About Office81
Office81 was founded by director Sarah Cassells to provide professional organisational and operational support through human-centred change management. Leaning into principles founded in psychology, anthropology, and justice, Office81 works with organisations that want to boost the efficiency of office-based workers by maximising their skills, experience, and talents to achieve business goals.
We’re here to implement real and positive change within your organisation. Not the kind you may have experienced before, like cookie-cutter staff satisfaction surveys that get left in the bottom drawer or ill-conceived initiatives that look good on paper (but miss the mark with your people).
It may sound cliché, but what we offer is bespoke. We’ll stick by that word because inside it you’ll find the word ‘spoke’, the past tense of ‘speak’. We know that giving voice to your vision and your people are the real drivers of the exact kind of positive change that will be effective, long-lasting, and transformational.
Ready?
Let’s meet the team.
Meet Sarah ~
Director , lead OBM, culture consultant, dachshund parent and organiser of all things.
I’m city-minded with a country heart
I’ve spent my time in the city and brought that experience back home to rural South Australia. My unique location in the Flinders Ranges has meant I’ve been working and studying remotely before it became mainstream.
It takes top-notch communication and dedication to support leaders and their businesses online. Over the last 10 years, I’ve honed these skills and begun rewriting the narrative that the best online business managers in Australia are only found in the capital cities.
Look outside the city, and you’ll be surprised at the wealth of talent you will find. A skilled OBM with a human-centric approach will be the Zen to your chaos. Their industry and small business know-how will make your working relationship seamless. You may even forget that they operate remotely.
Pro tip
I know what makes people tick
Embracing and recognising the need for people to play a role in the development and sustenance of a workplace are the bricks that build a positive and healthy workplace culture. Years of studying social anthropology and psychology have given me an understanding and appreciation of how people (and workplaces) tick – even if we’re working remotely. Ancient civilisations like the Romans communicated complex messages across vast distances using tools like pigeons and smoke signals. You’ll either find me working alongside you in your workplace or using technology like Zoom and remote office technology to connect, converse and create lasting change within your business.
Pro tip
Working with someone who has a practical understanding of community, culture, and human behaviour will support you in challenging the status quo, conducting challenging conversations with respect, and seeing the untapped potential of those around you.
I’m well-read
You’ll find me buried in a novel or journalling when I’m not working or playing with my dachies, Bram and Duke. I’ve got a deep love of words. I understand how vital strong communication skills are for successful remote work. Whether I’m speaking one-on-one with your staff about how they see themselves as part of the team, mentoring or creating gap reports to shape your strategic planning, you can rely on me to communicate clearly, and professionally and to use the correct language conventions and tone. Plus, if you ever need the perfect book recommendation for your downtime, I’m all over that too.
Pro tip
Choose a well-read OBM with an interest in the world and its people. They’ll bring fresh eyes and experience to your organisation and be adaptable to your needs.
You can rest assured that you’re working with a skilled communicator who can grasp tasks quickly and convey ideas with ease
I sleep best under the stars
There’s something magical about stepping outside the hustle and bustle of city life and immersing yourself in nature. The call of long sunny days, blue skies and wide open spaces often sees me packing up the dachies for time in the great outdoors.
Working remotely is the perfect balance for my city smarts and country cool. I get the best of rural life. You unlock an OBM who offers high-level support organisational and operational support with a poise that respects and celebrates the work-life balance.
Pro Tip
If you’re looking for a quality OBM who is cool, calm, and collected, think outside the square. Work with one who’s experienced city life but has made their home in the country. Their lived experience and enviable work-life synergy will make remote work a breeze*.
*Warning, working with a rural OBM may have you dreaming of the open road, rethinking your work-life balance, and unlocking the potential for running your business in new and exciting ways – and we’re here to help you facilitate that change!
Benefit from working with an
OBM who loves to learn
A talented OBM with a love of learning and a healthy obsession for helping leaders get the best out of themselves and their people
I’m Find a VA certified, a member of Women in Agriculture and Business, SeedVA and have degree and certificate qualifications in the following areas:
Bachelor of Laws
BPsySc(Hons)
Bachelor of Arts – Anthropology & Politics
Cert IV in Financial Services (Conveyancing)
Training in professional writing
20+ years of experience ‘in the trenches’ of office management, secretariat, executive support, business administration and change management, which can’t be framed on the wall, but the value it brings is priceless.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and the pyramids weren’t constructed by a party of one. It takes a team to see things through from start to finish. We work alongside these incredible humans to make it happen.
Trusted by
Grow your business well.
Work with a human-centric OBM who’ll support you to get your people, processes and planning in place.
