I work across narrative, strategy, and culture, shaping how people and organisations articulate who they are, what they stand for, and how they show up in moments that matter.
London-based · Working internationally
Creative & Narrative Director
Founder of Subtile
What shaped this work
I was born and I grew up in West Africa, and later lived and worked in Europe, North and South America,The Caribbean, East Africa...
Moving early between cultural, linguistic, and institutional worlds made translation, not just of language, but of context and power, part of my everyday reality.
It’s also what sharpened my attention to how authority is constructed, how narratives travel, and where nuance is often lost.
My practice brings together narrative direction, cultural insight, and strategic clarity.
I’ve built and led independent media projects, advised organisations on public-facing strategy, and worked inside global institutions where language has material consequences.
Across these contexts, the work remains the same: paying close attention to what is being said, what is being avoided, and what no longer fits.
Alongside independent work, I’ve held senior branding, communications and narrative roles within international organisations and foundations, working across the world
I’ve led campaigns, advised leadership, and worked in environments where credibility, trust, and public accountability matter.
That experience allows me to move comfortably between institutional spaces and creative ones, without confusing the two.
Depending on context, my work takes different forms.
This can include narrative and strategic direction, advisory work with leaders and teams, public speaking and facilitation, or more focused one-to-one conversations during moments of transition.
Coaching is one part of that practice, not the whole of it.
I’m the founder of Subtile, a creative strategy studio working at the intersection of narrative, culture, and design.
Subtile is where commissioned work, collaborations, and case studies live.
My work sits at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and lived context.
I’ve moved between journalism, cultural production, and international institutions, often working across borders, languages, and systems with very different relationships to power and visibility.
That background shapes how I read situations, how I approach language, and how I think about credibility when the stakes are real.
If you’re exploring a collaboration, a conversation is usually the right place to start.
sarankoly@sarankoly.com