Sarah, GWLN Leadership Programs Director, is responsible for the design and delivery of the Women Leaders for the World (WLW) program. In addition to leading the selection of the WLW participants, she provides development opportunities for volunteers to manage and produce the program.
As a strategic thinker and visionary leader, Sarah's role as a GWLN partner assures that programs are transformational and empower the women leaders in fulfilling on their intentions for their communities. Her strong background in designing corporate transformational programs also provides an essential support in identifying and creating partnerships that align and support GWLN's mission.
Sarah began volunteering with GWLN in 2006 as a coach. She has subsequently coached breakthrough results with women leaders from many countries in Africa, South Asia, Eastern Europe and the U.S. In 2008, Sarah was coach to Sandhya Puchalapalli, who earned the first GWLN Leader of Impact Award in 2012 for her work to empower girls and women in India. Sarah can be referred to as a master coach for women in developing countries, some of which are challenged by the worst conditions imaginable for women.
Sarah's career encompasses more than 30 years of corporate organizational development, executive leadership and professional consulting to produce breakthrough results with their clients. She was the founder of Incentive Management Associates, a training firm conducting management and team training; as well as a partner at Transformational Technologies, offering leading edge training to organizations through a global network of consultants.
An an activist with The Hunger Project for over 20 years, Sarah has developed a rich body of knowledge related to the effects of empowering women in countries with the greatest subjugation of women. Her first love as a special education teacher and a feminist leader with the National Organization for Women and the National Women's Political Caucus has shaped and deepened her commitment to justice and gender equality for everyone.
Sarah loves to travel and enjoys art, music, hiking, good food and learning about the world. Her transformational training was developed over a 30-year period with leading thinkers and philosophers. Sarah graduated from the University of Michigan with a Master's Degree in Education. She can be reached at sthomas@gwln.org.
