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Sandra Coyle

@sandracoyle

Senior advisor and interim executive specializing in strategy, change management, communications and marketing, crisis management and leadership.

United States

Message

What I'm looking for

I seek interim or fractional senior executive roles in mission-driven global organizations where I can lead institutional repositioning, stabilize funding, and guide executive alignment during transitions.

I am a board-level strategic advisor and former C-suite executive who partners with CEOs, executive committees, and boards across global nonprofits, foundations, and research institutions to reposition organizations, stabilize funding, and restore credibility during transitions.

I have led international teams of 20–70+, secured multi-million-dollar funding commitments (including a $1M operational turnaround, $2.5M in new commitments, and co-led a $60M funding plan), and guided institutions through governance, reputational, and operational risk.

I provide interim and fractional senior executive leadership, advising on executive alignment, global external engagement, communications, crisis navigation, and institutional strategy to rebuild donor confidence and strengthen stakeholder relationships.

Experience

Work history, roles, and key accomplishments

Current

Founder and Principal Advisor

Current

Sandra Coyle Advisory

Aug 2025 - Present (7 months)

Provide interim and fractional executive leadership to international NGOs and federated institutions, advising CEOs and boards on leadership alignment, institutional coherence, and strategic positioning during transitions.

Positioning Stakeholder Engagement Crisis Management Executive Communication Internal Communications Strategic Planning Advisory Change Management

Director of External Relations

iMMAP Inc.

Aug 2024 - Apr 2025 (8 months)

Served as senior strategic advisor to CEO and Board during funding contraction, guiding institutional positioning across 20+ countries and strengthening donor and government engagement to support executive continuity.

External Relations Donor Engagement Government Relations Strategic Advisory Institutional Positioning Stakeholder Management International Operations

Chief Communications Officer

International Dialogue Center - KAICIID

Nov 2022 - Dec 2023 (1 year 1 month)

Restored institutional credibility after governance transition by reframing organizational identity and advising senior leadership on narrative direction, political sensitivities, and external partnerships.

Crisis Communications Stakeholder Engagement Government Relations Reputation Management Public Affairs Media Relations

Executive Director

WFM/Institute for Global Policy

Jan 2021 - Mar 2022 (1 year 2 months)

Engaged by the Executive Committee to reposition and stabilize the Institute during a period of strategic and financial uncertainty. Delivered $1M operational turnaround and secured $2.5M in new funding commitments. Refocused institutional strategy toward diplomacy and treaty engagement aligned with geopolitical trends.

Chief Communications Officer

African Economic Research Consortium

Feb 2018 - Apr 2020 (2 years 2 months)

Repositioned the research institution as a leading voice in economic policy, co-led a five-year strategic plan and helped secure $60M in funding commitments to clarify institutional direction.

Strategic Communications Fundraising Strategy Strategic Planning Donor Relations Policy Communications Institutional Repositioning

Head of Global Communications

CGIAR Research Center

Jul 2017 - Feb 2018 (7 months)

Advised the Director General through restructuring and donor shifts, leading global communications across Latin America, Africa, and Asia to strengthen scientific and institutional visibility with governments and multilaterals.

Global Communications Change Management Donor Relations Media Strategy Science Communication Stakeholder Management

Senior Director, Communications

African Wildlife Foundation

Nov 2015 - Dec 2015 (1 month)

Led global rebrand and executive voice repositioning, increasing media visibility from 6M to 600M annual impressions and elevating the CEO as a global spokesperson while aligning the Board on institutional positioning.

Brand Strategy Media Relations Crisis Response Board Alignment