Sarah Forth-Smith
Career Coach
Sarah has been a trusted mentor for me since I transitioned from senior individual contributor to first-time manager several years ago. She’s helped me improve my communication with executive stakeholders, guided me through hiring and onboarding engineers at different experience levels and taught me how to effectively coach both struggling and high-performing team members. She has also helped me confidently navigate organizational change and handle tricky situations with team members. I’m thankful I can rely on Sarah’s counsel when new leadership challenges present themselves.
Brandon M., Engineering Manager, Venture Capital Startup
Transforming Engineers into Confident Leaders
Hi, I'm Sarah. I'm an engineering leader and career coach with over 20 years of experience in tech.
I help early and mid-career engineering managers transform into confident and effective leaders in the age of AI. I provide 1:1 coaching sessions tailored to your goals and designed to help you grow and navigate change.
Answer a few quick questions so I can understand your goals and I'll invite you to a complementary 15-minute intro session.
The Value of Coaching
Effective leadership is a skill. Many engineers step into leadership roles without the mentoring or training they need to succeed and advance. Working with a coach accelerates your career and boosts your team’s productivity and engagement.
My Philosophy
People-first leadership elevates your team. Leading with empathy, authenticity, and integrity builds trust brings out the best in your team. It also means recognizing each person as an individual and mentoring them in a thoughtful, personalized way.