Sara founded Optimum Insights, Inc., a private leadership development firm devoted to the study and practice of leadership development, in 2009. As an executive coach, author, program designer and facilitator, she has helped hundreds of executive leaders in national and multinational organizations explore their potential and increase their performance. Whatever the context, Sara is devoted to helping leaders identify the roots of critical issues and increase their effectiveness as leaders.
Experience
Sara spent 23 years in a variety of roles at the Center for Creative Leadership (CCL). The most personally rewarding was a 10-year stint leading the organization’s largest line of business. She and the globally-dispersed team she led ultimately grew it into a $32 million operation. For Sara, the most satisfying achievement was developing others to excel, stretch, and see themselves as part of a successful team.
Since 2009, in tandem with her work at Optimum Insights, Sara has continued working with CCL in a lead faculty capacity for select client engagements. One example is her work with the Betsy Magness Leadership Institute (BMLI), a partnership between Women in Cable Telecommunications and CCL. Sara’s work with this program started in 1994. Today, over 1,000 senior executive women have graduated from BMLI.
Sara’s commitment to quality and excellence in serving her clients frequently results in long-term relationships with them. For example, for ten years, she coached over 100 partners in a leadership development program offered by a multinational professional services firm. She has also worked on an ongoing basis with the president, executive team, and other top leaders of a nationally ranked university since 2009. This work has entailed team development, 360-degree feedback, executive coaching, and in-depth interviews with team members.
Sara holds certifications in the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, WorkPlace Big Five, Conflict Dynamics Profile, CPI-260, SYMLOG, CCL’s suite of 360 assessments, VOICES, Leadership Versatility Index, Influence Style Indicator, and Change Style Indicator.
Publications
As a thought leader on leadership development, Sara began writing books and articles in the 1980’s. In 2011, Jossey-Bass published a revised version of her book Discovering the Leader in You, which highlights the importance of a conscious decision to lead and offers a framework for developing leadership vision, values and skills. This updated version, co-authored with David G. Altman and Robert J. Lee, is now available as a joint publication of CCL and the Jossey-Bass Business and Management Series. In May of 2011, a workbook on the same topic was published by Sara and David G. Altman through CCL and Jossey-Bass, as well.
Sara’s writings on leadership development also appear in white papers and articles, and she continues to share her insights via webinars, speaking engagements, and interviews.
Education & Early Career
Sara’s roots in leadership development started early. A North Carolina native, her last two years of high school were spent at an all-girls school where she held a variety of leadership positions, initiated the development of a soccer team, and worked for the head of the chemistry department. It was these experiences that taught Sara the value of and personal satisfaction in making things happen.
After earning a B. A. in English from Wake Forest University, Sara attended Cornell University where she focused her research on women’s career choices. After graduating with an M.S. in Higher Education Administration, Sara took a position at the Center for Creative Leadership, a top-ranked, global provider of leadership education and research. At CCL she was part of the research team which studied the career development of executive women in Fortune 100 firms. This study was the basis for the groundbreaking book Breaking the Glass Ceiling.
Home Life
Sara lives in North Carolina with her husband, Craig. They have three sons who are each launching their post-college careers. Sara and Craig love traveling internationally, spending time at the lake, taking long walks, and attending professional soccer matches. They have recently rediscovered their mutual love of attending live concerts (Fleetwood Mac and Sting top Sara’s list of favorites).
