• You know you want to feel fulfilled, valued, and aligned in what you do every day.

• At times you feel stifled, like you’re stuck in a zone that's off-center from where you’re truly in your element.

• You long to make the difference only you can make, while continually feeling re-energized (not drained!) in the process.

• The brokenness of the world around you is calling you to step up in a new or different way... one that comes with a renewable wellspring of strength, resilience, and power.

Could this be the right time to take a step back, reevaluate, and ask yourself:

• How am I longing to grow, adapt, or evolve as a leader?

• What changes need to happen on the inside and outside to make a sustainable impact in these challenging times?

• How can I allow my authentic strengths to be seen, and my voice to be heard, so that I can make the contribution that is mine to make?

• How can I be intentional about how I collaborate with my colleagues and cultivate my team in ways that support both the people and the mission?

Here’s a chance to embark on a journey of discovery and gentle transformation with a supportive coach by your side.

This is for you…

Wherever you find yourself in your leadership journey, coaching can support your growth, fulfillment, and impact.

As a purpose-driven leader and doer who is showing up and doing the work, perhaps you are grappling with:

• overwhelm & the chaos of the moment

• boundary setting for a more sustainable working life

• clarifying goals and strategy

• stepping into a new or expanded leadership role

• finding your authentic management style

• owning your voice / power / strengths at work 

• navigating transitions in your organization and field

• or something else!

Imagine a world where RBG didn’t use her talents to make a difference.

(A scary thought, right!?)

When women and non-binary folks hide, downplay, or sideline our authentic strengths, the world misses out.

What could be possible for you — and for the circles you touch — when you fully unleash your strengths?

I feel SO much more confidence! [The coaching program] helped to affirm the strengths that I believed I had and identify situations where I can shine.

— niyah w.

Sarah's friendly coaching style helped me uncover the core knowing I have that I can operate from a place of abundance. Moving from scarcity to a mindset [of] abundance was transformative.

— Lauren T.

Our sessions were action-oriented, and exercises (that I still revisit every week!) helped unlock the confidence that I wanted to negotiate a promotion and a raise in my current position. No matter what you're looking for in a social justice-oriented career coach, know that Sarah will be your biggest advocate. I'll recommend her to anyone looking for help with defining their career path or unlocking their potential!

— Sara C.

Coaching with Sarah has been a wonderful inner journey for me. I built confidence, asking for (and receiving) a raise! I was able to shift my perspective and actions seek out my own path. Working with Sarah was gentle yet inspiring. I particularly liked the written materials that Sarah provided so I could work at my own pace. I appreciated Sarah bringing mindfulness to her coaching so I could find my own inner wisdom.

— LindSay F.

Sarah's coaching style really resonated with me and I felt both empowered and grounded by her approach. I found the somatic exercises incredibly valuable and also very unlike anything I'd experienced in coaching before. They helped ground me and gave me something practical to utilise outside of our sessions when I feel doubt or fear. I started the program with lots of muddled thoughts about why I was dissatisfied with my career and finished the course with a sense of clarity and a toolkit for thinking through and executing career goals which I will continue to apply.

— Izzy R.

What you could get from coaching

Together we’ll design coaching goals and work toward them in an organic way. Coaching could potentially support you to:

• Cultivate more sustainability in your work

• Expand your toolbox of resilience practices

• Connect with your intuition and wisdom

• Bring your authentic strengths forward more in your work

• Develop and empower your team more effectively

• Get un-stuck from limiting thoughts and beliefs that have been keeping you from fully becoming the leader you can be

• Speak up more boldly from your deep conviction and insight, and make more of an impact on your organization or community

• Establish new habits and structures that enable you to live in closer alignment with your values and goals, without burning out

• Find greater clarity about your long-term career development goals and how to get there

• Move through these challenging times with intentionality and purpose

How we’ll work together

• 10 private 60-minute coaching sessions dedicated to professional growth, over the course of 5-6 months

• Sessions generally take place on Zoom (upon request, in person meetings could be an option in the Washington DC area)

• We’ll set coaching goals together, and I’ll support you to work towards those goals

• Email support for questions and updates in between sessions

• 360° feedback from colleagues, if desired 

• Access to a robust set of home learning materials is available to support the exploration, if desired 

• Coaching can include approaches like somatics (awareness of the body) and mindfulness (awareness of the mind) - no experience necessary!

