Hi, I’m Sarah
A business psychologist, PhD researcher, and the founder of Rooted Practice.
My work sits at the intersection of psychology, organisational systems, and human experience. I specialise in understanding how people navigate work, how leadership is recognised and developed, and how the environments we operate in shape our performance, wellbeing, and opportunities.
I work as a scientist–practitioner, meaning everything I do is grounded in evidence, research, and critical thinking, but always applied in a way that is practical and relevant to real life.
Rooted in Science. Grounded in Nature.
Rooted Practice was built on a simple idea:
That effective work needs to account for both how organisations function AND how people function.
Through my research and practice, I’ve seen how often these two things are misaligned.
People are expected to perform at a constant pace, to carry increasing responsibility, and to adapt to systems that are not always designed with fairness or sustainability in mind.
Over time, this creates strain, not just for individuals, but for organisations.
Because when we ignore human limits, performance becomes fragile.
And when systems overlook people, potential is lost.
My work is about bringing those two things back into alignment.
My Approach
The foundation of my work is an evidence-based approach. As an occupational psychologist, I am proud to work as a scientist–practitioner, integrating robust research, critical thinking, and practical application in everything I do.
I work with both individuals and organisations, grounded in the belief that growth is strongest when it is collective, community-oriented, and system-aware.
I also believe that success should never come at the expense of your health, your family, or your values.
Work With Individuals
I work with individuals who feel ready for more, more influence, more autonomy, more alignment, but who don’t want success to come at the cost of their wellbeing.
Together, we explore the systems shaping your experience, and how your environment is influencing what is recognised, rewarded, and made possible. Alongside this, we stay grounded in your own capacity, your energy, your values, and what is sustainable for you over time.
This work is rooted in both science and human nature.
It’s not about pushing harder or doing more.
It’s about understanding the system you’re in, and growing in ways that are strategic, sustainable, and grounded.
Work With Organisations
I support organisations to build fairer, more sustainable systems of leadership, performance, and progression.
Drawing on occupational psychology and research into organisational justice, I work with organisations to examine how talent is recognised, developed, and progressed, and how these systems shape both performance and people’s lived experience at work.
This work is rooted in science, but grounded in human reality.
It recognises that organisations do not operate in isolation from the people within them, and that sustainable performance depends on systems that account for human capacity, not work against it.
This is about moving beyond intention and into evidence-informed, systemic change that is both effective and sustainable.
My Qualifications
Qualifications
PhD - University of Strathclyde, 2024 - Present, Student Excellence Award (SEA) Studentship Recipient.
Working Title: “Navigating Organisational Injustice: A Mixed-Methods Investigation of Gendered Barriers and Leadership Pathways Among Women Academics".
MSc - Occupational Psychology, University of Strathclyde, 2023 - 2024, Distinction.
BSc - Psychology - University of the West of Scotland, 2019 - 2023, 1st Class (Hons)
Training
Postgraduate Certificate Research Methodology for Business & Management, Certificate in Counselling, Train the Trainer, Certificate in Life Coaching, NLP Practitioner, Hypnosis Practitioner, NLP Coaching
