Sara Carlson Striegel

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT SARA CARLSON STRIEGEL

I believe the way we lead is inseparable from the way we live.My work centers on helping leaders build balance, resilience, and inner capacity so they can meet complexity with steadiness and integrity. I support leaders in education and mission-driven organizations to strengthen their well-being while expanding how they think, relate, and act in systems under pressure.As Director of Leadership Development at Valor Collegiate Academies, I design and lead immersive learning experiences that integrate contemplative practice, adaptive self-development, and relational leadership. I direct the Compass Leader Fellowship, a national community of practice that invites leaders to orient themselves through purpose, values, self-awareness, and wise action. Through this framework, leaders learn to navigate change not by pushing harder, but by developing the internal and collective capacities needed to lead sustainably.My approach weaves together reflection, embodiment, dialogue, and experimentation. I work with individuals and teams to slow down, notice patterns, and cultivate the conditions for clarity, resilience, and belonging to emerge. Whether through executive coaching, facilitation, or program design, my focus is always on helping leaders become more whole so their leadership can be more humane and effective.I’m drawn to collaborations with organizations that believe leadership development is not just about performance, but about presence, alignment, and long-term flourishing.Areas of expertise include leadership development, executive coaching, contemplative and somatic practices, adaptive self-development, learning design, organizational culture, well-being and resilience, facilitation, and program strategy.