Your commitment and investment

• Being fully present for our one-on-one coaching sessions

• Engaging in “fieldwork” which could include self-observation, somatic practices, journaling, etc. We will co-create the fieldwork and you’ll have full autonomy in what you choose to take on

• Sliding scale: $3,000 - $4,500 for the entire program; may be split into 5 monthly payments

• Upon request, we can provide materials to help you request professional development funding from your employer

Meet Your Coach

Hi, I’m Sarah.

Watching Frozen for the first time tore me to bits.

Although I am no ice queen, something about Elsa’s plight really tugged at me.

Conceal your gifts.

Don’t use your power.

People will be scared. They won’t know what to do with you. Be a good girl, play along, and you’ll be fine.

Does this sound familiar? As a girl and young woman, I heard this message in subtle and not so subtle ways.

I spent so much effort trying to conceal what I was good at, not let anyone know my grades, never be caught strutting my stuff. Letting my voice be heard was exhilarating but terrifying too. What if someone accused me of showing off?

As women and non-binary folks, we are living in a world that is deeply uncomfortable with our power and authentic strengths.

Elsa tries to conceal her special powers, but this only makes her isolated and repressed. Only when she can escape the expectations of others can she truly “let it go” and discover what she is capable of creating.

Though I can’t make a stunning ice castle appear out of thin air, like Elsa, I’ve found it profoundly empowering to recognize, name, and embrace my strengths — or superpowers, if you will.

I want this for you: to know your strengths, name them, embrace them. Allow them to be seen, and use them for good in the world.

As your coach, I will see you as a peer. I’ll listen deeply, honor who you are today and who you are becoming, ask tough questions with compassion, and share insights and reflections about what I see working for you, not working for you, or possible for you in the future.

I will help you find your “growing edge” where the most learning and empowerment can happen, and I will create space where you can step into your strongest self. In the context of our sessions, you will identify the action steps you most want and need to take — and I’ll support you in holding yourself accountable and following through on them.

I truly believe that the world needs you, and your authentic contributions. In the words of my friend Rabbi Laura Bellows, “May the longing of your heart be met with the longing of the world for your unique awesomeness, your radiance, your struggles, your truth.”

P.S. Here’s a rundown of my education and certifications:

I received my bachelor’s degree in Social Anthropology from Harvard University in 2003 and my masters degree in International Peace and Conflict Resolution from American University in 2009. During my nonprofit career when I led a department, I completed several trainings with The Management Center and contributed to their resource library for managers. I also hold a Project Management - PMD Pro 1 certification through InsideNGO.

Starting in 2018, I have trained with Presence-Based Coaching. I earned my Associate Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coaching Federation (ICF) in 2020 and renewed it in 2023. In 2025, I completed an advanced training program and became a Certified Presence-Based Coach and in 2026, I earned my Professional Certified Coach (PCC) credential from ICF. I have coached approximately 1,500 hours to date!

Sarah is driven by a deep passion for making the world a better place. She has a gift of seeing the light in others and helping them to draw out their unique qualities. In her recent course, we delved deeply into ourselves to identify our passions and callings. I found the experience to be deeply transformative.

— BECKY W.

Our Commitment to Justice & Inclusivity

Realize Change is committed to being part of what the honorable late Rep. John Lewis called “the Spirit of History.”

What that means to me is:

1. Being part of bending the arc of history toward justice… toward a world where everyone can meet their basic needs, access opportunity, and realize their potential no matter their race, nationality, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, abilities, class, religion, or other facets of their social identity.

2. Striving pro-actively to build communities, relationships, and spaces where everyone who feels called to be there can access the opportunity, show up as their full selves, and thrive. In particular, I’m committed to ensuring that those with BIPOC, LGBTQ, and other historically marginalized identities feel “in good company” in our one-on-one and group settings.

3. Nurturing individuals to develop as social justice leaders who bring compassionate, courageous, welcoming spirits to their life’s work, and who catalyze meaningful, strategic, and effective change in a world that desperately needs it.

4. Standing up and taking action together as the Realize Change community — following the lead of values-aligned partners — to do our part in making systems change.

I believe that developing awareness and taking action for equity is never-ending. If “woke” is the destination, then “waking” is the journey, and we’re all on it, myself included. I welcome conversation and learning with my community so we can grow ever stronger in our pursuit of a more just, sustainable, and compassionate world.

With gratitude,

Sarah

Thank you to the following people whose wisdom helped inform this page: Fran Darnell, Nina Everflow, Sasha Mercedes, Sally Mercedes, Margaret Morse, Joelle Novey, Jen Walper Roberts.