Testimonials
Feedback from leaders I’ve worked with through various aspects of my career, including professional speaking, workplace wellbeing advisory, organisational leadership and executive coaching.
Professional Speaking
Feedback from conference organisers, event hosts and organisational leaders who have engaged me as a keynote speaker, panel moderator, event host or chair.
“Sarah is an outstanding speaker …”
“Sarah is an outstanding and engaging speaker who brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and emotion to the stage and has wowed our audiences at Wellbeing at Work across the globe! I would highly recommend Sarah for your next event.”
Chris Cummings, Founder & CEO, Wellbeing at Work Group, Author & Speaker
“I would highly recommend Sarah to any organisation looking for a knowledgeable and skilled speaker…”
“Sarah Cunningham delivered an outstanding presentation at our Nordic Chambers Business Forum 2026. The theme was Happiness, and Sarah not only presented clear examples of why employee wellbeing is relevant for sustainable growth and continued success, but also provided concrete examples and steps on how to increase happiness in an organisation. In addition to the visible interest from the audience, demonstrated by the many photos taken of the slides, we received extremely positive feedback after the event from both attendees and co-organisers. In addition to delivering a professional and warm speech in a highly engaging manner, it was also a tremendous pleasure to plan and discuss the event with Sarah beforehand. I would highly recommend Sarah to any organisation looking for a knowledgeable and skilled speaker.”
Sara Erkinharju, General Manager, Finnish-British Chamber of Commerce
“She (Sarah) has a rare ability to take the audience on a journey that is both moving and enlightening…”
“Sarah opened the evening (for our Deeply Human Holiday Event) with a talk that was inspiring, thought-provoking, and beautifully delivered. Her expertise in the field is clear, and she has a rare ability to take the audience on a journey that is both moving and enlightening. We asked Sarah to open the evening because we knew she would capture the spirit of the event and set the tone for the rest of the evening. And she did. Thank you!.”
Iliana Grosse-Buening, Co-Founder & CEO Deeply Human Innovation.
“Sarah’s strength lies in her ability to translate rigorous academic research into clear, practical guidance that organisations can immediately apply…”
“We had the pleasure of having Sarah join us for the Healthy Ireland: Healthy Workplace Programme discussion. She brought invaluable insights on workplace wellbeing to our programme participants, who are in the process of designing their own workplace wellbeing strategies aligned with the Healthy Ireland framework.
Sarah’s strength lies in her ability to translate rigorous academic research into clear, practical guidance that organisations can immediately apply. She is highly knowledgeable and credible, and her approachable, down-to-earth style makes her expertise accessible to non-specialists in the field of workplace wellbeing.”
Davina Ramkissoon – Workplace Wellbeing Psychologist, Consultant on the Healthy Ireland, Healthy Workplaces Pilot Programme.
Workplace Wellbeing & Organisational Leadership
Feedback from leaders and organisations I’ve worked with through organisational leadership, workplace wellbeing strategy, thought leadership and advisory work.
“As Managing Director, she played a central role in shaping the World Wellbeing Movement during its formative years, helping establish it as a respected international voice”
“When Prof Lord Richard Layard and I established the World Wellbeing Movement, we were looking for someone who could help bridge the gap between wellbeing science and the realities of organisational leadership and performance, while also building a new social impact organisation from the ground up. Sarah brought both deep expertise in the science and practice of workplace wellbeing, and substantial leadership experience from organisations including Mastercard and Google.
As Managing Director, she played a central role in shaping the World Wellbeing Movement during its formative years, helping establish it as a respected international voice at the intersection of wellbeing science, business, and public policy, and steering the organisation to registered charity status. She is also co-lead author of the Work Wellbeing Playbook, and has played a significant role in translating complex academic evidence into practical guidance for organisations seeking to improve wellbeing and performance at work.
Alongside this, Sarah built a strong values-led culture within the organisation itself, while representing the Movement effectively across public speaking, media, and strategic partnerships.”
Prof Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, Co-Founder World Wellbeing Movement.
“As Managing Director, she played a central role in shaping the World Wellbeing Movement during its formative years, helping establish it as a respected international voice”
“I worked with Sarah for many great years whilst she led the Dublin Tech Hub for Mastercard. She is a wonderful colleague, always true to her core beliefs and continually learning and innovating. She led the business continuity effort during the pandemic, minimising business impact for our customers but foremost ensuring the wellbeing of our employees during this highly challenging time. During her tenure as Tech Hub lead she supported significant growth, doubling our employee base in Dublin in just a few years. She was instrumental in spearheading the design and launch of our new state of art office space. As a recognised thought leader in future of work and D&I, Sarah ensured these values were embedded into all our working strategies.”
Grace Hayes, Executive Vice President at Mastercard
“As Managing Director, she played a central role in shaping the World Wellbeing Movement during its formative years, helping establish it as a respected international voice”
“Working with Sarah on the Work Wellbeing Playbook was an exceptional experience. Her ability to translate a vast and complex evidence base into something practical, accessible, and genuinely useful for organisations is impressive. She brings both strategic clarity and deep subject-matter expertise, while fostering a collaborative and thoughtful working environment. The Playbook is a testament to her leadership—bridging rigorous research with real-world impact to help organisations improve workplace wellbeing in meaningful ways.”
