at your conference ~ keynotes and workshops

‘Sarah presented a case study at our 2008 PRINCE2, MSP and Gateway Conference. Very professional in content and relatable to the audience in her delivery’ ~ Peter Foster, CC Consulting

For leaders, sponsors, Project Managers; for anyone who’s ever been part of a failed project team, for those seeking a better way, I talk about:

  • Why project failure is good for business;
  • What your Project Board should really care about;
  • What a project team needs from a Project Manager to be successful;
  • How Dolly Parton can help your project team over a hurdle;
  • How fear can make you powerful.

I usually speak for 30 to 50 minute segments, and can also provide workshop components for break-out sessions. I am project methodology agnostic.

Contact me to discuss your event.

‘I worked with Sas when I needed help with fleshing out a big, scary idea and translating it into a jam-packed TEDx Presentation. Sas has an uncanny ability to see the kernel of brilliance in even the roughest idea, and then help you to dig it out and make it shine like you’d never imagined it could’ ~ Bea Tomes, Speaker at TEDx Sydney.

at your meeting table ~ project assurance

I work with people who value the rigour of regular independent challenge by a trusted advisor; objective, focused assurance for delivery teams at key milestones during the life of your project.

I provide your project board with the confidence that the project can deliver to time, budget and quality by:

  • Identifying areas of risk;
  • Detecting barriers to delivery;
  • Confirming that the project remains viable in terms of costs and benefits;
  • Validating that requirements are being met;
  • Identifying any remedial action required;
  • Creating a benchmark that future assurance activities can measure against;
  • Reflecting common opinion, perspectives and learnings back to the project team in a supportive way.

I share all insights and recommendations with the project team; three hours in a get-real get-together ensures all findings are understood, the team are clear about what needs to happens and future actions are owned. I convert an audit process into a tool your team can use to improve all aspects of project delivery.

the assurance process

  1. Status Check – 20 questions about where you and project are right now – sent to the delivery team, stakeholders and key people.
  2. Project Review – I review any documents, web sites, issues or risk registers – whatever you want me to see that will help with understanding where you are.
  3. Interviews – With your key people. One on one with me. All comments and feedback remain anonymous. This is about building a picture of the project from as many perspectives as possible.
  4. Assurance Feedback Session – 3 hours with the Project Team led by me, jam-packed with insights and learnings; we agree the next steps.
  5. Project Assurance Report – a detailed report full of learnings, recommendations and an agreed action plan.
  6. 5% of your fee donated to Kiva.

how to sign me up to assure your project

  1. Contact me about your project. If I feel that I can add value, then we discuss the next steps. I usually book three to six weeks in advance.
  2. Project Assurance is £3000 to be paid upon booking (exclusive of VAT, travel and expenses).
  3. We agree the participants for Status Check, Interviews and the Assurance Feedback Session. You send me any documents for the Project Review.
  4. I’ll email you the Status Check Questions in advance so your team can complete these and send any other information back to me at least three days before our session.
  5. I draft my findings and present the Assurance Feedback to your delivery team.
  6. I write a detailed report and email it to all attendees within a week.

‘Sarah is a complete pleasure to work with. She is hard working, passionate about outcomes, and very focused on delivery of quality results’ ~ Debbie Kirk, Head of IT Capability at Westpac Banking Group NZ