Sabina Strachan

I am a consultant, trainer, graphic facilitator and collaboration expert who has worked with strategic stakeholders for 25 years.

My approach is practical and I am skilled at helping people get to the root of issues. I use inclusive, visual and creative methods to solve problems and step-by-step processes to help navigate complexity. I work collaboratively with you to find an approach is going to work best for you. I will help you find proportionate and creative solutions in an inclusive, compassionate and engaging way.

I support charities to overcome a wide range of challenges they might be experiencing: such as diversifying audiences, recruiting volunteers, developing boards, teams and partnerships, co-creating strategy, diversifying income streams, demonstrating impact, increasing funding, making effective business cases, making compelling cases for support, engaging stakeholders, developing organisational culture, and improving ways of working.

I am mixed-race, come from an island community but live in Edinburgh and work across the UK. I am a home education advocate and have an interest in the ethics of AI. I try to practice good allyship, for example as non-autistic board member of an autistic-led charity and as an allied member of an African and Asian diaspora parents group.

Clients

I have worked with a wide range of charities, social enterprises and public bodies with charitable status, from small volunteer-run centres to cross-sector partnerships to large service providers.

Here are some examples:

• Alasdair Gray Archive – organisational strategy, board recruitment, leadership mentoring, business case development
• Panel CIC – audience development strategy, organisational strategy framework
• PLACED CIC – business model review, advisory board structure
• Capacity Buildings – prioritisation, business model development, funding alignment
• V&A Dundee – design sector support organisational design
• Sheffield Culture Collective – city-wide investment strategy, partnership facilitation
• Hunterian Museum & Art Gallery – community panel facilitation
• Seven Stories: The National Centre for Children’s Books / Newcastle University –investment review
• Deaf History Scotland – governance model review
• Regeneration NE CIC – income diversification: earned income and funding, leadership mentoring
• Sweet Patootee Arts – income diversification: corporate funding, strategic networking
• Dorset Rural Music School – business case development, governance and staffing review
• Hartlepool Museums & Archives – capital project development, partnership relationship development, team mentoring

Testimonials:

“[Sabina was] very approachable and had the right attitude… [With her support, we] were able to secure more than £100,000 funding”

“Working with Sabina has been a privilege. Thanks to [her] coaching our internal governance is more streamlined and perceived blockages to progress removed.”

Qualifications

• PhD, University of Edinburgh (Arts, Culture & Environment)
• MA Hons, University of Edinburgh (Architectural History)
• Prince 2 practitioner

Experience

I founded how2glu in 2018, a consultancy and training provider that helps people work together better to achieve greater impacts. The how2glu approach is extremely visual, participative, accessible and practical and supported by a host of unique glucard™ tools and resources. I focus on what works in the real world, not the ideal world.

how2glu projects include a Culture Plan for Glasgow, partnership development and organisational design for a new £69m National Centre for Music in Edinburgh, and a research culture change process for Durham University. As a business advisor I have worked with over 50 organisations, SMEs and freelancers. My advice helps clients develop new income streams including social investment finance, make effective cases for support, access new partnerships, and grow their confidence and organisational resilience. As a trustee I have co-created a neuroinclusive strategy, mentored staff, recruited trustees and operational support, developed stakeholder networks and helped diversify volunteers.

As a trainer and training consultant I specialise in collaboration, innovation and inclusion programmes, helping participants develop and harness a wide range of ‘soft’ skills, create more effective strategies and make connections across sectors. Approximately 2,000 attendees have participated in how2glu training.

I formerly headed up the Scotland office of BOP Consulting, an international research & management consultancy. My projects there include The Burrell Collection business case, Glasgow Commonwealth Games Cultural Programme evaluation and Edinburgh Festivals’ 10-year strategy. I have also worked in heritage management for Scottish Canals and Historic Environment Scotland and in research development for the University of Glasgow / Glasgow Life.

I am a Creative United CIC business advisor and Association of Independent Museums consultant. I also sit on the board of Out of the Blue Arts & Education Trust social enterprise and was formerly a trustee of SWAN Autism (Scotland) and Student Partnerships in Quality Scotland.