Experience

Read Sara Su's full bio here.

Elite Educational Coaching, Chicago, IL

Founder and President (2004-present). Market and manage independent educational services practice with national and international clientele. Coach individual students on test preparation in all core subjects, writing skills, and pre-college planning. Counsel successful applicants to elite high schools and universities, including Harvard, Yale, Stanford, and Princeton. Design and teach intensive, dynamic courses for students in grades 4-12, including preparation for PSAT, SAT, ACT, and high-school entrance examinations; essay-writing; and enrichment in critical reading, writing, math, and test-taking skills. Work with students from the Chicago area and worldwide, including South Africa, Nigeria, Japan, South Korea, Canada, United Arab Emirates, California, North Carolina, Louisiana, and Massachusetts. Served as career panelist at Northwestern Law School's panel on alternative careers (2013).

Ropes & Gray LLP, Boston, MA

Associate, Private Client Group (2001-04); Law Clerk/Summer Associate (1999-2000). Drafted estate planning documents for individuals and families, including wills, revocable and irrevocable trusts (including GST, insurance, minority, and Crummey trusts), health care proxies, and powers of attorney. Researched and drafted memoranda on tax and trust administration issues. Settled estates of high net worth decedents. Selected to lead Private Client Group’s efforts to cross-market to associates in other practice groups within the firm. Served as career panelist at Harvard’s Asian Pacific American Conference on Law and Public Policy (2004).

McKinsey & Company, Inc., New York, NY

Business Analyst (1996-98). Served clients as member of consulting teams. Identified critical jobs and determined criteria for assessing incumbents at $5 billion global medical products company. Managed team of client executives to reduce travel and conference costs at Fortune 100 life insurance company; negotiated with top U.S. airlines and global travel agencies to help client achieve aggressive discount pricing. Coached and prepared senior executives for presentation to CEO and Executive Management Committee on cost-cutting. Synthesized executive survey findings in memorandum on talent and human resources strategy for CEO of medical products company.

U.S. Embassy, Moscow, Russia

Intern (Summer 1995). Negotiated and finalized all bilateral documents to be signed at the fifth session of the Gore-Chernomyrdin Commission on Economic and Technological Cooperation. Conducted meetings and negotiations entirely in Russian with officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

U.S. Department of State, Washington, DC

Intern (Summer 1994). Served as back-up economic officer on the former Soviet Union desk. Drafted White House press release, memoranda on Russian organized crime for the Deputy Secretary of State, and briefing papers for the Vice President. Oversaw preparation of Congressional delegation to Russia, Ukraine, and Moldova.

Harvard University, Cambridge, MA

Teaching Fellow (1994-95); Course Assistant (1993-95); Peer Tutor (1993-96). Led a discussion section for Science A-22: “Chance, Necessity, and Order,” a Core Curriculum course in the physical sciences taught entirely in sections. Graded tests and tutored students in Social Analysis 10, the introductory economics course. Selected by Bureau of Study Counsel to tutor fellow undergraduates in economics and Russian.

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Boards and Nonprofit Service

Musicians Club of Women, Chicago, IL

Board of Directors (2018-present)
Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force (2020-2021)
Chair, Grants Committee (2020-2021)
Chair, Governance Committee (2019-2020, June 2020-January 2021)
Member, Virtual Engagement Task Force (2020)
Member, Awards Committee (2019-2020)
Chair, Bylaws Committee (2018-2019)

Phillips Academy, Andover, MA

Regional Leadership Team, Chicago Area (2012-present; vice-chair, 2016-2017)
Alumni Admission Representative (interview candidates for admission to Andover) (1996-present)
Appointed to Alumni Award of Distinction Committee (2011-2014)
Appointed to Alumni Council and served on its Executive Committee (1998-2002, 2004-2008)
Vice President, Andover/Abbot Alumni Association of New York (1996-1998)
Appointed member of various alumni leadership committees (2004-2014)

Abbot Academy Fund (formerly the Abbot Academy Association), Andover, MA

Board of Directors (2009-2015)
Chair, Governance Committee (2013-2015)
Member, Nominating Committee (2013-2015)

Harvard Law Society of Illinois, Chicago, IL

Board of Directors (2009-2013, 2014-2015)
Co-Chair, Events Committee (2011-2013)

Rush Hour Concerts at St. James Cathedral, Chicago, IL.

Board of Directors (2008-2011)