What makes a good mediator? For over 25 years, I’ve managed organizations and led teams through conflict, which taught me the most important skill in dispute resolution: understanding people.
I’ve managed organizations, led teams through change, negotiated with stakeholders who didn’t want to be in the room together, and made decisions when multiple parties had competing interests. That work taught me how to read what’s actually going on and respond with the right action to move people forward.
When someone walks into mediation angry, hostile, or defensive, I diagnose what’s underneath. Is this person afraid? Disrespected? Unheard? Do they feel like their perspective doesn’t matter? Once I know what’s really going on, I know how to respond. Not with technique. With leadership.
That’s the difference between managing a mediation and leading a group through conflict.
What I Do
I guide individuals, families, business partners, HOA boards, landlords, tenants, and organizations through disputes where understanding each other matters more than legal positioning. My practice includes divorce and family mediation, business and commercial disputes, HOA and community association conflicts, landlord-tenant disagreements, property insurance claims, and organizational conflict resolution.
My goal is simple: help you understand why the other person is doing what they’re doing. Once that shift happens—once perspective changes—you can own an agreement.
Why This Matters
Litigation is adversarial. Mediation is collaborative. Legal positions matter, and so does what’s driving them. I focus on understanding the dynamics in the room and responding to what people really need, so the agreement they reach is one they can stand behind.
I also consult with local governments on conflict resolution, stakeholder engagement, and strategic communication—drawing on hands-on experience in city management, urban planning, public safety, utilities, and community leadership.
Who I Am
Sarah Hannah-Spurlock is the founder of Sage Mediation and Consulting, serving clients in Broward County and across Florida.Florida Supreme Court-certified Circuit Civil, County, and Family mediator. ICMA-credentialed manager with a Master’s in Public Administration. Adjunct professor at Nova Southeastern University. Founding board member of Florida Women Leading Government. Co-founder of the Nighttime Economy Culture and Policy Alliance.
But more than credentials: someone who reads rooms, manages complexity, and knows how to move people from stuck to resolution.
Ready to talk it through? Schedule a consultation.