Saara has worked across multiple sectors — non-profit, corporate, academic, and research.
Previously, she worked at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in a variety of capacities, engaging with each global division – both as a Senior Program Officer, and on the business side of strategic and financial planning, and project management. She has lived in Bangalore where she supported the work of India Cares.
Saara has also worked at Dexia Global Banking and Scotia Capital. Prior to this work Saara, managed an international Bioinformatics program, and did research including ecology, molecular, and cellular biology. Saara has an M.B.A. from the University of Washington and an Honours Bachelors of Biology from Queen’s University. She has been recognized as a Puget Sound Business Journal 40 Under 40 (2014), and received the University of Washington Alumni Builder of Our Future Award (2010).
In her spare time Saara can be found practicing yoga and mindfulness, running, and reading.