An Interview With Renowned Coach Sarah Jones
Sarah Jones - Published author, speaker, accredited personal & executive coach helps motivated, ambitious professionals & executives improve their careers, find a new career, and help teams accelerate success & performance.
Due to significant early challenges in her own life, Sarah has always been tenacious, entrepreneurial & unafraid to speak her mind.
At times being the only woman in the boardroom amongst international corporations in her early 30s, she is a beacon of strength for leaders and individuals.
In Sarah’s former career, she was a leader in corporate affairs but founded Sarah-J Coaching to help individuals & leaders become their personal best in life and their careers.
She is dubbed the phrase 'regroup, reboot, and reinvent' - a three-step change process - having helped to pull out individuals from the trenches & into their own spotlight through her transformative and action-based coaching approach.
Her book ‘From Vulnerable to Invincible’ helps readers identify how to step into their challenges, reframe & learn, to launch themselves to success.
She also regularly contributes to the media such as BBC, The Guardian & Sky. She regularly speaks and has delivered empowering talks for Pearson Business School and the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH).
Sarah Jones is a renowned coach with a focus on leadership and career progression. She’s led execute teams around the world, working with leading firms such as EMEA, AstraZeneca, Abbott Nutrition, DHL, and Freud Communications, to name a few. Sarah’s career has taken her from government affairs to media relations, where she’s trained individuals and teams in crisis management, employee communication, and managing upwards. She’s led large-scale change programs, with a mind to diversity and female leadership, as well as global product launches and executive training programs.
Today, the accredited and highly accomplished coach mentors individuals and conducts team training in the executive sphere, combining her professional expertise with a deep knowledge of human nature and psychology.
What initially drew you to coaching?
I was the first person in my family to earn a degree and had to work up through the corporate levels at my job in London. Eventually, I landed a role on the board, and that’s when I noticed how few women were in upper management, and how challenging it was to adapt to a cutthroat environment without any guidance or role models. A few years later I hit a wall in my career and reached out to a coach. It was a life-changing decision that led to huge breakthroughs across my life and gave me a new sense of purpose. I realized I wanted to help others gain the same confidence and perspective, and that led me to pursue coaching as a career. I’ve been coaching ever since, and it’s been not only transformative but deeply fulfilling.
What is it that you do for your clients?
I offer a few programs, for individuals and groups, and utilize a range of different methods depending on my clients’ needs. The root of my work is self-development—as clients get to know themselves and their true motivations, they’re able to make concise decisions and develop the courage to follow their own path. We work with body language, communication, mindset, and conflict resolution in tandem with developing a personal brand, managing upwards, leadership tools, and career progression. It’s all interconnected, but the goal is to help my clients discover their true passions and break down the barriers so they can tap into their potential.
So what results do your clients get?
Many of my clients gain confidence and success via a process of eliminating negative beliefs and mental blocks they weren’t even aware of. As they develop more confidence and a deeper sense of self, they often let go of goals that weren’t serving them and are free to pursue what they want. They get a clearer vision of what they truly want to achieve, and I provide tools to assist them on that journey.
Corporate teams benefit most from workshopping team dynamics and improving communication, resulting in higher performance levels and job satisfaction.
Tell us a bit about your background. What made you who you are?
Well, I grew up in a large family in Hertfordshire, where I still live. My parents faced a lot of economic and health issues and worked terribly hard for my siblings and I would have better options in life. Being aware of their sacrifice has driven me to take responsibility for my life and not waste a single opportunity. They instilled a can-do attitude that has allowed me to help others develop a positive mindset. I wouldn’t be the coach I am today without them.
I’ve heard you’re quite a passionate diver…
Yes, I have quite a few hobbies—boxing and paddleboarding—but deep-sea scuba diving is my true love. It’s like visiting another planet, the fascinating marine life, the sublime beauty of nature. And it’s been my greatest teacher. Diving requires a sort of heightened focus and awareness like nothing else. I’ve met incredible people from all sorts of backgrounds and developed technical expertise I never thought possible. It’s taught how to stay calm in a crisis and the importance of teamwork, but most importantly, it reminds me that life is an adventure and that we must always keep exploring, keep playing, and pushing our boundaries.
