Sarah Nielsen, PhD
I’m Sarah, founder of Emotive Coaching and an I/O psychologist with over 20 years of experience helping leaders, teams, and organizations unlock their full potential. My mission is simple: to help businesses and leaders make smarter people decisions — so they can lead with confidence, hire with clarity, and build workplaces where both people and performance thrive.
What makes me different?
I’m a psychologist specializing in the science of human behavior in the workplace — and I’m also a cancer survivor. I know firsthand what it means to navigate daunting challenges, adapt to change, and find clarity in uncertainty — both personally and professionally.
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This combination of deep psychological expertise and real-life resilience shapes the way I support leaders and organizations. I don’t just help you understand your challenges — I help you face them with clarity and confidence, turning self-awareness into practical action that moves your business forward.
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My work is rooted in behavioral science and evidence-based tools — giving you insights and strategies that are proven to work, not just popular trends or one-size-fits-all advice. Whether you’re making critical hiring decisions, developing confident leaders, or building a thriving culture, you get custom solutions designed around your business, your people, and your reality.
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Clarity fuels confidence — and confident people build better businesses. That’s what I bring to every engagement, from assessments to leadership development to my Coach in Residence partnerships.
Qualifications
Education
PhD and Masters degrees in Industrial and Organizational Psychology from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Certifications
Certified in various leadership, personality, and emotional intelligence assessments
Experience
Over 20 years of experience as a psychology professor and consultant to managers, leaders, and professionals in a variety of industries
