I’m Sarah Pelham, a holistic coach and consultant working in the international non-profit sector and higher education.
I have over a decade of experience in international cooperation. I’ve been fortunate to develop a diverse skillset spanning coaching, facilitation, research, writing, policy advocacy, and project coordination across complex and crisis-affected contexts. It’s a rich mix, and I’ve appreciated the many mentors, coaches and collaborators I’ve met en route.
I also have expertise in intersectional gender justice and inclusive peace, and hold Masters qualifications in both Gender Studies and International Development.
My commitment is to working with value and mission-driven people and organisations towards a fairer, more equitable and just world. I’ve worked and collaborated with Oxfam, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), Peace Track Initiative, Strategic Initiative for Women in the Horn of Africa (SIHA), Dutch Relief Alliance, Erasmus University Rotterdam, and Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences, and many others.
I began training as a coach in 2022, and have since completed a Senior Coach Practitioner course on a programme accredited by the European Mentoring and Coaching Council. Following further training on Focusing-Oriented Coaching, my coaching now incorporates awareness of our physical experience: what might that knot or spark of excitement in the stomach be telling us?
Over more than 100 hours, I’ve coached many people one-on-one from over 15 countries. I work with individuals to explore the links they might see and want to develop between their inner work, relational capacities, and broader social change.
To me ‘inner work’ means increasing our self-awareness. Noticing what’s happening within ourselves, attuning to our bodies, noticing emotions, familiar patterns of thought, and the multiple ‘parts’ of ourselves, how they work – and could work better – together. Becoming more aware is a starting point for having greater agency over how we move forward.
Our relational capacity includes having the confidence to voice our own needs and priorities, attune to others’, fruitfully metabolise conflict, and enjoy the dynamism and opportunities for increased impact that comes with relating to others.
I believe the key qualities I bring to my work are integrity, authenticity, candour, empathy, responsibility, thoughtfulness and humour.
British-born, I’ve spent the last decade abroad, first in the Netherlands and now in Berlin, Germany. Outside work, I really enjoy ‘village building,’ creating care, connection and mutual aid between my friends and collaborators; and hosting and participating in related workshops, events and residentials. Or put simply, hanging out, with intentionality!
I’ll also be found enjoying high energy exercise at my local CrossFit, or listening to my favourite political or relationship podcasts.
