Advancing Strategic Capacity and Leadership Confidence at Boston University
When Sarah Wentz stepped into leadership of Boston University’s stewardship and donor relations team, she inherited a group known for doing everything behind the scenes—without clear roles, boundaries, or visibility across the organization. Her team was growing and facing increasing expectations during a Vice President transition, so Sarah sought to develop her managers, clarify team purpose, and advance the team’s contribution to the university’s fundraising strategy. Through our partnership, the team gained the clarity and confidence to move from reactive execution to strategic influence.
Services used:
Leadership Advisory, Team Coaching, Team Retreat
“Partnering with Shanna helped transform our leadership culture. She gave my managers the tools and confidence to lead more strategically, and she helped me show up more effectively for them. Our team is clearer on our goals, more connected to each other, and more aligned with how we can uniquely contribute. We’re now prioritizing what really matters and elevating the work that contributes most to donor engagement and fundraising. This partnership was exactly what we needed.”
– Sarah Wentz, Executive Director, Stewardship and Donor Relations, Boston University
Opportunity
The Stewardship and Donor Relations team was navigating growing institutional demands and preparing for a Vice President transition. Sarah recognized the need to strengthen leadership across the team—and was looking for a partner to support change management and build leadership skills for both her managers and herself.
Solution
Through a leadership advisory partnership, Shanna provided coaching, strategic guidance, and tools that enabled the team to lead with greater intention and alignment, including:
Team development coaching to strengthen trust, clarify roles, and build strategic management skills
Individual manager coaching to step confidently into their roles as strategic contributors
Structure and systems for goal-setting and celebrating progress—building a culture of visibility and accountability
Operational planning to align stewardship priorities with fundraising goals and elevate the team’s role in donor engagement
Results
Leadership capacity deepened at the mid-level, enabling more effective team management and stronger alignment with department goals
New tools improved communication, clarified expectations, and elevated team visibility
Strategic goal setting helped shift from reactive task management to proactive fundraising support
The team aligned around a shared vision, leading to stronger morale and engagement