Leadership and management development that changes how people show up at work
I work with organisations on the behavioural side of leadership and development, helping people become more intentional in how they lead, work and grow.
Why development doesn't always lead to change
Most organisations already invest in developing their people. Skills are taught, frameworks are introduced, and expectations are set.
But knowing something doesn’t always translate into doing it differently.
The shift that matters most often happens in what sits underneath the skills — how people think under pressure, the habits they fall back on, and the assumptions they make about themselves and others.
This is the space I work in: helping leaders and managers become more aware of those patterns, so they can change how they show up in practice — not just how they understand the theory.
About Sarah Rourke
I’ve worked with hundreds of leaders, managers and experienced professionals on the things that sit underneath performance — how people think about themselves, how they relate to others, and what gets in the way of them working at their best.
My practice spans coaching, facilitation and teaching, and I’m drawn to approaches where people learn through doing rather than just listening.
I’m an ICF-accredited executive coach, a qualified Strengthscope practitioner, and co-author of The Core Career Dials.
Leadership and management development designed around real organisational challenges
My work focuses on the behavioural side of leadership and development — helping people think more clearly about how they show up at work, and supporting them to make real changes in how they lead, communicate and perform.
This includes leading under pressure, responding to complexity and change, developing greater awareness of the patterns shaping behaviour at work, and supporting people to navigate career development at senior levels — both as individuals and as managers having those conversations with others.
This is something I bring to Henley Business School with Executive MBA and experienced professional cohorts, and directly to organisations.
I work with individuals and groups, and the format depends on what will create the most meaningful change.
My approach draws on both input-led and discovery-led methods, depending on what the situation calls for. Sometimes people need a framework or a new way of thinking about something. More often, the real shift comes from discovery — from creating conditions where people can see their own patterns more clearly and work out what to do differently.
That might be one-to-one coaching, a facilitated group programme, a standalone workshop, or something more creative such as applied improvisation. Online or in-person, I design for high participation and real engagement, and I build trust quickly so that people feel safe and genuinely supported to learn.
What clients say
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The impact of coaching with Sarah has been profound. Her guidance has enabled me to develop a more strategic mindset, provide insights on executive behaviours and expectations, and enhance my overall performance. Sarah’s coaching has more than met my expectations by providing me with actionable insights and practical tools that I can apply in my daily work environment. One of the most significant changes I have noticed in myself is a heightened sense of self-awareness and a more focussed approach to my career short and longer term.
AB, Technical Director
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Wow! Just Wow! If you want to be able to genuinely say that, then I can wholly recommend Sarah for coaching. Sarah did a great job of listening, reassuring and helping hold the mirror up to me to encourage the beginning of the journey, I felt safe throughout, and able to be honest and speak freely. It was like opening a floodgate, revealing clarity I hadn’t felt for a very long time. Accompanying this with Sarah’s curious and problem solving coaching style, with the aim of releasing my own full potential was refreshing.
GP, Head of Manufacturing Engineering
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Sarah has a way of holding space that feels safe, yet powerful. Every session has been a reminder that I’m capable of more than I ever imagined. Working with Sarah has been a truly transformative experience—she didn’t just guide me, she empowered me.
The Core Career Dials Book
This book introduces the Core Career Dials framework — a practical approach to career development that helps people move from stuck to strategic. It also helps managers have more constructive career development conversations with their people.
If you’d like to discuss a bulk order for your organisation please email me — otherwise you can purchase the book on Amazon or from your preferred bookseller.