The (through)collective Story

As a Talent Consultant and Gallup-Certified Strengths Coach, my work is a direct challenge to the conventional story that unique talents are only valuable if they fit a prescribed mold. As a Latino and a proud, first-generation college graduate, I was told that story time and again. My career has been dedicated to proving it wrong, championing authenticity over prescribed performance.

My fundamental gift is helping people see the connections between strategy, creativity, and commitment—to find the meaning in the unpredictable. This perspective was shaped by my story: a native New Yorker from East Harlem, forged in the creative halls of the High School of Art & Design and the pragmatic classrooms of CUNY Brooklyn College. My lived experience allows me to serve as a bridge, speaking with a shared humanity that resonates with everyone from the boardroom to the front lines.

With over 20 years of leadership experience, I connect quickly with your team's challenges because I’ve likely been in your shoes. My career began at Children's Aid and led to a 13-year tenure as Vice President of Operations for the consulting firm U3 Advisors. There, I managed all cross-functional business operations while serving on client engagement teams for universities and mission-driven organizations across the country. My commitment to this work extends to my community, where I currently serve as the Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Cooke School & Institute and previously served on the Board of Directors of Birch Family Services.

The greatest unlock of my career was realizing my success wasn't in creating things directly, but in helping the individuals on my teams turn their potential into true strength. This belief is at the heart of my practice, (through)collective.

• The "(through)" embodies the courage and process required to push past obstacles; like a marathon runner hitting "The Wall," we must tap into our inner strength to move forward.

• The "collective" is about the power of connection learned from my East Harlem roots. An individual can be effective, but a collective amplifies that effectiveness for far greater impact.

To put this philosophy into practice, I use my trademarked framework: Reflect (with curiosity), Refocus our insights, and Re-engage with our work to drive real results. Since 2022, I have used this approach to deliver over 250 executive coaching experiences and dozens of workshops for organizations ranging from traditional institutions to creative studios.

While I facilitate workshops, my deepest work is as a strategic ideation partner to senior leaders. I help you connect the seemingly unrelated dots in your own experience, enabling the intuitive leaps necessary to find alternative ways forward. Together, we turn challenges into opportunities, re-orienting your teams toward a mindset of strengths-based effectiveness.

To ensure this dedicated focus, I partner with a limited number of clients each quarter who are ready for a courageous, strengths-based intervention to solve their most challenging moments.

If you're ready to turn your team's challenges into their greatest strengths, let's connect.

© Sahar Coston-Hardy