For many design firms (ourselves included, prior to Sara’s arrival), the “business” aspect is a difficult muscle to strengthen. For all their benefits, design schools are not known for focusing on business strategy, creating a people-centric culture, and all the other aspects that make a firm strong and resilient. Sara’s expansive experience as a financial and business strategist helped us transform the way in which we craft our firm and culture.

The result? A sustainable, streamlined structure that enables us to provide continually innovative, high-quality outcomes to our clients and a rewarding, growth-centric environment for our team.

“When I first came to Coen+Partners,” says Sara, “I was immediately struck by the firm’s commitment to stripping back the layers—of a project site, of opportunities facing a local community, of individual designers’ passions—until we uncovered the exact starting point to begin building truly powerful solutions. I am proud to have contributed to that process over the past several years, and thankful for the ways in which this role has shaped me. While I am departing the firm, I know that no matter how big or small Coen+Partners grows, that essential vision will always be there driving the work forward.”

Over the last year and a half, Sara has worked closely with Shane Coen, CEO + Founder, and Robin Ganser, Partner, to expand the leadership team through strategically onboarding a new team of partners and directors. We are now stronger than we have ever been. While we will dearly miss Sara’s direct contributions to our continued excellence, we will carry on down the path that she—with help from several other talented professionals within our firm—has helped to pave.

We wish Sara the absolute best in her next endeavors as she begins her own coaching practice.