ABOUT ME
I'm Sarah and I love helping mums thrive at work.
For too long, ambition has been a dirty word for mums….
At best, it stood for hustling, overcommitment and burnout. At worst, it implied neglecting our families to chase professional success (because as everyone likes to remind us, ‘we can’t have it all’).
Well, I’ve been a working mum for 21 years and there’s one thing I know for sure:
Mums can absolutely have epic, fulfilling careers, AND be engaged, present parents.
So, I’m on a mission to help more mums do just that.
Ambition Playground is a professional development coaching studio for mums who are figuring out how to balance their career ambitions with the realities of being a parent.
Here, I help mums rethink their career, soar professionally, sustain a working life that works, and navigate the workplace.
Because when mum thrives, her family, community, and workplace thrive with her.
What I bring
21 years of working mum experience (and counting)
I had my daughter at 17 (she’s now 21) and I have three boys aged 4, 3, and 9 months. This is my second rodeo as a working mum!
A career in corporate marketing and leadership
I’ve spent many years leading high performing teams, developing talent, and ‘hitting the number’ at some of New Zealand’s biggest and most loved brands. I’ve worked across traditional and agile business structures, led local and global agendas, and worked in both onsite and remote team environments.
Rigorous educations & training
I hold an MBA, a Postgraduate Diploma in Business, and a Bachelor of Arts, all from the University of Auckland. I have multiple coaching credentials and I’m in the final weeks of advanced coach training with the Neuroleadership Institute, on my way to becoming an ICF certified coach (the international gold standard in coaching) in early 2027.
What I believe
Hard doesn’t mean miserable.
Sometimes, being a working mum can be really hard, but it shouldn’t be miserable. If it is, something needs to change.
The ‘you can’t have it all’ conversation is tired.
Of course you can have a fulfilling career and be a really present mum! How you do it just looks different for everyone. The key is understanding your tradeoffs, making them intentionally, and designing your work, routine, and support structure in a way that works for you, your family, and your workplace.
The cavalry isn’t coming.
We hear plenty about the motherhood penalty, the gender pay gap, the underutilisation of women in the workforce, the underrepresentation of women in leadership, and the unequal division of unpaid household labour. Awareness matters, but nobody is swooping in to fix it. So, we need to craft solutions that work for us, and normalise them to protect the women coming up behind.
You’re better to design than decide.
Rather than trying to pick the perfect answer it’s more effective to explore, test, and iterate your way to one.
Mums are one of the most underutilised economic forces.
Over 222,000 Kiwi women sit within the national underutilisation pool, many of them highly qualified, highly capable, and ready to contribute more meaningfully. Research shows that closing the gender employment gap by just 25% would unlock $18.2 billion in increased productivity. When we invest in mums and create the conditions for them to thrive at both work and home, they don’t just participate, they lead, build businesses, go for promotions, develop skills, and make a deeper impact.
I’m on a mission to unlock the economic power of mums, by helping them thrive at work. I’d love to work with you!
Ways to Work Together
Coaching to help mums start back strong after maternity leave or a career pause.
return to work
A short coaching sprint to help mums figure out their next career move or find a business idea.
what’s next?
High performance coaching for ambitious mums who are passionate about their career growth.
AcceleratE
Coaching for mums who want to design how they juggle work, family, and life.
juggle
Business coaching and mentorship for mums who are starting or growing a business.
MUMpreneur
A single, focused, 60-minute session to work through a challenge you’re navigating.
POWER HOUR
Let’s Chat
Keen to get thriving at work? I’d love to chat!
