Sara Jacques

My career hasn’t followed a straight line — and I think the best ones often don’t.

I graduated from Penn State in 2020 with plans to teach English in Spain, but like many, the pandemic rerouted me. A friend introduced me to a startup using AI to reduce commercial food waste. I didn’t have a business background, but I was curious and energized by the chance to build something meaningful — so I said yes.

What started as a summer internship became a full-time role as the company’s fourth hire. Over the next three years, I helped raise venture capital, led marketing and communications, and worked closely with the CEO as we grew from a team of 4 and a bank account in the red to 15+ employees and over $20M in revenue. I had a front-row seat to startup growth — and in a lot of ways, got to help shape it.

Eventually, I burned out. That season taught me the value of working with intention, holding boundaries, and focusing on what really matters — instead of chasing everything that looks shiny and sounds impressive.

After taking time off, I found myself pulled into new, unexpected opportunities. In conversations with friends and founders, I noticed a common thread: people felt overwhelmed and stuck. They thought they needed better marketing or sales — but often, what they really needed was clarity, structure, and aligned action.

Business building isn’t about doing all the things. It’s about making the right decisions and using your energy wisely.

That’s what I do now.

I help founders and solopreneurs clarify what matters, design sustainable growth strategies, and execute on things that move the needle.

My approach is thoughtful, collaborative, and grounded in real-life experience — not hype.

These days, I split my time between consulting, building Eden (a new faith community in North Jersey), and lounging with my dog Nala. I’m still learning how to embrace this nontraditional path — and if you’ve read this far, I’d love to know you!