Alum: Sarah Potter '92

When Sarah Potter ’92 set out to mentor women in the tech industry, she assumed it would be fairly straightforward: Help individuals move up the corporate ladder and navigate a path to a promotion. But the dialogues that ensued were not  what Sarah was expecting. These conversations were full of color. Full of life. Full of shine. 

“Everything always seemed to revolve around purpose,” said Sarah, whose career in the tech industry spans over twenty years. “I realized all these conversations started to refocus on what brings you purpose? What brings you joy? And I think that is where I started to get into this concept of helping people find their shine, because it’s not just about helping you to find success in your career or getting that promotion, it is about helping you be the best individual that  you can be according to the purpose that you want to achieve.”

That is where Sarah’s life mantra, “helping people find their shine,” was officially birthed. Sarah, who is a principal hardware engineering program manager at T-Mobile, has spent the majority of her life giving back. She’s volunteered or served with over thirty organizations and nonprofits. And she is  in the midst of keeping her own light shining,  starting a limited liability company (LLC) with a focus on program management consulting. Her vision is to have a portion of the profits gained become funds to continue to support organizations close to her heart.

“I have been able to sponsor educational fees for eleven students  in partnership with Global Giveback Circle, Develop Africa, and Eco-Agric Uganda,” Sarah explained. “A portion of the profits from the LLC will go to helping me continue to support these students and my work with the Ugandan NGOs as well as US organizations I contribute to including Technology Access Foundation and Ignite Worldwide.” 

Sarah is the chairperson of the international board of directors for Eco-Agric Uganda and Technical Administrator for Rescue Women Foundation. “I’m focused on girls and empowerment, and working with these organizations to focus on program management skills,” Sarah said. “Helping others find their joy gives me joy.”

From early on, the idea of giving back and working hard was ingrained in Sarah. Her earliest memories are of helping in her mom’s classroom.  “My mom was a teacher and an educator for thirty-three years, so I think teaching and helping kids was always in our blood,” she said.

A particular childhood memory that she still is fond of is wanting to spend time with her dad in the garage scrubbing wood, hammering nails, and getting her hands dirty. At first, her dad had been dumbfounded, as it didn't match his idea of the traditional way of interacting with a daughter. It was when he decided to treat her like anyone else, not limiting their interactions to the stereotypical gender roles, that their bond grew during those long garage sessions.  

“As a result, I never thought anything was impossible,” she said. “He encouraged me that there are no limits.”

Starting in the Eighth Grade at The Bush School, Sarah was active as a math tutor and volunteered at the neighborhood community center. She graduated as valedictorian and went off to Stanford University in California to study engineering. She said despite all she accomplished and the great education along the way, there was a critical piece of her journey missing.

“I did not have women I could  talk to in engineering,” she said. “Growing up without those role models,  I wanted to make sure that the women coming behind me did not have the same struggle. As a mentor, I encourage the women I work with to give back too.  I remind them that no matter where you are in life, someone is trying to get to where you are right now."

Sarah has always made sure to infuse basic caring and philanthropic elements into her work. From her nine years working at Microsoft as a senior hardware program manager in gaming, to two years at Amazon as a senior technical program manager in innovative consumer products, and now at T-Mobile, she is passionate about ensuring her work is more than the title. 

“Everywhere along the way, even though I’m in a tech job, I have tried to use my work and my engineering knowledge to participate in different things that are helping others ‘find their shine,’ Sarah said. “Self-love is bringing me joy, which might be a music performance or a lecture. I love doing yoga and art projects with my son. I love watching sunsets. I love traveling.”