As Executive Search Consultants, we have the privilege of working alongside exceptional leaders across the sector whose ideas, resilience, and ambition inspire us every day. In this leadership series, we shine a light on these individuals-our clients and placements-exploring what drives them, the challenges they are navigating, their hopes and ambitions for the future, and even their ultimate dinner party guest.
We were proud to place Sarah in her first CEO role at Momentum Children’s Charity in May 2025, bringing with her a wealth of experience across the charity sector and a deep passion for supporting children and families. She has held a range of senior leadership roles spanning communications, fundraising and strategy, consistently leading teams to deliver outstanding results.
A highly passionate and persuasive leader, Sarah is known for her ability to inspire and motivate those around her to achieve exceptional performance. Momentum is thrilled to be embarking on the next chapter of their journey under her leadership.
CEO, Momentum
What inspired you to enter this sector and pursue a CEO role?
I have spent almost my entire career in the sector—close to 30 years—and have always been motivated by a desire to make a meaningful difference to people’s lives and contribute positively to society, even in a small way. While it may sound like a cliché, it has genuinely guided my career choices and continues to do so.
Progressing to a CEO role was an ambition I had long held in mind; however, the opportunity arose a bit sooner than I had anticipated!
What is the greatest challenge you face in your role today?
I think the greatest challenge for me as a CEO in a small/medium sized charity is getting the balance right between being hands on and actively contributing to the key priorities of the charity whilst having a clear strategy and a constant ‘north star’ in our sights, and encouraging ambition and hunger to get there.
Who has been your greatest inspiration within the sector?
Having worked at Comic Relief for nearly 20 years, I would highlight Richard Curtis as a particularly influential figure. His drive and passion were instrumental in pioneering a new model of charitable fundraising in the UK, creating a distinctive telethon format that combined comedy, entertainment, and public engagement. At the time, this approach was truly innovative, and it has since contributed to raising over £1 billion.
My experience working for Richard also instilled in me a strong ethos of tenacity and resilience. We consistently approached challenges with creativity, lateral thinking, and effective influencing skills, ensuring that we could overcome barriers and deliver meaningful impact regardless of the circumstances.
If you could invite anyone to a dinner party, who would be your number one guest?
I think it would have to be Julia Roberts. I’ve been a fan of hers forever and it would be amazing to meet her. However, I don’t think the conversation would flow much as I’d probably be too star struck.
What one lesson would you share with aspiring leaders?
Not to try and be what you think a leader ‘should’ look like. Be authentic and be vulnerable. Be open about your own development points. Lead by example.
What are your hopes and dreams for the future of your organisation or the sector as a whole?
The sector is currently operating in a highly uncertain and unpredictable environment, and I recognise that most, if not all, charities are facing significant challenges in generating the income required to remain financially sustainable while meeting the growing demands of their service users—ourselves included. Ideally, we would see a more stable and balanced operating environment, enabling us to develop robust strategies and projections that provide long-term security and support the effective delivery of our mission.
