Catching Up with Sarah Hollandsworth
Living Creation: An update from the path of artistry, leadership, and becoming
Over the past 18 months, I’ve been on a deeply personal and professional journey — one of exploration, transformation, and a return to self. This chapter has been about reconnecting — with my creative roots, my purpose, and the living, breathing world around me.
As some of you know, I began my career as a professional flutist, performing, teaching, and immersing myself in the artistic life. That early chapter eventually led me into the music products industry, where I spent over a decade leading sales and marketing strategy at the J.L. Smith Group (Flute World). Those years were formative: I helped guide the growth of a business, shaped customer experiences for musicians across the globe, and collaborated with instrument makers and artists alike.
In recent years, a quiet voice inside began asking, What wants to emerge now? That voice — and the trust I placed in it — launched a journey of self-inquiry that has taken me across continents and into new corners of my own identity.
One important step on that path was completing an Executive MBA in Arts Innovation through the Global Leaders Institute (GLI) — a decision that deepened my leadership and business toolkit and connected me with an extraordinary global network of artists and changemakers. GLI is a unique program that brings together musicians, educators, entrepreneurs, and visionaries committed to driving social change through innovation, cultural entrepreneurship, and community engagement. It’s immersive and deeply human — designed for those who believe in the power of artistry to shape the world.
In March 2024, I traveled to Arequipa, Peru for GLI’s Innovation Summit. There, I collaborated with fellow cohort members and local leaders to design creative solutions to real-world challenges in the community. One of the most emotionally moving moments of the trip was visiting flute students from Sinfonía por el Perú — an organization providing music education to children and young people in vulnerable situations across the country.
After the summit, I embarked on a breathtaking trek through Colca Canyon with fellow GLI student and flutist Margaret O’Shea — an unforgettable adventure in Peru, one of my favorite places on Earth. For me, travel is a portal: a direct connection to the natural world, to deeper self-awareness, and to our shared humanity.
All of this — the learning, the movement, the introspection — informs my current work as founder of Hollandsworth Coaching & Consulting. As an ICF-certified executive coach, I partner with individuals, leaders, and organizations to clarify who they want to be, how they want to show up, and what they want to create — in their lives, their communities, and beyond. Inside the coaching relationship, we explore goals and strengths, shift limiting beliefs, cultivate resilience, and develop conscious, values-driven leadership. Together, we work to remove internal barriers and align actions with vision. I also take on consulting projects, particularly with small businesses and nonprofits, focusing on sales and marketing strategy, business development, and customer experience.
The transition — more like a flow, really — from flutist, to businesswoman, to executive coach and consultant hasn’t been a departure from who I am. It’s been a return to my creative self, now with more tools, more insight, and a more holistic approach to leadership. Every step has built on the last. Coaching is now the space where I blend intuition with strategy, business acumen with empathy, and ambition with purpose.
People often ask how I stay inspired. The answer is simple: I stay close to beauty and truth. That includes time in nature, solo travel, music, movement, deep conversations, and stillness. I also stay connected to learning — through books, through others, and through experiences that stretch me beyond my edges.
Looking ahead, I’m excited to grow my business, launch new offerings, and collaborate with more mission-driven organizations. I’m especially drawn to opportunities and partnerships in the arts and culture sector, where I can support creative leaders and teams as they grow in intentional, values-aligned ways. More importantly, I’m excited for the possibility that I haven’t yet begun to imagine.
To anyone reading this who’s at a turning point: know this — there’s no wrong answer when it comes to reinvention.
The next chapter may not look like what you imagined, but trust the quiet pull.
Sometimes, the next big leap isn’t just forward — it’s back home to yourself.
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