Sara Skillen, PCC, COLC, CNC, CPO® is the owner and Director of Education for Coach Approach Training Institute (CATI), and founder of SkillSet Coaching in Nashville, TN, With a varied background in music, education, and the legal world, Sara has always been intrigued by how environments (both outward and inward) affect work, productivity, and life. As a result, she was inspired to start her first company in 2012, helping creative and neurodiverse people from all walks of life manage their stuff, time, and tasks–first through organizing, and gradually transitioning into full time coaching. Inspired and motivated by both clients and family members with ADHD, she now seeks to have a larger impact in the worlds of organization, neurodiversity, and coaching through her work and leadership with CATI. She earned her Certified Organizer Coach credential in 2018, her Certified Organizer Life Coach credential in 2022, and her Professional Certified Coach credential in 2023.
Additionally, Sara is a Certified Professional Organizer®, was trained through the Haden Institute as a certified Interfaith Spiritual Director, and is a member of the holistic health practice The Lotus Center in Nashville, TN. She has been assisting with training student coaches through CATI since 2019. She is the instructor for the Holistic Time Coaching and Graduate Book Analysis advanced courses, Coaching Skills Lab, and co-teaches the Brain-Based Coaching, Life & ADHD Coaching, and Coach Integration Foundation courses.
Sara has been a member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing (NAPO) and has served in a variety of leadership positions in that organization, including president of the Nashville chapter. In July of 2023, she joined the board of directors of the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) as Director of Subscriber Relations. She holds Level 1 Certificates of Study in Chronic Disorganization, ADHD, and Time Management/Productivity from ICD, as well as the Brain Based Conditions specialist certificate from NAPO.
Her writing has appeared in numerous publications including Unconditionally Her magazine, the ”Human Amplified” blog, and her own blog, “The Stuff Behind the Stuff™.” She has been a popular presenter at national conferences (including NAPO and ICD), and loves being a podcast guest. She published her first book, Organizing and Big Scary Goals in December of 2019.
In addition to her client work, teaching, writing, and speaking, Sara continually studies the impact of awareness, observation, and inner work on creating holistic, real-life order. She is thrilled and grateful for the opportunity to preserve and build upon Coach Approach Training Institute’s storied legacy. Mom to two grown children, she lives in Nashville, TN with her husband Jeff and her extremely focused and productive Labrador Retriever, Sunshine.
