THE FINE LINE | with Sarah Troup Geisenheimer

The Fine Line | with SARAH TROUP GEisenheimer

Sarah Troup Geisenheimer is The Rockefeller Foundation’s Vice President of Connected Leaders, where she oversees the Foundation’s Convenings and Networks portfolio. Through her work, she designs strategic gatherings and cultivates partnerships that accelerate cross-sector collaboration and unlock transformative impact. From the Bellagio Center’s globally respected residency program to international leadership convenings, Sarah’s work reflects a belief in the power of connection to drive bold, systemic change.

A natural connector and thoughtful leader, Sarah has spent her career focused on public good — from her early days as a receptionist at The Rockefeller Foundation while attending graduate school at night, to leadership roles in education, philanthropy, and impact networks. Prior to returning to the Foundation, she served as Senior Advisor to the Chancellor of the NYC Department of Education, Executive Director of The Fund for Public Schools, and Chief Operating Officer of 100Kin10, a national network focused on solving the STEM teacher shortage.

Sarah holds a Master of Arts from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s degree in Politics from NYU. She is also a published thought leader. Her co-authored piece Convening by Design in Stanford Social Innovation Review is a go-to resource for mission-driven organizations seeking to create purpose-led, catalytic gatherings.

In this conversation for The Fine Line, Sarah offers a deeply personal reflection on working motherhood, leadership, and legacy. She speaks candidly about the extraordinary capacity of working moms — how they "hold more, do more, and often work smarter." She encourages women not to separate their professional and personal identities, sharing how leading with her identity as a working mom has fostered a culture of empathy and effectiveness on her team.

Sarah also discusses how she includes her children in understanding her work, and the quiet pride it’s inspired in her daughter — once disappointed about homemade costumes, now inspired by photos of her mom with global women leaders. With characteristic humility and warmth, Sarah shares the lesson she hopes her children will carry forward: that with hard work and self-made opportunity, fulfillment and impact are possible.

What messages do you have for working women during early motherhood?

First, know that working mothers are truly exceptional. Moms possess a seemingly endless capacity — to hold so much, to juggle countless responsibilities. That ability is a superpower. Working moms can hold more, do more, and often work smarter and more efficiently. I often wonder what I did with my time before becoming a mother. The seemingly impossible task of being many things to many people is possible, and mothers prove that every day.

Second, if you're fortunate enough to work for a great employer (as I am), don’t hide your identity. My colleagues know me as both a mom and a leader who delivers. I can be both. I am both. Work no longer happens only from 9 to 5, in an office, five days a week. Many of us bring work home, and that, in turn, gives us permission to occasionally bring our personal lives to work. Leading with my identity as a working mom has fostered a culture of empathy on my team. It signals to others that they can show up as whole people, too. As a result, we’re more connected and more effective.

Third, there’s a concept in meditation that I love called equanimity. It refers to a state of balance and calm, and has been described as the ability to view all experiences in life as part of a passing show. Some days, or even seasons, are harder than others. There may be times when you’re not seeing your children as much as you’d like, or when you’re not taking on that extra assignment at work. The next day, or the next season, brings opportunities for things to shift. Embracing the mindset that everything is in motion fosters acceptance and inner peace. (Side note: Meditation, just 10 minutes a day, has been completely transformative for me!)

How do you involve your children in understanding your work, and what do you hope they learn from watching your career?

I work for a philanthropy, so it's been relatively straightforward to explain the essence of our mission: we provide funding to support people most in need. Over time, I’ve gradually introduced more of the content and complexity of our work. As they begin to understand more, I sense a growing pride in them. Especially my daughter.

She used to be disappointed that I didn’t sew her Halloween costumes. Now, she has a photo of me hanging in her room with the Global Woman Leaders at our Bellagio Center. She proudly tells her friends that I’m a ‘Global Woman Leader’ (and sometimes also tells them I was a singer, which is generous, considering I can’t carry a tune!). She may be biased, but she’s proud — and I think she’s beginning to feel inspired to make her own mark in the world.

What I hope my children take away from watching my career is this: if you work hard and create opportunities for yourself, you can go far, and feel incredibly fulfilled. I started at The Rockefeller Foundation as a receptionist, working full-time while attending graduate school, with no expectations beyond that role. Since then, I’ve taken — or created — every opportunity available to grow and learn. It’s been a rewarding journey, and I hope they someday experience that same sense of extraordinary satisfaction and pride in their own work.

FOLLOW ALONG

Follow Sarah on LinkedIn, and her work at @rockefellerfdn.

Follow Brigade Events and stay tuned for the next iteration of The Fine Line at @brigadeevents.

We’d be honored to include you — or a woman you admire — in this series. If you or someone you know has a story to share, we’d love to hear from you. Reach out to us at carly@ingoodcompanypr.com. Together, we can uplift, support, and redefine leadership for the next generation.

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