Sara Jane Lowry
Change Coach | Nonprofit Consultant | Strategic Advisor | Fundraising Guru
I like to ask questions. If you want to change, those questions will help you transform yourself, your team, your organization.
Questions help us get to the answers beneath the symptoms. We face considerable challenges in our lives and work. And, we want to know how to best meet those challenges– for ourselves, for our organizations and businesses, for our families and communities.
How do we move past our fears to CHANGE and transformation? How do we connect to the resources and the people we need to fulfill this purpose? What will that change, and for whom?
These are the questions that spark change. My role is to be a strategic advisor, coach, business developer, and organizational change agent with
- individuals and groups
- Executive Directors and nonprofit boards
- freelancers and entrepreneurs
- women who are in transition
Anyone seeking to know their own minds, find their own voices and find their path to success. Is this you?
Talk about change! People are surprised when I tell them that I started my professional career as an opera singer. And how it taught me a lot about resilience.
Classical music is a tough, demanding field where employment is often highly subjective. I began practicing mindfulness over 30 years ago as a way to manage stress. And when I decided to choose a new career path 10 years later, I made the leap to the business world. I worked in international imports/exports, plant production and scheduling, and corporate public relations and marketing.
But I missed the emotional connections made through singing. (Especially about those human tragedies found in Opera). So, eventually, I found my way to the social sector. There, I found a home, a place where passion is king, and people are changing the world. (Sounds like Opera, doesn’t it?) In singing I learned to be fearless, to prepare well, to give my all. That sounds like most executive directors I know.
So, I want you to know that I’ve been where you are! For over 25 years, I’ve transformed into numerous roles in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors! Change is possible!
- Textile Purchasing Agent
- Textile Production Manager
- Marketing Assistant to Vice President
- Executive Director
- CFO
- Development Director
- Director of External Relations
- Grant writer
- Strategic Project Manager
- Capital Campaign consultant
- Business owner and Founder
- and yes, board treasurer and board president!
Through it all, I’ve helped organizations transition through leadership changes, put on conferences and special events, managed successful capital campaigns, and raised millions. All in support of missions ranging from arts, libraries, mentoring, social services, and health. The last 8 years as a consultant has been focused on helping organizations grow, move through transitions, and bring new dollars to their mission.
Change can be complex and challenging. I’ve done it both personally and professionally. I’ve learned through mistakes, and at times been overwhelmed, just like you. I know that sometimes you need someone to talk to about your board, or your staff. Or you want to create new strategy, not just react to forces outside of you, or your organization. My job is to help you frame the situation, envision the future, and together develop the action plans and structure to take you out of the chaos. When I work with boards, I bring mindfulness techniques to the work, getting people to listen more deeply to what their community needs, and to one another.
Naturally, this work has led to CHANGE coaching.
Coaching allows you to reframe your internal dialogue and blocks to find the answers to creating your best possible life or work. My coaching work with start-up CEOs, business leaders, and others have allowed them to transform their perspective, habits of behavior and mind, reduce stress, and lead with integrity.
As a nonprofit coach, I challenge you to step into your leadership role with confidence and transform your organization in fulfilling more mission through team building (board chairs and CEO) and resource development (more money more mission).
Our culture and financial pressures push us to constantly look for new ways to change as quickly and painlessly as possible. Further, success is often defined in “12 simple steps” or seven effective habits. In this environment of quick fixes, working with a coach can be based on your own pace of change and discovery of skills and triggers–and can result in truly integrative success. Hiring a business coach can help you transform in ways that will sustain your business and your life.
Please ask questions. Together, we’ll find a solution.
Proud Affiliate Member, Institute of Coaching, at McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School affiliate.
