Sarah Zetterli serves as Director of the Aspen Partnership for an Inclusive Economy. Sarah works under the direction of the two Co-Chairs of the Partnership, Ida Rademacher and Lorelle Atkinson. The aim of the Aspen Partnership for an Inclusive Economy is to provide a platform for all Aspen programs that are committed to building economic systems that include everyone.
Sarah is an experienced professional with over 20 years of experience leading teams in banks, social enterprises, and nonprofits. Sarah has a bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and Economics from Harvard University and a Master of Science in Financial Management from the London University School of Oriental and African Studies. In 2000, Sarah conducted ethnographic research in poor villages of Southwest China for which she won the Thomas T. Hoopes Prize for original thesis work. She then spent 7 years in China managing both non-profits and commercial banking projects with a mission of poverty alleviation and financial inclusion. Sarah then spent 10 years in three countries in Africa: Sierra Leone, Ghana, and Tanzania, where she led community banks and microfinance institutions in service to microenterprises and small business entrepreneurs. She has experience working with projects funded by impact investors, donors, and philanthropic foundations. Sarah joined the Aspen Institute in 2019 and worked for three years in the Program on Philanthropy & Social Innovation. She transitioned to her current role in 2023.
Sarah is strong in financial management, organizational operations, and human resources. She has a proven track-record in contract management, multi-stakeholder collaboration, problem solving, and learning & development. Sarah is passionate about fostering partnerships for broad inclusive growth. Sarah is recognized as a high-energy, proactive, collaborator who motivates, communicates, and bridges divides in diverse multicultural settings. Sarah is also the winner of the 2022 Aspen Institute Staff Award for Equity & Inclusion.
