Sara Phelan

Sara Phelan
Evalu8- Evolve Business Coaching English
With 25+ years of experience in business leadership, coaching, and strategic consulting, Sara Phelan helps small business owners, professional service providers, and non-profits leverage AI, systems, and structured frameworks to drive growth, efficiency, and scalability. An ICF-certified Executive and Business Coach, former business broker, and corporate trainer, Sara combines real-world business ownership with expertise in business diagnostics, AI-enabled strategic planning, and operational efficiency. She specializes in helping leaders streamline processes, optimize decision-making, and harness AI to improve automation, data insights, and business forecasting. She also brings deep expertise in non-profit governance and leadership, serving in executive and board roles for over 18 years. Industries Served: Professional Services: Dental, Legal, Medical Technology & Innovation: Digital Health, SaaS, AI, Telecommunications Manufacturing & Distribution Renewable Energy & Sustainability Retail, Tourism & Non-Profits Specialties & Expertise: AI-Driven Business Diagnostics & Strategic Planning Growth Strategies: Commercialization, Export Development, Innovation & AI Adoption AI in Operations: Workflow Automation & Decision Support Succession & Exit Planning Governance & Non-Profit Leadership Sara is the creator of the Evalu8 Framework, a proven model that helps business leaders integrate AI, streamline operations, and make data-driven decisions. Through coaching, training, and consulting, she equips organizations with the clarity, systems, and strategic focus needed to scale and future-proof their businesses.

Expertise

  • Entrepreneurship
  • Leadership
  • Human Resources
  • Financial Management
  • Marketing
  • Sales
  • Operations Management
  • Governance
  • Strategic Planning
  • Trade / Export
  • Commercialization / Innovation
  • Supply Chain
  • Productivity Improvement
  • Skills Development

Workshops

For more information visit ProfitLearn or Training for the Non-Profit Sector

AI Without the Hype: How to Get Started

A Strategy-First Workshop for Small Business Owners

This workshop provides a comprehensive introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI), focusing on its definition, applications, and impact across various industries. Participants will explore the transformative effects of AI on business processes, understanding both the benefits and challenges of AI adoption, not just in marketing. 

The workshop will also delve into real-world use cases, particularly for small businesses, showcasing successful AI implementations through case studies. Attendees will learn to identify key areas where AI can enhance efficiency and decision-making and will be guided through an implementation roadmap that outlines best practices for integrating AI technologies into their operations.

By the end of the course, participants will have a solid foundation in AI and practical insights into leveraging AI for business growth and innovation.

The Business Check-Up: Diagnostics and Planning

Ever wonder how your business is really doing? As entrepreneurs, it's challenging to see the reality of our own businesses when we're deeply involved in them—like trying to read the label on a bottle from the inside. Are you on the right track to reach your goals?

This course will introduce you to a new way of evaluating your operations, managing risk, and crafting a strategic plan. You’ll learn to view your business from a fresh perspective, ask the right questions, and structure your ideas to identify key priorities. Drawing on proven best practices and foundational business principles, the course will guide you through the Evalu8 Framework and a self-assessment checklist to kickstart your journey.

You’ll be challenged to take a hard look at your entire business, identify what needs attention, and spot opportunities for growth. Once you have a clear big picture, you'll know exactly what to focus on next. Then, take action, measure your success, and repeat the process in 6-12 months to ensure continuous improvement.


By the end of this workshop participants will be able to:

  • evaluate the business and rate its health, template provided.
  • identify and prioritize activities to action
  • strategically plan and measure results.

Effective Non-Profit Governance and Compliance for Directors

This workshop is for Non-profit, Charity and Board of Trade Directors in Canada

This workshop will cover:

Understanding Governance, Roles, and Responsibilities: Learn the essentials of non-profit governance, focusing on the roles and responsibilities of volunteer board members. Participants will gain a clear understanding of their duties, including compliance requirements, to ensure effective oversight and accountability.

