the heart of this work 

Smart, compassionate leadership for a complex world.

This is where we share the principles that guide everything we do at Impact Sweet Spot™, from the way we coach and facilitate, to how we imagine change in the world.

You'll find the vision we're working toward, the ethos that shapes our approach, and the foundations this work draws from.

vision

We imagine a world where care for all living beings is not seen as radical, but as common sense.
Where those working toward change, whether on the streets, in boardrooms, NGOs, classrooms, or community spaces, are no longer dismissed or exhausted, but recognised as essential - to restore our planet for everyone.

We believe that changemaking, in all its forms, becomes more powerful when it's grounded in personal clarity, emotional maturity, and connection to something greater than urgency or outrage.

Because the complexity of today’s global crises doesn’t just demand action. It asks for a deep kind of resilience - one that’s not driven by burnout, saviourism, or self-sacrifice.

If you care about change - how it happens, how it lasts, and how it affects people - you’re already part of this.

Our Ethos

We believe that personal and societal transformation go hand in hand.
That how we relate to ourselves shapes how we relate to others.
That self-awareness, compassion, and wise leadership are not luxuries, but requirements for systemic change.

We choose to work from a place of possibility.
Many of us have been conditioned to doubt ourselves, to focus on what’s wrong or not enough - within us, or in the world.
This work aims to flip that story. We help you recognise what is working, what strengths you may have overlooked, and what becomes possible when you lead from your natural gifts.

We honour what it means to be human in uncertain times, showing up as we are and letting that be enough.

This is a place where you can:

  • Reconnect with your values, without burning out

  • Let go of saviour patterns, without giving up on impact

  • Make thoughtful, smart choices, grounded in your strengths

Finally, the Impact Sweet Spot framework isn’t a fixed method or a set of answers. It’s a practice - one we grow in every day, alongside the people we work with.

Ready to work in a way that supports you and your mission?
This work isn’t about self-betterment. It’s about contributing to a deeper shift in how we lead, relate, and respond to the world around us.

Foundation

I (Ania Sharwood) developed the Impact Sweet Spot™ which grew out of my earlier work under the name The Smart Activist. The foundation remains the same: thoughtful action that doesn’t rely on self-sacrifice or the urgency to prove your worth.

While I named both Impact Sweet Spot and Smart Activism, their roots are not mine to claim. My work is based on a wide range of influences - from ancient traditions to modern-day insights - that encourage self-awareness, emotional maturity, and relational leadership.

This approach is shaped by many mentors, thinkers, and practices, to whom I’m deeply grateful:

  • The Work That Reconnects – Joanna Macy (and Active Hope co-author Chris Johnstone)

  • Narrative Coaching – Dr. David Drake

  • Deep Democracy – Myrna Lewis & Yonathan Keren

  • The Leela School – Jared Franks

  • R.A.I.N. / Power of Awareness – Tara Brach

Also integrated throughout the programme:
Non-dual philosophy
The Hero’s Journey (Joseph Campbell)
Systems Thinking
Archetypes and Shadow Work (Carl Jung)