Spotlight Series: Sarah Zoen
Sarah brings over 20 years of experience in social impact, international development, and corporate engagement. She is passionate about fostering dialogue, building bridges across sectors, and advancing human rights and sustainability.
Read Sarah’s interview below and learn more about her inspiring work and vision for positive change.
What's your superpower?
Connector and bridge builder. I love the opportunity to bring people together and find common ground. Perhaps it is in my family’s genes – my great grandfather came over to Hawaii from Japan to work in sugarcane. He learned Hawaiian and became the village mediator. I never met him but I think we would have a lot in common.
What's your favorite way to relax or recharge?
I grew up with nature and mountains next door so that is where I recharge. Living in New England, we are a short drive away from great hiking. I love that our boys share the same appreciation for the outdoors. Our son wrote a poem about his love of mountains and it hangs proudly in our home.
What's your history with Future 500, from when you first learned about us to today?
I first heard about Future 500 at a client event where I met Erik. I really appreciated the organization’s approach to stakeholder engagement, in particular that it wasn’t partisan and pushed dialogue in a constructive way. We realized that we shared common connections from my NGO days, immediately hit off, and stayed in touch.
What experiences do you bring with you that inform your perspective on our work?
I began my career in the Peace Corps, which laid the foundation for my deep commitment to social impact and global equity. From there, I transitioned into K–12 education, and later into international development, where I spent over 15 years at Oxfam America leading corporate campaigning and engagement. For the past four years, I’ve worked directly with corporate clients to build and enhance their human rights due diligence frameworks.
Throughout my career, I’ve witnessed a significant shift in how the private sector and civil society engage with one another. When I started, collaboration across these sectors was rare and often met with resistance. Today, I see a growing openness to dialogue, even among groups with differing perspectives—and a willingness from companies to become allies in advancing human rights and environmental protection. While challenges remain, the barriers are beginning to break down. I believe that meaningful progress requires advocacy from all sides to truly support people and the planet.
What are some of the biggest challenges or opportunities you see facing our organization and/or the stakeholder landscape in the next few years?
One of the biggest challenges I see ahead—both for Future 500 and the broader stakeholder landscape—is the deepening polarization, both in the US and globally. This fragmentation makes it harder to foster constructive dialogue and build coalitions across differing viewpoints. My concern is that we risk becoming more entrenched in our own perspectives, less willing to engage in uncomfortable conversations, and less open to being challenged or taking meaningful risks.
At the same time, I see this as an opportunity. Organizations that can create spaces for curiosity, vulnerability, and inclusive dialogue will be better positioned to lead. It’s a reminder for me personally—and professionally—to continually push against those tendencies and help build bridges where others might see divides.
“It’s a reminder for me personally—and professionally—to continually push against those tendencies and help build bridges where others might see divides.”
How do you stay informed about industry news & trends?
I stay informed through a mix of trusted US-based news sources and a curated selection of podcasts that offer diverse viewpoints and challenge conventional thinking. I also rely heavily on my global network—colleagues and peers based in Australia, Europe, and Canada—to gain insight into regional trends and emerging issues. Being the only US-based team member at my company pushes me to step outside my own echo chamber and stay attuned to how different markets and cultures are responding to global challenges. That cross-border perspective is invaluable in shaping a more holistic understanding of the industry.
What are you hoping to learn more about in the next year?
Over the next year, I’m eager to deepen my understanding of the environmental space, particularly as it intersects with business and human rights. It’s an area where I have less direct experience, but I see it becoming increasingly central—especially with emerging regulations like those from the EU. I believe there’s a real opportunity to build stronger bridges between environmental sustainability and human rights due diligence, and I’m excited to grow my expertise to help drive that integration
What are you most looking forward to in the role as senior fellow?
I most look forward to different stakeholder engagements where I can lend support on human rights. I also want to push myself to lean into new thematic areas. It is the challenging conversations that can be the most rewarding.
Is there anything you have been working on lately and would like to share with our readers?
Here is a podcast I did on human rights and the holidays in late 2023. Hope you enjoy! Your Holiday Gift Guide with Human Rights in Mind | Justice Matters
