KANSAS CITY, MO – October 21, 2024 – United WE is proud to announce strategic organizational leader and innovative operations professional Sarah Smith has joined its team as Chief Operating Officer. As United WE continues to expand its regional and national footprint, Sarah will enhance the organization’s internal processes to ensure operational excellence, working closely with President & CEO Wendy Doyle and the rest of the leadership team to enhance the organization's efficiency.
With her extensive background in nonprofit operations and strategic planning, Sarah will cultivate and manage relationships with external partners, vendors, and contractors. She will also collaborate with senior leadership to develop and execute plans for operational infrastructure, process improvements, and team development.
"We are at a critical juncture in our work to achieve economic and civic leadership for women , and efficient operations are key to ensuring the organization can continue to drive meaningful change,” said President & CEO Wendy Doyle. “Sarah will be essential to ensuring we have the resources we need to empower more women through research, policy, and leadership initiatives."
Prior to joining United WE, Sarah served as Vice President of Learning and Foundation Operations at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation where she led learning, evaluation, financial management, and operational excellence initiatives. During her tenure, she oversaw strategic planning processes, managed cross-functional teams, and implemented initiatives that improved financial and operational systems. She also developed a comprehensive learning and evaluation framework to measure the foundation's impact and influence its strategic direction. Her years of experience in nonprofit leadership, including roles at the Missouri Foundation for Health, has uniquely prepared her to guide United WE through its next chapter.
With the addition of Sarah to the leadership team, the organization is well-positioned to expand its Appointments Project®, which has helped more than 200 women secure appointments to civic boards and commissions, and further United WE’s research and policy reforms that address the key issues facing women today.
“United WE’s strong mission, emphasis on research, and compelling narrative were what initially drew me to this role, and after meeting the team and seeing firsthand the collaborative nature of this work, I am even more excited about the opportunity,” said Sarah. “I look forward to working closely with Wendy and the entire team to advance the impactful work that United WE is known for. I’m eager to contribute to the mission and help drive systems-level change for women’s economic and civic leadership.”