Sara Wilson, CPCC, ACC

Consultant | Certified Coach

Certification Logos

Sara Wilson Headshot I provide trusted consulting services, I always have. Throughout my life, people have trusted me enough to call me in difficult times. Growing up, it was friends who needed a person to listen and help solve a problem. Now it is clients who call me for help with strategic management, sticky situations or for coaching to develop their leadership skills or lead a life of “being more”.

Many challenges occur in nonprofits. None of these are “fun” situations, but I see them as opportunities for incredible growth. I am honored whenever a nonprofit enlists me to help them through these challenges.

My philosophy is that no matter how dysfunctional an organization seems, it is still made up of people. And I love to work with people. As long as the people are open to change and committed to moving forward, then we can make things happen. You see the theme. My work is about people, problem solving and change.

“My commitment is that when we work together, we will tackle the tough problems, but there will always be a dollop of fun, a bit of playfulness thrown into the mix. I will be candidly honest. Because that’s the way I approach life.”

Contact Sara!

Professional | Nitty-Gritty

I bring more than 20 years of experience as a consultant to nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and community groups. My specialties are organizational excellence, development and sustainability, board leadership, board governance, leadership development, and planning—strategic and succession. Since becoming a certified Coach, I have added a new dimension to my consulting, as well as fulfilling a professional goal.

Education

Certified Professional Co-Active Coach (CPCC) through the Co-Active Training Institute (formerly Coaches Training Institute), accredited by the International Coaching Federation.
Facilitator, trained through FoCuSeD™ Facilitator Academy, an IAF Endorsed™ Comprehensive Programme
Graduate, Nonprofit Management Fund Board Consultant Institute, Milwaukee, WI
Assessor, Land Trust Alliance Standards and Practices assessor training
Bachelor of Science, Texas A&M University, Horticulture and Business

Certifications

Associated Certified Coach badge from ICF

Community Service

Board of Directors and committee co-chair, Urban Ecology Center (UEC)
Member and Committee Chair, Downtown Milwaukee Rotary Club
Facilitator, Executive Director Leadership Development Circle, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Helen Bader Institute for Nonprofit Management
Leadership Coach, graduates of the UW-Milwaukee HBI for Nonprofit Management degree program

Before Founding MWA

I held progressive leadership positions at The Nature Conservancy for 13 years. My last position was Associate Director, US Virgin Islands and Eastern Caribbean. I created sustainable community programs, managed communications and protected sea turtle habitat.

My office and residence is a renovated 19th Century tavern with a fully landscaped green roof to capture rainwater. To achieve zero run off, the tavern’s former parking lot is a garden of native plants and fruit trees. The residence received a Mayor’s Design Award and the garden is designated Native Habitat by the Wildlife Federation.

I value and promote balancing work-family-play. When not working, I may be gardening, kayaking, swimming, belly dancing or sharing new experiences with my grand-nieces and nephew.

“Sara, you have been a ROCK STAR for us, getting to a root cause of our problems in a strong, intelligent way. We are back on track as a team and could not have done it without you.”

“Sara is a very careful listener and hears the nuances of what is said. She can assess personalities very quickly, and is able to work with the group as a whole and tailor toward specific individuals.”

Sara | Outside The Office

Texas Cowgirl Boots are my favorite shoe for facilitating a meeting. They help me channel my Texas attitude: be straightforward, say hard things nicely and do things with intention.

I like a challenge! Lucky Lady and I competed in barrel racing at local and regional rodeo’s in the 1970’s.

My ambition to visit every National Park started early. I love the openness of the sage colored mesas and sandstone canyons of our western US Parks.

I enjoy experiencing the “local” in far-away places. In 2019 I celebrated Yi Peng, the Lantern Festival, in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Releasing the khom loi (lantern) into he sky signifies letting go of things and starting fresh.

My office and residence is a renovated 19th Century tavern with a fully landscaped green roof to capture rainwater. To achieve zero run off, the tavern’s former parking lot is a garden of native plants and fruit trees. The residence received a Mayors Design Award and the garden is designated Native Habitat by the Wildlife Federation.

In 2019 I committed to a new level of fitness. Hiking in the mountains near Engelberg, Switzerland accompanied by the sound of cowbells fulfilled my vision of starting to live an active lifestyle.

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
-Mark Twain