Dr Cherise Regier, Research Fellow, Wellbeing Research Centre at the University of Oxford
Executive / Leadership Coaching
Feedback from conference organisers, event hosts and organisational leaders who have engaged me as a keynote speaker, panel moderator, event host or chair.
“Sarah cares deeply about my wellbeing and fulfilment as her client. She is the epitome of an active listener – with great empathy and patience …”
“I am very grateful to Sarah for the support she has provided me with via coaching, through some significant career decisions & challenges in a leadership role. The tools she introduced me to genuinely surprised me in what they unveiled about my values and priorities, and greatly helped me through some big career decisions. Sarah cares deeply about my wellbeing and fulfilment as her client. She is the epitome of an active listener – with great empathy and patience, and with the goal being not to solve but to understand.”
Lucy Bowen, Chief Strategy & Education Officer, Leaders for Climate Action
“I was at a crossroads feeling lost and unsure of my path. Sarah’s coaching arrived at the perfect moment…”
“I was at a crossroads feeling lost and unsure of my path. Sarah’s coaching arrived at the perfect moment. She believed in my potential and with her support, I revisited my core values, clarified my vision for the future, and developed a concrete plan to get there. I highly recommend her!”
Tamsin Scobell, Senior Manager – Social Sustainability – Business Psychology – Organisational Wellbeing at Deloitte
“She has been a wonderful coach, bringing gentle curiosity and tremendous compassion to every interaction …”
“I had the pleasure of being coached by Sarah at Oxford University during Autumn 2025 and Spring 2026. She has been a wonderful coach, bringing gentle curiosity and tremendous compassion to every interaction. Her clear, thoughtful questions have consistently helped me move forward—both by offering healthy challenge and by reframing or highlighting alternative explanations.
Sarah draws on many years of experience working with leaders, and this depth of expertise enriches her coaching. It has been a delight to have her as a partner in exploring new possibilities and ideas throughout our sessions.”
Teaching Fellow, University of Oxford
“Sarah combines warmth with challenge in a way that stretches your thinking while making you feel fully supported…”
“Sarah’s coaching gave me the space to pause, reflect, and navigate organisational complexity with clarity. During the pandemic, her support helped me balance performance with wellbeing and build confidence as I stepped into bigger roles. Her thoughtful questions opened up new perspectives that were instrumental in my career progression. Sarah combines warmth with challenge in a way that stretches your thinking while making you feel fully supported. I would strongly recommend her as a coach for anyone wanting to grow their leadership while sustaining their wellbeing!”
Rogerio Pitzer, Senior Director, Portfolio / Program Management , HMH
“I will never forget the times she believed in me when I was in doubt about my business …”
“Sarah was not only a role model for me during my early years in entrepreneurship, she was also an inclusive coach who always made me feel heard and seen. She asked thoughtful questions that helped me reflect in new ways, while gently challenging me to stretch beyond my doubts.
The way she combined empathy with thoughtful challenge helped me build greater confidence in my decisions and lead my business more effectively. I will never forget the times she believed in me when I was in doubt about my business. I feel truly lucky to have worked with her and couldn’t recommend her enough.”
Furkan Karayel, Award-winning Entrepreneur, Author & Speaker
“If you’re looking for a coach with extensive executive experience who is genuinely committed to your progress, I couldn’t recommend her highly enough!”
“Working with Sarah through two walking coaching sessions was both impactful and genuinely enjoyable. The blend of structured exercises and preparatory work helped me think more clearly, while her attentive listening and thoughtful questions created a safe, supportive space to explore ideas. As a neuroatypical person, I particularly valued the clarity she brought to my thinking through her structured approach. Coaching while walking was a refreshing format: process-driven and purposeful, yet relaxed and energising.
Sarah is deeply invested in her coachees’ comfort, self-efficacy and success. If you’re looking for a coach with extensive executive experience who is genuinely committed to your progress, I couldn’t recommend her highly enough!”
Morgan Jackson, Learning & Development, University of Oxford
“The invaluable coaching I received from Sarah Cunningham supported me during a pivotal point in my career”
“The invaluable coaching I received from Sarah Cunningham supported me during a pivotal point in my career. Her guidance, insightful questioning, and deep knowledge had a significant impact on my professional growth. Sarah consistently created the space for me to reflect honestly while constructively challenging me to think strategically, identify opportunities, and navigate complex decisions with confidence, which strengthened my leadership. I continue to carry the lessons she shared with me throughout my career.”
Brigid McKeown, Director, Starup Engagement, Mastercard
Let’s connect
If you’re looking for a speaker, exploring coaching, or would like to start a conversation, I’d love to hear from you. Every engagement begins with a conversation about what matters most to you and your organisation.
You can reach me by filling out this form, or connect with me on LinkedIn.
With very best wellbeing wishes
Sarah
Your details will only be used to respond to your enquiry and will not be shared with anyone else. See the Privacy and Cookies Policy for more information.
Your details will only be used to respond to your enquiry and will not be shared with anyone else. See the Privacy and Cookies Policy for more information.