Emi Sasagawa

My work lives at the intersection of narrative and system—helping large, complex organizations communicate with clarity, integrity, and care. I’ve spent more than a decade building bridges between values and voice, guiding teams through change, and designing frameworks that make communications more inclusive, accessible, and human.

Beyond UBC, I collaborate with purpose-driven clients through Sasagawa Consulting, an advisory practice that helps institutions and leaders embed equity and storytelling into their everyday work.

And always, at the centre of everything, is story: the way we make sense of our worlds, connect to one another, and imagine something better.

Consulting & Advisory

Inclusive communications for complex organizations

I work with mission-driven organizations to bring clarity, empathy, and inclusion to the way they communicate and lead. My consulting practice helps teams bridge values and voice, designing systems that make communications more strategic, equitable, and human.

Areas of expertise include:

• Strategic and inclusive communications planning
• Anti-racism and EDI strategy and implementation
• Issues management and organizational storytelling
• Digital communications and accessibility
• Distributed communications models and change management

I’ve supported universities, public-sector organizations, and community partners in building communications systems that align people, priorities, and purpose.

Writing & Creative Work

Fiction • Non-fiction • Essays

Writing has always been my first language of understanding.
My stories and essays explore identity, belonging, motherhood, and the quiet acts of courage that shape our lives.

My debut novel, Atomweight (Tidewater Press, 2023), follows a young woman’s journey through loss, displacement, and self-discovery. I made the 2024 CBC Nonfiction Prize shortlist for Dad’s the Word and the 2025 CBC Short Story Prize shortlist for Lessons from a Peach. 

Current projects include Making Sunlight, a graphic memoir in collaboration with illustrator Marsha Sasagawa, and Perilous Words, a writing circle for creatives exploring vulnerability and craft.

Speaking & Facilitation

I lead talks and workshops on how we communicate, lead, and create change with clarity, courage, and care.

Drawing on my experience as a university communications leader, EDI consultant, and writer, I bring a grounded, story-driven approach to every session — combining strategy, empathy, and actionable tools.

I’ve facilitated conversations and delivered presentations for universities, community organizations, and creative forums, helping teams align values and voice in times of growth and uncertainty.