Sarah Ciavarri, M.Div., BCC, PCC, CRA, CDTLF, is president of Level Up Leadership, LLC, a coaching, leadership consulting, and curriculum design firm.
Sarah partners with senior leaders and mid-level managers in healthcare and community-based organizations to maximize their impact and build thriving teams. With over 25 years of experience, she has dedicated her career to helping leaders navigate change, foster resilience, and lead with clarity and confidence.
As a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) through the International Coaching Federation, with over 1,400 executive coaching hours, Sarah specializes in helping leaders break free from unproductive behaviors and beliefs that limit their success. She is also a sought-after, award-winning keynote speaker on resilience, burnout, and leading during disruption. She also co-hosts the weekly It All* podcast for women who are trying to do and have it all.
Sarah is the author of Finding Our Way to the TRUTH: Seven Lies Leaders Believe and How to Let Them Go and currently serves as the Curriculum Design Director and Executive Coach for the Jordan Project, a $1.25 million grant she co-authored awarded to Grand View University in Des Moines, IA.
In addition to being a Certified Facilitator of all of Dr. Brené Brown’s curricula, Sarah brings depth to her coaching and leadership development through certifications in DISC, Motivators, and EQ2 Assessments, 1,600 hours of Clinical Pastoral Education, and Board Chaplain Certification. Sarah is also trained in Dr. Nadya Zhexembayeva’s research on reinvention, which helps leaders and organizations adapt to constant change by embedding constant reinvention into their DNA. She completed her Master of Divinity as a Presidential Scholar at Luther Seminary and concluded her tenure as Vice President of Spiritual Life for a senior healthcare organization based in Minneapolis, MN, leading a team of 30.
Fall 2012: Daring Greatly Training with Brené
Sarah is a highly experienced Certified Facilitator of all of Dr. Brené Brown’s curricula, including Dare to Lead, Daring Greatly, Bold, and The Gifts of Imperfection. With over 200 workshops delivered, she has guided thousands of leaders in applying Brené’s research to dream boldly and lead authentically.
From the earliest days of this work, Sarah has been at the forefront of facilitating Brené’s research, earning the rare distinction of being dual-certified in Dare to Lead and Daring Greatly. Recognized for her deep expertise, she was invited by The Daring Way senior leadership to take on a greater role within Brené’s organization eight years ago, serving as a Case Consultant, facilitating at national trainings and mentoring candidates as they bring this transformative research to their clients.
National Speakers Association-MN Chapter Spring Gala, 2024. Receiving the Speaker Academy Award, nominated by fellow academy members.
FUN FACTS: Sarah sang “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a nationally televised Twins game. (The recording is at the bottom of this page.) And the Twins won.
Sarah lives on a small farm with her family, a herd of sheep, and three horses that are the best therapy money can buy.
Sarah and her spouse designed and built their home. She can use a plumb bob, wire a house, and - best news of all - the house is still standing!
Sarah put herself through grad school by singing and dancing. . . and cleaning houses.
Target Field, Minneapolis, MN
