Sandy Clingan Smith

Like many, I grew up as an Achiever. I checked all the boxes. I got two degrees from Duke University - both undergrad and an MBA. My forty year marketing career ran the gamut - from fast food to health care. Along the way, I married a great man and battled infertility to have two amazing children. But the reality of being a working mom made me question all those decisions.

I was 40 years old and drifting. How could I balance all the conflicting needs and find my center? As many before me, I realized I could not do this all myself and turned back to the faith of my childhood.

Thanks to a new program at my church, Faith Leader, I discovered ancient spiritual practices that nurtured and centered me. I found a spiritual director who walked alongside me, nudging me and encouraging me to listen to the voice within. God was working in my life in fresh new ways. Grounding my life in spiritual practices taught me to listen in new ways. Unexpectedly, I found that both my work life and my personal life were changed by the new ways that I was listening.

In the past two decades, I have invested in the listening skills by completing

• Two years of facilitation training, including both Professional Facilitator Program and Transformational Strategy through ICA Associates, Toronto, Canada.

• Lipscomb University’s Rule 31 Civil Mediation Training

• Through the Shalem Institute for Spiritual Formation in Washington, DC, the two year Nurturing the Call Spiritual Guidance Program, as well as the one year Soul of Leadership and three day Group Spiritual Direction Workshop.

In addition, I have led numerous retreats and small groups. These ranged from one day events to year long Faith Leader program. I discovered a true delight in watching people explore new spiritual practices, which allow them to experience God in new ways.

In my corporate life, I facilitated numerous planning sessions for corporate initiatives and for surgery centers across the United States. A pro bono project I took on for a local non profit led to a continuing flow of visioning projects for other non profits and churches across the Southeast. In 2017, I co-founded Common Ground, with the intent of encouraging conversations across the political divide.

Today, I am retired from that demanding corporate job. I am relishing the time to garden, read and travel.

I would be honored to use my listening skills to walk alongside you.