i design content that is engaging and deliver it with heart
I’ve worn many hats in my career so far. Initially, specializing in Human Resources Management through my Bachelor of Business Administration, I transitioned into project management in the private sector. At the same time, I had the incredible fortune of being mentored by Mountain Equipment Co-op’s legendary Chief Information Officer, Georgette Parsons. In parallel, my climbing career began to flourish, and I became a professional sponsored climber in 2012, spending several years exclusively climbing and travelling to remote mountain ranges throughout the world.
In 2015, a significant life event changed my course and I began a second degree in social work, feeling a strong pull to re-establish a career that focused on one of human life’s most essential elements, relationships. Since this time, I’ve worked for both public institutions and not-for-profit organizations focusing on working alongside marginalized communities and groups.
Today, I bring these diverse skills to my facilitation and curriculum development platform. A deep understanding of relationship development and social justice principles contributes to my facilitation style and how I connect to my audience, while a strong business acumen enables me to align with my client’s goals and objectives for each facilitation and curriculum development project. Though equally adept at working with professional audiences, I specialize in working from a trauma-informed lens with complex, multi-barriered audiences to creatively meet each person “where they’re at” on any given day.
My style is casual. I strive to make space for everyone in the room to contribute their unique knowledge. I do this by integrating a variety of facilitation techniques to capitalize on, and engage in, the myriad of ways people learn and make meaning.
It should be noted, I am equally comfortable, and have experience, in providing services both face-to-face and virtually.
“Sarah is a natural talent in facilitation and developing people. She is extremely creative and resourceful, and her uncompromising integrity ensures measured success. As a facilitator, Sarah easily personalizes information and breaks it down to be relatable and effective – whether presenting to youth or adult learners. Sarah is highly engaging: from the moment she steps into the space, you feel her vibrant energy in the room. I have had the pleasure of working with Sarah as a colleague for +5 years. I recommend her to anyone who is seeking a collaborative and high-performing learning consultant.”
— Tina Strehlke, Minerva, CEO
some of my projects…
learning to lead
the american alpine journal
I began my relationship to Minerva’s Learning to Lead program as a volunteer Facilitator but over the years my investment in the program has grown. Today, I work closely with the Minerva team to redesign the programs curriculum and deliver it annually in three locations across the province. The program itself is a 3-day leadership-based weekend bringing 50 16 year-old girls together, nominated from across the province and delivered in Vancouver, Prince George and Kamloops. The girls represent a diversity of geographies, cultures, abilities, and orientations. Now in its 8th year, my work with the program has helped to refine the core leadership building blocks of the weekend; understanding strengths, identifying values, discovering mentorship and building confidence. Working with these inspired, informed, and engaged young women is something I look forward to immensely every year.
This project began with an understanding that certain notable women’s climbs were being omitted from the AAJ or buried deep within its pages, and thus not getting ample recognition in climbing history. Since 2018 I’ve been working closely with AAJ Editor in Chief, Dougald MacDonald and a host of other important folk to devise a robust and rigorous mechanism whereby significant ascents by teams of women in the mountains could be recognized and elevated appropriately in a sport (and the journal that records it) that’s been dominated by men. In tandem with this project, I have begun a podcast series on behalf of the journal, interviewing some of the most influential women in our sport, Lynn Hill, Ines Papert, Lydia Bradey, Kim Csizmasia among others to discuss the unique perspectives and experiences of women pursuing elite alpinism.
brandnew athlete
I had the privilege of partnering with Brandnew in the development of curriculum for their new web-based elite athlete employment transition training program. This was such a cool opportunity for me to combine two of my skills, 1) experience as an elite-level athlete and 2) employment skills development. Together with the Brandnew team we developed an online module on resume building targeted towards elite athletes transitioning away from competitive sport. To make it a little more exciting, I built the module, but also delivered it in front of a video recording team, so the tutorial could in affect, be led by me.
“Working with Sarah was an absolute delight. The combination of her authenticity and Professionalism resulted in a motivational and inspiring project of which we are incredibly proud. Sarah’s joy for life and her dedication to her vocation are both rare. Not only do I completely admire and respect Sarah, but Brandnew is honoured to have included Sarah as part of our Team.”
— Michele Sinclair, Brandnew Athlete Founder & CEO
Bungaloo968 Consulting Group’s Founder, Megan Maclure, and I had travelled in the same Squamish circles for a long time and each time we encountered each other, we’d say the same thing, “We really should try to join forces on a Bungaloo project”. Over the years it has occurred with greater and greater frequency. Through Meg’s leadership, Bungaloo968 has fostered several strong relationships with Indigenous communities, partnering on the development and delivery of community-specific employment and leadership training. It’s been an absolute pleasure to provide program development support on these projects, and remain “connected” to the Squamish community.