Sandra Sahusilawani

After a 15 year career in finance I felt I had neglected my responsibility to contribute to society. So I first tried to volunteer, but that was not the right fit. I wondered how I could use my experience and capacities best and landed at SOS Children’s Villages in the Netherlands at the end of 2008, where they were setting up a major donor gifts program. Relationship management has always been the red tread in my career, and talking with people about their money was something I was used to. Instead of making more money with their money, this time it was about supporting vulnerable children! Much more exciting and satisfying. It was the best career switch in my life.

Quite quickly, I was promoted as the head of leadership giving and built a great team. I had an amazing time for around 6 years, acquiring and managing up to 7-figure private gifts. As major donor fundraising was not a regular income stream on an international level, the International Office asked me to join the team for a capital campaign. This is when I met Tony, he supported us to drive this project. We brainstormed, analysed and developed a strategy. He showed us the wealth of knowledge and potential we were sitting on, it was already so close to us, already there. It only needed a bit of donor love and care. A little back support. Moreover, he told me that I was the one who could pull that off. Meanwhile we had great fun, laughed a lot! I joined the International Office in 2015, am now heading the International Corporate Partnerships & Philanthropy team, and a team member of the International Fund Development Management Team. We drive leadership giving working with an expert network of 82 country offices and manage global corporate accounts.

I was honoured when TEF asked me to join as a mentor. I am always super proud when you can guide someone, and show them what they are unconscious competent. And that others have recognized that already, they just need to have someone who gives them a little back support. In addition, then one day, they get it! You can see it by the way they behave and speak. Mission accomplished!