Sarah Bodley: Empathy, Equity, and Building Local Power

Sarah Bodley’s story weaves together the arts, sustainability, and inclusive economic development—a path that led her to her current role as Executive Director of reSET in Connecticut. Her work centers on investing in people and their potential, building values-aligned businesses in their own communities. The organization empowers entrepreneurs to create the world they want to inhabit.

Sarah’s professional journey began in the world of modern dance. For more than a decade, she lived in New York City, balancing her artistic practice with a growing career in arts management. Eventually, she became Executive Director of a well-established dance company that toured globally. The experience gave her a deep understanding of how organizations function but also left her seeking a new form of impact, especially after navigating the challenges of the 2008 recession. Through those years, she had mentors who encouraged her to pursue additional education.

The next turning point led her to Bard’s MBA in Sustainability program, a pivotal chapter that broadened her understanding of sustainability beyond environmental concerns. “The program also, I think, really redirected me more into this space of inclusive economic development and sustainability, meaning all of that in addition to the climate and environmental stuff,” she said. It helped her see how sustainability could encompass climate, inclusion, systems thinking, and long-term community resilience.

When the opportunity to lead reSET arose in 2018, Sarah felt it was the right next step. The Hartford-based nonprofit supports mission-driven entrepreneurs across Connecticut. For Sarah, what mattered most was the chance to work with founders tackling complex social challenges—from access to social services to climate solutions.

Sarah brings empathy and transparency to her leadership. She identifies as a highly sensitive person. “That ability to empathize, and whether with someone else or honestly with yourself, is something that I think gets really undervalued in a lot of spaces,” she said.

For Sarah, kindness is about how you lead. That includes showing up with consistency and care, and holding space for others during difficult moments. She recalled a time when she came into a meeting overwhelmed and emotional. “I was crying,” she said, “and this person immediately said, ‘What do you need right now?’” That act of presence stayed with her. Today at reSET, she starts every team meeting with a human check-in. “Maybe it feels a little forced sometimes,” she said, “but we're not just going to start with the agenda without saying hello to each other.”

Kindness also means setting expectations that reflect belief in others’ potential. “Assumption of worthiness has to be the baseline,” she said. At reSET, that mindset shapes how programming, grantmaking, and mentorship are designed. One founder shared with Sarah that she was often met with surface-level praise rather than actionable feedback. Sarah said it stuck with her, especially when mentors offer feedback that “feels kind of appeasing.” To her, kindness includes offering real support, not just encouragement.

Sarah also acknowledged the reality many mission-driven founders face: the tension between purpose and survival. “There’s still these decision inflection points where you’re just trying to make enough to live,” she said. While she believes in values-driven entrepreneurship, she also recognizes that when people are in survival mode, it is harder to center sustainability. “Even if the mindset shift can start to happen early enough,” she said, “that you can give yourself that gift of choosing your own path.”

She describes herself as a connector—someone who helps others find the right people, the right moment, or the right spark to move forward. “That’s my favorite thing to do,” she said. “Who can I introduce you to?”

“Get in touch with your own core values, needs, and ethics as a person, make sure it’s something you're aware of, so as you grow, you can stay in tune with it.”

Sarah Bodley is a nonprofit leader, former dancer, and systems thinker committed to building equitable entrepreneurship ecosystems in Connecticut and beyond. Keep an eye out for more interviews.