ABOUT
ChangePoint Advisors provides expert guidance to senior executives.
ChangePoint Advisors is the premier consultancy for senior executives at points of transition, helping them craft highly personalized plans for what is next, and pursue them with confidence and clarity. While executives have tremendous skills and capabilities, they can benefit by having a trusted thought-partner during a significant transition.
Why Employers Choose Us
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We come from the corporate world, and understand the concerns and priorities of employers, and the need to transition senior-level leaders in a way that is positive and empowering for all involved.
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We are woman-owned and operated. ChangePoint Advisors is certified a certified woman-owned and led business (WBE) Partnering with us highlights your commitment to gender equity and helps you achieve your DEI goals.
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We support your values. Our highly-customized consultation and expertise for valued senior executives on the cusp of change guides them smoothly into retirement or new roles, engenders good will, and enables you to put your values into practice.
Why C-Level Executives Trust Us
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We are experts in the art of transition, licensed and certified, with years of experience and a refined understanding of the challenges and concerns, both practical and emotional, faced by successful senior executives at points of change.
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We bring structure to uncertainty. Generalized advice will not provide you the clarity and control that a successful transition requires. We shepherd you through an intentional and often revelatory process of reflection, ideation, and prioritization, taking the full sweep of your life and culminating in a highly-personalized, actionable plan for what is next.
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We tailor our approach to fit the contours of your needs, honoring the fact that each client comes to us not only with unique concerns and circumstances, but with unique hopes, goals, and expectations for our work together. We follow your lead as we lead you forward.
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We are with you. Being on the cusp of a major life change can be daunting. With ChangePoint, you have a dedicated ally and thought partner, a confidential and objective sounding board, and a steadfast source of encouragement and support throughout your transition.
Sarah Friedell O’Connell
President of ChangePoint Advisors, brings over 20 years of business experience, as well as career management expertise, to her work with senior leaders.
Sarah’s background as a former corporate communications executive at Fidelity Investments and a spokeswoman for the President of Harvard University, give her a unique perspective and deep understanding of business and leadership. As a trusted thought-partner and confidential sounding board to numerous senior executives, she provides highly-customized guidance at pivotal points of change.
Sarah has made her own significant career transitions, so she knows what it takes to successfully navigate change. While at Fidelity Investments, Sarah was a licensed investment expert (FINRA series 7, 66 and 24), before becoming a spokesperson. She left corporate communications to become an executive coach and a Partner at a boutique career management firm, before launching her own business advising senior leaders.
Whether clients are seeking to change jobs, plan for an active retirement, explore Board of Directors seats, or launch entrepreneurial pursuits, Sarah has a structured process to help them succeed. She has been coaching C-suite executives for over 10 years, helping hundreds of executives across a variety of industries and functions achieve success personally and professionally.
Sarah is a graduate of the College of William and Mary where she received a B.A. degree, and is certified in several psychological assessment tools. She is a graduate of the Coaches Training Institute and the College of Executive Coaching, and is a Certified Retirement Coach.
Brian Paul O'Connell
Principal of ChangePoint Advisors, brings over 30 years of business experience,
with a focus on M&A transactions and executive transitions, to his work with
senior leaders.
Brian is a seasoned expert in the world of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A), having successfully orchestrated deals on both buy and sell sides. Throughout his journey, he has enabled business owners to realize their value creation strategies while empowering buyers to discover robust assets that not only meet but surpass their stringent criteria.
As a Principal of ChangePoint Advisors, he has steered the course for numerous senior executives and business owners, providing invaluable counsel on matters concerning both career management and business strategy. His extensive experience in this domain has empowered clients to attain their ambitions, whether they are embarking on fresh opportunities, or seeking to maximize business value.
As a Principal at Service Leadership, he was often a featured speaker at IT Solutions industry events on the topics of successful channel business model strategy and operations, as well as mergers and acquisitions.
Brian has held senior executive positions in both sales and operations with companies including Getronics, All Bases Covered, Knowledge Universe and CompuCom. Across these companies he had twenty years of experience building, running, acquiring, and integrating IT Solutions companies, with P&L responsibility more than $500 million a year.
Brian earned his MBA from IMD in Switzerland and graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts.
What people say about us!
TESTIMONIALS
"Sarah came prepared to be whatever I needed her to be. She was a partner, an ally, somebody who would push me when I needed pushing. Someone who would let me sit back and figure it out when I needed that. She did it seamlessly."
— Chief of Operations, National Restaurant Chain, Boston, MA
"Sarah took a holistic view and kept me focused on both my career objectives and what was the right balance with my personal life. She was always encouraging and available. I have an advisor and a friend for life."
— Chief HR Officer, U.S. Law Firm, Boston, MA
"Words can't describe the positives and therapeutic experience. Sarah was there when I needed her. We had regular, weekly phone calls and she was available in-between. She never seemed like she was rushed, her attention was only on me. I couldn't have asked for a better coach."
— Chief Nursing Officer, Hospital System, Albany, NY