Building a Knowledge Base for Risk Management and Strategic Planning: Board members will learn to manage organizational risk, strategically plan activities, and implement workflows that promote accountability and transparency. Get practical templates to help structure and streamline board operations.

Evaluating and Supporting the Executive Director: Learn the board's role in evaluating and supporting the Executive Director. It will cover leadership in operations and team management, equipping board members with the tools to foster strong leadership and effective organizational management.

Improve Pricing, Fix Bottlenecks, and Maximize Margins

What do you sell and how much Money does each sale actually make you? Time to raise your prices?

Let's talk about your Revenue Streams.

This workshop is designed to help business owners assess and improve their current offerings and operational efficiency. Participants will evaluate their products or services, identify potential risks or bottlenecks in their delivery processes, and gain a deeper understanding of financial metrics crucial to business success.

HR & Team Alignment: Strategies for Business Success

This workshop is designed to help business owners optimize their teams for growth and productivity.

Who is on your team? How are you setting them up for success?

You will learn how to assess your current team, identify key roles, and set them up for success. We’ll cover how to establish non-negotiable expectations, and dive into recruitment, onboarding, retention, and performance management strategies using a comprehensive 150-point checklist.

Additionally, we’ll explore best practices for aligning company culture with team dynamics, and improving communication for sustained growth. 

Evaluating your Customer Journey (CX) to Grow
What do your customers really think — and how can you use that to grow? This workshop helps business owners learn how to gather, analyze, and act on customer feedback to improve Customer eXperience (CX) and build loyalty.

You’ll learn to:
  • Identify key customer insights and pain points
  • Use feedback tools and methods that work
  • Turn insights into action plans for growth
  • Build a customer-focused culture in your business
Transform Your Sales Game

This workshop provides an in-depth exploration of strategic sales, focusing on the essential components that drive success in today’s competitive marketplace. Participants will engage with practical strategies and tools to enhance their sales processes, optimize customer relationships, and effectively close deals.

Financial Forecasting: Know your Numbers and Plan for Growth

This hands-on workshop is for small business owners ready to level up their financial decision-making. You’ll dive into your past three years of income statements, learn to spot trends, build smart financial assumptions, and create a solid 3-year forecast to guide your growth.

You’ll learn to:

  • Analyze your income statements line by line
  • Create realistic assumptions for cash flow and sales projections
  • Build a 3-year pro forma forecast to support strategic planning
Profit Clarity: Smarter Financials With A Touch Of AI

This workshop is built for real-world small business owners who want to make better money decisions—without the jargon or overwhelm. We break down the numbers that matter, show you how to use AI tools to support your thinking, and walk away with a plan you can use tomorrow. 

What You'll Learn:

  • How to understand and use your Income Statement, Balance Sheet, and Cash Flow Report (yes, you can do this)
  • How to use AI to build a 3-year forecast (even if Excel isn't your jam)
  • How to spot margin gaps and adjust pricing strategically
  • How to run break-even and cash flow scenarios in minutes
  • Plus: Prompt templates and a fill-in-the-blank workbook to use again and again


You will need access to your AI of choice.


Strategic AI For Business Resilience

Cut Through Chaos, Plan Smarter, and Lead with Confidence Using AI + Strategy

Inflation. Tariffs. Fewer customers. Business owners are under pressure—and guessing is expensive.

This workshop is built for small business leaders who are done with reacting and ready to lead with clarity. Using the Evalu8 Framework and AI tools, we’ll show you how to uncover blind spots, simplify decisions, and prioritize with purpose. It’s hands-on, real-world strategy using AI as a thinking partner- not a gimmick.

By the end of this workshop participants will be able to:

  • Use AI to support financial, customer, and operational decisions
  • Cut through noise and find the right next move
  • Build a prompt library tailored to your business
  • Pressure-test ideas, prioritize actions, and plan with confidence