Dr. Sarah-SoonLing Blackburn is a people leader, speaker, author, and facilitator.

Sarah's ability to weave data and history into memorable stories are second to none, but what truly distinguishes her as a speaker is her sincerity, curiosity, and commitment to DEI. While her content is unequivocally fantastic, the manner in which she delivers it speaks volumes about her belief in the impact that good learning has on individual transformation and broader change. She possesses an 'it' factor that's rare to find in teachers and facilitators.

— David S.

We worked with Sarah to conduct a learning workshop centered around demystifying the model minority myth at Microsoft. Sarah was extremely knowledgeable in Asian American history and provided material that was educational and impactful. Sarah spoke about dissecting structural racism in America, with a focus on the systemic disparity between Asian and Black communities.

In addition, Sarah worked seamlessly with the other panelist in the workshop to prepare material together leading up to the event. In the virtual times we live in today, it was great working with Sarah and preparing and designing the workshop together. Sarah’s presentation generated a lot of discussion and questions among the audience, so much so that our attendees have eagerly requested a part two! A lot of the points Sarah made also made a lasting impression on our senior leadership. We are positive that her teachings will have contributed to the diversity and inclusion goals that Microsoft commits to achieving.

— Alice C.

It was a delight to work with Sarah on our recent parent education webinar. She was incredibly easy to collaborate with on the content, bringing tremendous breadth and depth of knowledge. She quickly built out a full session based on a high level brief and was very open to input and feedback throughout. She also had creative ideas for how to interact with the audience which she incorporated into the webinar to positive effect. On the night she showed up as a very engaging, well-prepared presenter, despite the fact that our presentation was late in the evening for Sarah. She was just as effective on her feet during the Q&A session as during her prepared remarks. I would jump at the opportunity to work with her again.

— Rachel B.

We partnered with Sarah for a Microsoft cultural workshop that went deep into the Model Minority Myth. Her expertise opened us up to having a deep, nuanced conversation about race in the work place with a global audience in mind. Sarah’s ability to bring artful storytelling to a complex topic allowed us to have a rich and honest Q&A experience. I highly recommend her for corporate culture events and foresee bringing her back in the near future.

— Chris M.

Working with Sarah was wonderful. From setting up an initial conversation to planning to delivery, each component was so smooth and everything was so high quality. Our participants named how incredibly valuable the talk was, and how they were so appreciative of an opportunity to learn, reflect, and consider ways to implement. Sarah built in strategic moments for interaction and was also incredibly thoughtful in responding to questions that deepened engagement. I have attended many webinars, and this is a highlight for me personally and I think for many who joined me.

— Sudipti K.

Sarah was/is amazing! We started talking with Sarah in February, and she was eager and willing to talk with our whole JEDI team to hear our visions for this session. At the time (being before Covid-19 in the US), the plan was for Sarah to come to our school in-person. As months passed, she was so flexible and open to making a virtual or hybrid option work. She was such a responsive and informative communicator, which made things very easy on our end. Then, even on the day-of when Zoom went down globally, Sarah kept her cool, stayed grounded, and provided an incredibly insightful workshop that made people feel seen, heard, valued, and stretched. Who Sarah is makes her facilitation so welcoming. Her listening and openness allows others to feel comfortable and brave to share. Everything was intentionally and thoughtfully prepared. Our community loved it and is ready to have her back! :)

— Kelsey S.

Sarah's webinar was much needed and impactful - it was full of empathy, useful information, and engaging. I deeply appreciated the level of professionalism as well as relatability Sarah brought.

— Joa

Dr. Blackburn was a wonderful facilitator. Her flexibility was incredible after we needed to change virtual meeting platforms on the morning of the presentation, displaying her true professionalism. She also addressed questions extremely well, acknowledging the potential "gray area" that can be associated with this work. Finally, Dr. Blackburn's communication with our school was phenomenal and allowed us to create a fantastic opportunity for our school's faculty/staff.

— Kendall E.

Dr. Blackburn was a huge help to our school community. She was flexible, and helped develop a professional development package tailored specifically for the needs of our school. She asked fantastic questions on the onset that helped get to the root of our underlying issues, and then crafted a series of programs that helped push our school forward. She is professional and friendly, and above all helpful. I really appreciated the chance to work with her, and I know our entire school team did too!

— Kevin P.

Sarah's deep well of knowledge, coupled with her warm, empathic presence, made for an impactful and meaningful presentation. We grateful for her work and can't wait to have her back!

— Emily S.