THE HEART BEHIND HEARTWORK

We believe that relational capacity is the foundation of thriving teams and resilient organizations. It’s not just a soft skill; it’s a strategic capability that defines how well people connect, collaborate, and grow together.

Relational capacity is the ability to build and sustain healthy, effective relationships with ourselves, with others, and within systems. It encompasses the skills, awareness, and mindset needed to navigate complexity, foster trust, and create psychologically safe, human-centered environments.

At HeartWork Consultancy, we design and deliver experiential training and development programs that strengthen this capacity at every level of an organization. We support leaders and teams to work through differences, communicate with intention, and lead with presence and purpose, so that relational excellence becomes part of the everyday culture.

When relational capacity is strong, people thrive, and so do organizations.

  • On an individual level, it enhances well-being, reduces stress, and cultivates confidence and clarity in how we show up at work.

  • At a team level, it leads to stronger collaboration, healthier conflict resolution, and a deeper sense of belonging and shared purpose.

  • At an organizational level, it drives innovation, retention, and performance because when people relate better, they work better.

At HeartWork, we bring together frameworks from social work, psychology, and leadership development to help people grow not just professionally, but relationally. We help teams build cultures that are bold, inclusive, and human.

WHY IT MATTERS

MISSION STATEMENT

Empowering Human-Centered Teams

To foster healthier, more inclusive workplaces by helping individuals and teams build self-awareness, relational intelligence, and human connection.

VISION STATEMENT

A More Connected, Courageous Workforce

We envision a future where every workplace is human-centered, where people understand themselves and each other, work with empathy, and grow together. Our goal is to support organizations in building inclusive cultures that drive connection, well-being, and sustained performance across all levels of the workforce.

Founding Story: Where Courage Met Compassion at 30,000 Feet

Anna Sarris-Bonache founded HeartWork Consultancy after years of living and working around the world as a social worker, but the seed was planted high above the Atlantic Ocean.

On a transatlantic flight, a man collapsed mid-air, and panic rippled through the cabin. While others froze, Anna stepped forward, not because she was the most qualified person, but because she understood the power of presence, empathy, and courage in moments that matter.

Only later did she learn the man was a CEO based in Qatar, and that six of his project managers were seated around him, frozen and unsure how to respond.

That moment wasn’t just a medical emergency; it was a revelation. Even experienced professionals can freeze without emotional leadership. It became a living metaphor for today’s workplace, where many people feel overwhelmed, disconnected, and unsure how to act or speak up. While others reacted with fight, flight, or freeze, Anna instinctively embodied a more evolved response: social engagement, our nervous system’s pathway to co-regulation and connection. By leaning into mindful presence and compassion, she helped de-escalate the crisis and restore a sense of safety.

This moment reflects the very heart of what she now teaches leaders and teams: to respond with relational courage, especially when the pressure’s high, think 30,000 feet, relational courage is the real oxygen mask. This experience, like so many others in her cross-cultural, people-centered journey, planted the seed for HeartWork: a consultancy built on the belief that connection isn’t a soft skill, it’s a survival skill.

Years later, drawing from her international social work experience and deep roots in community-building and systems change, she launched HeartWork Consultancy to bring that truth to organizations.

That’s the heartbeat of HeartWork: helping individuals and organizations meet complexity with humanity, and lead with heart, especially when the stakes are high.