Who I am

I grew up in the UK and after spending the last 24 years in the USA have recently relocated to Edinburgh, Scotland..

To contact me:

Phone: 07960-238560

Linked in: linkedin.com/in/sarahlmgriffiths

Testimonial—coaching

Sarah’s ability to ignite truths, challenges and pragmatic action gifted me with thoughts about my potential that I would not have arrived at without her skilled coaching. I am now acquainted with my inner warrior, possess increased limitless thinking and recognize the importance of having an accountability partner as a conduit to personal growth. Sarah’s sincerity, insight and coaching ability prove powerful tools for those open to growth.

—Michelle K

Testimonial—facilitation

Sarah was the best facilitator I have ever come across: so calm, responsive and in tune with the

needs of the group, as well as being very knowledgeable on the topic of team building and

collaboration.

—Children in Scotland (manager)

Sarah's grasp of the challenge before us, her patience and calm demeanour and her control of the room were all excellent. The result, a step change in the confidence levels among staff, volunteers and trustees; as well as documentation that will provide a bedrock of direction and information for a long time to come.

—James Toal, Chair “Safe Haven” Project, Unicorn Preservation Society

Some examples of my work

Unicorn Preservation Society: Designed and facilitated two strategy sessions (2023, and 2025). The first engagement laid the groundwork for the development and submission of a grant proposal to the National Lottery Heritage Fund. The second, post NLHF funding, set the strategic direction for the next 3 years.
Blue Shield of California Foundation: Part of a team of consultants contracted to design and facilitate a funder learning and discussion series on tax equity and accessibility in California.
Pregnancy Counselling and Care Scotland (volunteer): Designed and facilitated a strategic planning process that included volunteers, the board, and staff. The goals of this engagement were the creation of an externally facing strategic plan document, and to align the board and staff around plans, and realistic expectations for growth. Here’s a link to an article describing this work posted by Inspiring Scotland.
Inspiring Scotland: Designed and facilitated a virtual leadership series (five cohorts) that explored wellbeing as a leadership competency. The course leveraged the science of emotional intelligence and the plasticity of wellbeing to shift thinking around wellbeing, preparing leaders to meet the challenges of the sector. The series aimed to build cohort cohesion and trust; elevate the practices of experimentation and reflection; and offer tools leaders could use to develop their own wellbeing and apply to their organizational cultures.
Streets Ahead (Borders): Designed and facilitated a series of Leadership Development workshops offered to senior managers of Streets Ahead (along with other colleagues in the sector). The goal of the workshop series was to strengthen the ability of the senior management team to be confident and skilled leaders of their organizations and work.
Community Leadership Accelerator: This 6-month leadership development program (currently based in Arizona) is aimed at building the emotional and social intelligence necessary for effective leadership, and encouraging and supporting practices that restore, inspire, sustain, and empower community leaders. We explore sharing leadership and power through the lenses of diversity, equity, and inclusion (currently recruiting for cohort 6).
Stanford Graduate School of Business: Contracted Course Facilitator for the Stanford LEAD Online Business Program. LEAD supports professionals from across the globe in building greater self-awareness and new leadership skills (2020 to present).
Link Up: Designed and facilitated two-days of professional development aimed at building the knowledge and skills to strengthen a coaching culture in Link Up (internally and between community members).
Fair Deal: Designed and facilitated an in-person day-long event to support staff as they reconnected and developed a shared vision for their work. Additional goals included building a sense of cohesion and confidence, exploring strengths in the system, creating a set of principles to guide teamwork moving forward, and having fun.
State of New York Child Care Availability Task Force (CCATF): Part of a team of consultants engaged by the Governor’s Office of the State of New York. CCATF was assembled by Governor Cuomo in 2018 with the task of creating a set of recommendations to set the course for New York’s childcare system. The final report was submitted in December 2020. .
Living Streets Alliance: Designed and facilitated the Tucson Complete Streets initiative and community engagement process. The Tucson Complete Streets Ordinance was passed in February 2019.

Education

EQi 2.0 assessor, thinkEQ, 5/2025.
Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Certification Program (MMTCP), Two-year mindfulness teacher certification program led by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, 3/2023 – 3/2025.
The Power of Awareness, Mindfulness Training to Transform Your Life with Awareness, Compassion and Well-Being, led by Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, 11/2022.
EQ Practitioner Certification, Six Seconds, The Emotional Intelligence Network, 2/2021.
Professional Certified Coach (PCC), International Coaching Federation (ICF), 2/2020.
Associate Certified Coach (ACC), International Coaching Federation (ICF), 5/2017.
Certificate in Integrative Coaching, Prescott College, 2016.
Advanced Seminar, Center for Cognitive Coaching, 10/2010.
Cognitive Coaching Foundation Seminar, 2009.
Methods for Strategic Collaboration, Facilitation training in whole systems methods: Appreciative Inquiry, Open Space Technology, World Café, 2007.
M.F.A. in Creative Writing, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 5/1999.
P.G.C.E. (Post-Graduate Certificate of Education) in Secondary School English with TESOL, University of Leeds, Leeds, England, 7/1993.
T.E.F.L.A. R.S.A. Cambridge Certificate, St Giles English Language School, Brighton, England, 10/1991.
B.A. Honours degree in Philosophy and English Literature, University of Sussex, Brighton, England, 8/1988.