Sarah (Odden) Rao returned to the Envest team in 2026 to lead marketing efforts and special projects. Sarah previously served as Director of Investments at Envest from 2020 to 2024, during a period of substantial portfolio growth and expansion in East Africa. While exploring new professional and personal endeavors, Sarah remained involved with Envest through her service on the Envest Advisory Board and the Investment Committee for the Envest Plus Fund.

Sarah began her career at an NGO in Guatemala, working on microfinance and other income-generating programs. Since then, she has spent more than a decade working at the intersection of finance, investment raising, and program and project management across the international development and startup sectors. She holds dual degrees in International Business and Accounting from the University of Wisconsin–La Crosse. Outside of her professional work, Sarah teaches yoga and remains a lifelong student of the practice.