ABOUT
Tell stories that spark excitement…
This is me, Sarah Oswald aka The Authentic Spark, and this is how I got here…
The Authentic Spark was born out of my passion for developing and supporting others. I love working with teams and individuals on creative collaborative thinking and developing their skills.
As The Authentic Spark, I harness my ability to see the bigger picture. I help make connections and enable others to reflect on and utilise their own resources.
Through 25 years’ experience in both private and public sector, I have worked with organisations of all sizes from volunteer run independents to large national bodies.
My experience
As a director of PLB, a leading heritage design consultancy, I was responsible for company HR, training development and delivery. I have experienced the challenges, and the opportunities, of organisational change.
I led PLB’s strategic work including feasibility studies, options appraisals and visioning. My role included supporting Heritage Lottery Fund bid applications and delivering training in audience development and interpretation. As the lead interpretive planner and script-writer, I worked with designers from concept through to project delivery.
My professional development
I am an Associate of the Museums Association and on the AMA Mentor list. My mentoring experience includes 1-2-1 mentoring for GEM and project mentoring for National Lottery Heritage Fund. I hold a Certificate in Coaching and a Diploma in Neuroscience-Linguistic Programming, alongside a City and Guilds Certificate in Adult Learning and an Open University Certificate in Management.
My professional memberships include Association for Coaching and Coaching York, Association for Heritage Interpretation and Group for Education in Museums. I have a strong and diverse network of contacts within the sector enabling a wide perspective on any project or challenge.