Meet Your Coach

Clarity. Purpose. Direction.

Drawing from a career in global development and social impact, I help changemakers turn reflection into direction — and purpose into action.

Feeling stuck or ready for change?

I’ve been there: job hunts, layoffs, pivots, reinventions. Those experiences shaped me into a coach who understands what it takes to build a meaningful career with clarity and strategy. I know the uncertainty of not knowing what’s next, and how to turn that uncertainty into confidence and action.

Whether you’re searching for your first role, exploring a new direction, or launching something of your own, I help you find your footing, align your path with your purpose, and move forward with focus.

Sadaf Sajwani, career coach — professional headshot of a woman with long wavy black hair, wearing a navy top and pearl necklace, smiling slightly against a neutral gray background.

Career Journey

I began my career in the private sector, building management experience that became the foundation for nearly 20 years in education, global development, and social impact. I’ve led initiatives with the UN, Aga Khan Development Network, and Sesame Workshop, where I led the launch of Sesame Street Pakistan, reaching 20 million children.

Today, I’m the Co-Founder of Games & Learning, helping families discover diverse educational tools that help children learn and grow.

At Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), I teach and coach students and professionals to tell their stories and turn purpose into impact. I’m especially passionate about supporting women, people of underrepresented backgrounds, and first-generation professionals as they shape their own paths.

As the daughter of immigrants and a first-generation Muslim-American woman, I know how challenging it can be to translate accomplishments into a compelling story.

In many communities, humility is valued; in the professional world, we’re asked to name our strengths.

Learning to bridge that gap changed my own trajectory.

It’s at the heart of how I coach today.

Full bio

Coaching Philosophy

I believe career clarity comes from connection. I help you link your experiences, values, and goals into a cohesive story that reflects who you are and where you want to go.

My coaching is grounded in the belief that real career growth happens when you learn how to navigate your own path. I don’t re-write resumes or cover letters; instead, I help you approach each step strategically. Together we’ll explore how to tell your story, connect your experiences, and build the skills to sustain your career growth long after our work ends.

At S² Strategy, clarity and purpose go hand in hand. My goal is to help you see your path clearly, plan it strategically, and pursue it with confidence and impact — your strategy, squared.

I bring candor, empathy, and structure to every session, helping you connect the dots across your experiences and build confidence in your next step.

My role is to help you move from uncertainty to clarity — from “What can I do?” to “Here’s how I’ll make a difference.”

Let's Connect

Approach

  • Strategic: You’ll get practical tools, resume and LinkedIn guidance, job search frameworks, and interview prep grounded in current market trends.

  • Reflective: You’ll explore what drives you, what you want your work to stand for, and how to align your next step with your bigger picture.

  • Supportive: I meet you where you are — whether you’re exploring your first role, re-entering the workforce, or making a major career pivot.

Testimonials

  • Designing a Career Path

    “My session with Sadaf was incredibly valuable. She takes a thoughtful and strategic approach, helping you design a purposeful career path that truly aligns with your values and experience. Sadaf provided insightful exercises that helped me craft a compelling personal narrative, making it easier to present my story with confidence. I left the session feeling more focused and equipped with practical tools to take the next steps in my career. Highly recommend!”

    — Anna G.

  • Getting Unstuck

    “Sadaf really helped me get unstuck! Her exercises were helpful and she talked me though many complicated questions about a post-PhD career shift in middle age. I highly recommend Sadaf for anyone who is looking to change careers and needs some expert advice on how to get started and get focused.”

    — Drew Z.

  • Branding & Narrative

    “Sadaf offered thoughtful advice and guidance on how to brand myself, craft my career narrative and network effectively. She has an impressive resume and is able to provide learnings from her own personal experience- which is extremely valuable. Her passion for helping her clients and students succeed is genuine and shows through her work ethic. I would definitely recommend Sadaf as a career coach- undoubtedly.”

    — Shamira L.

  • Storytelling & Navigating a Career Change

    “I was able to benefit from Sadaf's experience and her extremely thoughtful and tailored career advice. Sadaf thought deeply about my particular question in advance, how to convey my multi-sector experience to multiple distinct audiences, and came prepared with practical solutions as well as new frameworks of thinking about my career over the long-term. I would enthusiastically recommend Sadaf as a career coach to anyone starting out, making a career change, or looking to advance.”

    - Emma L.

  • Preparing for Next Steps

    “Sadaf just had an abundance of advice and experience to share. I'd been struggling with not knowing where to begin or where to look and within minutes of talking with her, I had gotten the answers to so many of my questions and more. She's so friendly, empathetic, gives practical and specific advice, and made me feel prepared to take on this next step. I am so grateful to her and recommend her without hesitation.”

    - Aapta G.

  • Gaining Clarity

    “I'm so grateful to Sadaf for a brilliant session. She came well prepared having reviewed my application materials and armed with information to address the agenda I had prepared. Her insightful advice included industry trends, best practices for job applications and personal anecdotes of how she had handled similar situations. I was particularly impressed by her follow up after the session with additional tips and resources. Thank you Sadaf for: being a compassionate listener, providing me with actionable tips, clarity on my path forward and inspiration when I needed it most!”

    - Anonymous

  • Resume Review

    “Sadaf gave me time and individual attention to understand my background and what my resume needs were. Her demeanor and attitude towards me calmed my anxiety, and helped me to start thinking productively about how to approach my resume. Sadaf then helped me think through which information was necessary, what structure was right for me, and how to phrase the information the right way to appeal to potential employers. I now have the kind of position I set out for, and confidence in my resume helped my overall confidence when interviewing. Sadaf's approach is comprehensive and it was clear she was invested in my success. I highly recommend her services.”

    - Anonymous

  • Career Planning

    “Sadaf advised me during my time at Columbia and afterwards and was a great mentor and coach. She gave me excellent advice on how to manage my career aspirations, and had the amazing ability of being able to motivate and inspire me to action all at once. She is great at providing a broader, big picture view on major career steps but she is also able zoom in on the minute detail and assist accordingly. Sadaf would be an excellent career coach to anyone and I recommend her highly.”

    - Serene H.

  • Resume & LinkedIn Refresh

    “I reached out to Sadaf because I was in the process of relocating to a new city, and wanted advice refreshing my resume and LinkedIn. Sadaf gave me helpful feedback, and a process to follow to make adjustments my materials. She covered a lot within one session, making it well worth the cost. She also followed up one month after to check in on my progress. I felt much more confident moving forward in my process of looking for a new role. I would definitely recommend her!”

    - Nicole C

Ready to see what’s possible for you?

Schedule a free 15-minute consultation to connect, clarify your goals, and map out your next step forward.

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