Sara Smoler
Career and MBA coach with Ogilvy and Prophet business development experience
| Hourly rate range | $90 to $175 an hour |
|---|---|
| Focus areas | |
| Also coaches | Admissions consultant and Business coach |
| Credentials | Columbia Business School graduate; Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree; Adweek Young CMO Mentorship Program participant |
Sara Smoler is a career and MBA coach who also works in business development and partnerships. She led new business at Ogilvy's Chicago office at 25 and generated $60M+ in revenue through pitch wins for brands like Coca-Cola and Nationwide. She is now an Engagement Manager at Prophet. She got into Columbia Business School with a nontraditional background, and that experience shapes how she coaches.
What Sara helps with
Sara helps people with nontraditional backgrounds tell a clear story about their career. She also coaches on business development and partnerships.
- Turning a nontraditional background into a clear MBA application story
- Career coaching for people planning an MBA
- Business development and partnerships skills
- Positioning, fundraising and go-to-market strategy for early-stage companies
Who Sara works with
Sara's clients often come from nontraditional paths and do not fit the typical pre-MBA mold. Many seek her out because she did not come up as a banker or consultant.
Background and qualifications
Sara built her early career in communications, marketing and advertising. She led Business Development at Ogilvy and was chosen at 25 to run the new business function in the Chicago office. She generated $60M+ in revenue through pitches for Coca-Cola, Nationwide, Sargento and Mondelez. She later earned her degree at Columbia Business School. Today she is an Engagement Manager at Prophet, where she has upskilled 20+ senior partners. She has also worked with Shiseido and Gucci, and has guest lectured at Columbia, Michigan Ross and NYU Stern.
Sara Smoler pricing
Programs and services
- Career coaching
- MBA coaching
- Business development and partnerships coaching
Sara Smoler reviews
The CoachVouch take
She is an operator who led new business at Ogilvy and turned her own nontraditional background into a Columbia Business School admission.
Best for MBA applicants with nontraditional backgrounds who need to shape their story.
Common questions
How much does Sara Smoler charge?
Coaching with Sara runs $90 to $175 an hour. Message Sara from this page for an exact quote.
What does Sara Smoler help with?
Sara Smoler helps with turning a nontraditional background into a clear MBA application story, career coaching for people planning an MBA, business development and partnerships skills and positioning, fundraising and go-to-market strategy for early-stage companies.
Is Sara Smoler certified?
Sara Smoler lists: Columbia Business School graduate; Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree; Adweek Young CMO Mentorship Program participant.
Does Sara Smoler coach people with nontraditional backgrounds?
Yes. Many of her clients seek her out because she did not take the typical pre-MBA path. Her own Columbia application taught her how to turn that kind of background into a clear story.
How do I contact Sara Smoler?
Send Sara a message from this page. It's free and takes a minute.
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Last updated September 2026. Request a correction.