Spotlight on Sarah Stannard

I hope you’ve been enjoying getting to know our Mastering Mindsets team over the last few issues of Mindset Matters.

As we approach the end of the year, I often find my thoughts turn to plans and intentions for the coming year. With thoughts of this reflective period in mind, our “Spotlight On” series shines this month on Sarah Stannard; Mastering Mindset’s Corporate Health & Wellbeing Coach.

Sarah joined us as Associate Coach and Progression Partner in 2023. After a 20-year career in high-pressure sales environments, Sarah was diagnosed with MS in her mid-thirties, leading her to retrain as a Health Coach.

With a newfound passion for nutrition, exercise, and positivity, she shaped her career to assist others in living a healthy, happy, and fulfilling life. She delivers regular corporate wellness events, on topics spanning nutrition and sleep, through to Performance under Pressure and Lifestyle Management.

Sarah is a member of UK International Health Coaches, The International Association of Health Coaches, and The Association for Coaching.

Here’s a quick look into what motivates Sarah:

How did your career path lead you to this field?

I built my career in corporate sales starting in telesales and worked my way up to business development manager and then sales director. I have lived the pressure, pace and expectation that comes with high performing commercial teams. After experiencing burnout and recovering from a long period of poor health, I retrained as a health coach and combined that knowledge with my sales background. Now I support organisations and teams to improve clarity, resilience, mindset and performance in a way that is sustainable and realistic in demanding environments. Everything I teach comes from real lived experience on both sides of the table.

What trends are you seeing in Performance Coaching?

Teams want practical support, not theory. The biggest shift I am seeing is the move toward performance coaching that addresses mindset, stress load and energy, not just skills and targets. Leaders want cultures where people can sustain high output without burning out, and they are finally recognising that resilience, clarity and mental steadiness directly influence results. I am also seeing a growing appetite for simple tools that help teams perform well under pressure and stay consistent throughout the year, not just during peak moments.

Tell us something surprising about you.

I recently reduced my alcohol use significantly to see what impact it would have and the change was remarkable. My energy, clarity and productivity all lifted in a way I had not expected. It gave me a deeper understanding of behaviour change and what people truly need when they want to perform at their best. The benefits showed up quickly and the experience has strengthened the work I already do in supporting others to build habits and a mindset that create strong and consistent performance.

If you would like to find out more about our Health & Wellbeing coaching, or discover more about Sarah’s talks and workshops, check out the coaching packages on our website, or drop us a message to book a 1-2-1 discovery session.