Where strategy meets psychology — and real change happens.

At Epicycle Group, we help people understand themselves, each other, and the dynamics that shape how they work together — because judgment, trust, and execution are built on more than strategy alone

What we do

We work at the intersection of emotional intelligence and business performance. Our areas of focus include:

  • Team Effectiveness

    Strengthening how teams communicate, make decisions, and navigate conflict

    Leveraging trust and collaboration to drive greater creativity and better outcomes

    Increasing a team’s capacity to perform more effectively under pressure

  • Leadership Development & Facilitation

    Using workshops and retreats to build capabilities such as emotional intelligence, sound judgment, resilience, and the confidence to take decisive action

    Participating in group coaching to surface diverse perspectives and benefit from peer-to-peer learning 

    Creating experiences through which leaders adopt new ways of thinking and interacting

  • Executive & Career Coaching

    Engaging in reflective one-on-one work to deepen self-awareness, develop skills to build strong relationships, and sharpen strategic thinking

    Supporting high performers navigating transitions, pursuing growth, and successfully managing greater complexity

    Developing the mindset and habits that boost productivity and sustain high performance

  • Transformation & Culture

    Guiding organizations through transformation and change in an era of increasing ambiguity and uncertainty

    Retaining working parents, particularly high-achieving women, through the key transition of starting or expanding their families

    Building cultures where high performers are engaged and aligned with key business goals

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Our Approach

We meet people where they’re at. And we build relationships grounded in trust while also challenging people to grow. 

The process of change looks different for each person and every organization. That’s why we bring many approaches and a variety of dimensions of the human experience into our work — openness and insight, playfulness and humor, and leaning into discomfort to take courageous action. Transformation requires both lightness and hope and depth and facing uncomfortable truths.

Our work integrates four core schools of thought:

Mindfulness: Increasing self-regulation and acting with intention

Mindset & EQ: Expanding perspective, reframing discomfort & building connected relationships

Adult Development: Understanding how leaders develop their capacity to manage greater complexity

Systems Thinking: Recognizing the relational and organizational dynamics that influence each other to shape the larger ecosystem

Our primary goal is always the same:
To help people look at things differently, so they can behave in new ways to create lasting change.

Sasha McDowell

Leadership Strategist & Performance Coach

Sasha brings a unique combination to leadership development: deep training in human behavior paired with more than twenty years of real-world management experience. With graduate degrees in both Clinical Social Work and Management from Columbia University, she understands the inner dynamics that drive how people think and behave, the psychology behind how people change, and the importance of making strategic decisions amidst competing priorities. This dual perspective means she can help you navigate the messy, human side of leadership—managing difficult conversations, repairing fractured team dynamics, and transforming your culture—while keeping you focused on strong execution and impactful outcomes.

Before starting Epicycle Group, Sasha led teams across the nonprofit, corporate, and government sectors. Through Epicycle, she has coached hundreds of leaders and facilitated workshops for organizations including Morgan Stanley, the NYC Department of Education, Columbia University, and Chief. When you work with Sasha, you partner with someone who's been in the rooms where hard decisions get made, who understands what it takes to lead under pressure, and who is keenly perceptive in discerning nuanced relational dynamics. She'll challenge you with both compassion and candor, and there will be laughter sprinkled into the process. You can expect honest conversations, a mix of warmth and directness, both structure and flexibility, and a partnership built on trust that helps you turn what you’re learning into action and real change.

  • Master of Public Administration (MPA), Management — Columbia University

    Master of Social Work (MSW), Clinical Social Work — Columbia University

    Bachelor of Arts, Women's Studies — Trinity College (CT)

  • Rutgers University/Heidrick & Struggles: Leadership Coaching for Organizational Performance

    Certified Practitioner in Systemic Team Coaching

    Certified Trauma-Informed Coach

    Certified Positive Intelligence Coach

  • YPO (Young Presidents Organization): Certified CircleSpace Guide

    Cornell University: Diversity & Inclusion Certificate

    CRR Global: Organization and Relationship Systems @Work

    Brain by Design: The Neuroscience of Habits, Productivity, Fear & Happiness

    Facilitator Cards: Navigating Micro and Macro Conflict

    Flashpoint Leadership: Psychological Safety Training

    Hogan Assessment Certification

    My Worldview (Stages of Adult Development)

"Sasha from Epicycle impressed me from the start. She's an excellent facilitator and pivots seamlessly based on where her clients are at. She asks great probing questions, plus as an extra benefit, she's also hilarious- making the process even more enjoyable for each of us. I've loved my experience with her so much that she's now a preferred partner of my business. She's helped us from being a thought partner to helping execute the vision. I highly recommend Sasha."

—  MGN, Recovering management consulting partner turned Entrepreneur

“Sasha has an incredible ability to bring out the best in every person in the group, creating a space where we all show up authentically and tackle topics that span leadership, business challenges, and real life.

Over the years, she has supported me through being laid off, finding new roles, navigating life as a new working mom, dealing with toxic bosses who did not support me having a family, and most recently landing in a role I truly love and can grow in. Through each phase, Sasha helped me navigate complex human dynamics, business realities, and my own growth with clarity and confidence.

Her coaching style is thoughtful, empathetic, and grounded, with a deep understanding of both leadership and human relationships.”

—  N.R., SVP, Sales

Epicycle Group is an anti-racist and inclusive organization that welcomes, partners with, and learns from people of all identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences. We approach our work with respect and empathy, actively seek diverse viewpoints, and are committed to equity and belonging.

We strive to continually learn and evolve. We seek feedback, value candor, and deeply appreciate the time people invest in conversations that help us become even more inclusive and equitable.