Sarah Elliott
Co-founder and Principal
Intend2Lead
Austin, TX USA
“Be open to exploring. Notice what lights you up and what gives you energy and what does not. Craft your career as you go.”
Videos
By Roadtrip NationSarah Elliott
Milestones
My road in life has taken me all over.
Both my dad and sister are engineers, so I went into college to pursue engineering—I hated all of my engineering classes and eventually switched my major to accounting.
I graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting, then worked to get my CPA license.
I worked at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) for about ten years before leaving to join a smaller accounting firm called PMB Helin Donovan, where I eventually became a partner.
While volunteering with the AICPA (American Institute of Certified Public Accountants), I realized there was a strong need for leadership development in this field and felt like that was my calling.
During my second year as a partner, I decided to leave the firm and essentially start over—I went back to school for a year for executive and professional coaching.
When I left the firm, I was pregnant, so I had to juggle this huge business risk of starting my own company while navigating life as a new parent.
I co-founded a leadership coaching company where I get to do what I love and help people through one-to-one coaching, group learning, and leadership program design.
I also founded the Ellivate Alliance, where women can come together and support other women who are starting businesses.
Keep following my journey
Education
High School
Certification/License
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certified Public Accountant (CPA)
Certification/License
Executive and Professional Coaching
University of Texas at Dallas
Executive and Professional Coaching
University of Texas at Dallas
Career
Co-founder and Principal
I run a leadership development firm that provides coaching, group learning and consulting to CPAs.
Career Roadmap
My work combines:
My work combines:
Entrepreneurship
Business
Helping People
Day to Day
I provide leadership development to accounting individuals and firms across the U.S. through one-to-one coaching, workshops, consulting, and public speaking. I also spend much of my time running the business, which includes sales and marketing, operations, strategy, finance and other administrative tasks, and developing new content and services. Some days I work from home providing coaching and running the business and other days I'm on the road speaking, teaching, and meeting with clients.
Advice for Getting Started
Here's the first step for everyone
Learn from others who have been in these positions before you. Listen, ask questions, see what resonates with you. Then evaluate whatever inspiration comes up regarding your own next steps. If you want to be a business coach, any degree in business is helpful. For leadership coaching in general, I recommend a major or courses in leadership, psychology, or organizational development. I also suggest attending an ICF accredited coach training program and obtaining coaching credentials through ICF.
Hurdles
The Noise I Shed
From Peers:
"Why would you walk away from a career after you worked so hard to make it where you are?"
Challenges I Overcame
Career Change
Working Parent
Interviewed By
Making it Balance
Paths in accounting and auditing
