I’m a talent consultant and coach for leaders seeking fresh ways to strengthen team connections and performance. When traditional methods seem ineffective, impersonal, or too rigid, I offer strategic and creative alternatives. I help leaders reconnect with their values and rebuild productive relationships, especially when personal perspectives have diverged.

My work at (through)collective has quickly become one of the great joys of my career. While there isn’t a quick solution to every issue individuals, teams, and leaders face, I see progress when people invite me to play music with them, brainstorm solutions to challenges beyond the agenda, break bread, or even meditate or pray together, regardless of our backgrounds. In these authentic moments, we build real trust and believe we can discover new ways to succeed together. This trust comes from my diverse personal and professional experiences, allowing me to relate to where others are at. It highlights the importance of strengths in action—looking beyond titles and conventional roles to recognize the value everyone brings.

Before starting (through)collective, I was the Vice President of Operations at U3 Advisors, a consulting firm for higher education, and an Assistant Director at Children's Aid, a long-standing youth services organization in New York City. I currently sit on the Board of Trustees for the Cooke School and Institute and have served on the Board of Directors for Birch Family Services. Taken together, I almost 20 years of experience in social enterprise and private sector operations management.

As a lifelong New Yorker, first-generation college graduate with a Bachelors of Arts in Political Science from CUNY Brooklyn College, and the proud parent of two children on the Autism spectrum, my journey as a strengths-based development professional is deeply personal. I'm passionate about creating a future where people of all backgrounds and abilities can live their fullest lives.  

Music and the arts have always been fundamental to me. It all began at the High School of Art & Design, where I discovered the power of channeling creativity into our professional pursuits. I also developed my love for playing the guitar – cranked up to 11. I believe that arts & culture, like strengths-based development, are a universal language that fosters deeper self-understanding and connection with others.

I'm also an avid marathon runner, completing one every year for the past decade. The inspiration for the (through)collective name came from my experience hitting "The Wall" at the 20-mile marker of the NYC Marathon every year for the past 12 years. When you hit "The Wall" and everything in your being tells you to quit, it's your inner strength that allows you to persevere and finish the race. Life is a marathon, and strengths development is key to unlocking your reservoir of talents and pushing through the inevitable walls we encounter.

While I know your story is unique, I bring an empathetic approach to our work together. Having worked in nonprofit and private sectors, as well as creative spaces, I understand the specific challenges of these environments and cultures. I know it's common to feel like a character in someone else's story.

© Sahar Coston-Hardy