LGBT-Owned: Sarah Scala Transforms Organizations with SCORE by Her Side Every Step of the Way

A picture of Sarah Scala wearing a sweater, blazer, and pearls, smiling at the camera.

Sarah Scala’s entrepreneurial journey with SCORE has spanned over a decade -- with mentors by her side who helped her build a consulting practice that serves clients across the globe and across diverse industries.   

In 2012, when Sarah Scala first started her business in Enfield, New Hampshire -- she reached out to SCORE Mentors about the legalities and steps to establish a business, starting with how to obtain an employer identification number.

A year later in 2013, when Scala relocated her business from New Hampshire to Cape Cod, she contacted SCORE Cape Cod & Islands chapter where she met an incredible mentor who provided her with guidance about doing business on the Cape and connected her with local resources.

In 2017, Sarah moved her business to Boston and her Cape Cod mentor then connected her to a Boston SCORE mentor that helped her for several years with specialized business development support in marketing and sales.

"My business continues to grow supporting diverse leaders and organizations as they build inclusion, belonging, and interpersonal savvy," said President & Principal Consultant Sarah A. Scala. “My SCORE mentors have been a great support in the evolution of my business!”

Getting Certified

In 2021, after coming out as an LGBT-owned business, Scala obtained certification as both a Women Owned Small Business (SBA) and an LGBT Business Enterprise through the National Gay Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC).  Getting certified led Scala to unlock consideration for untapped supplier diversity programs and closing new contracts with Fortune 500 clients, including Lockheed-Martin, Siemens, Hitachi, and Manpower Group.  

Sarah A. Scala Consulting has since expanded its client base to 37 states across the country and seven different countries all over the world.  Scala credits coming out as an LGBT-certified business for the tremendous growth of her leadership development, executive coaching and change management consulting practice in recent years.

Scala continues to contribute to her local community and national organizations that support LGBTQ+ and DEI inclusion, providing pro bono coaching sessions and facilitation with organizations including International Coach Federation - New England Chapter (ICFNE), WBECS: World Business and Executive Coaching Summit, Massachusetts Conference for Women, and the Granite State Learning and Organizational Development Round Table. 

Sarah A. Scala Consulting was honored as the SBA’s 2023 Microenterprise of the Year for Massachusetts as part of the National Small Business Week awards.

This article does not constitute or imply an endorsement by the SBA of any opinions, products, or services of any private individual or entity.