ADVANCING EDUCATIONAL EQUALITY 

SARA POTICHA is the Board Chair of Reading Power Inc., a nonprofit providing one-to-one literacy tutoring to preschool through second-grade students in under-resourced schools. With more than 30 years of experience building and leading businesses—including co-founding Global Repair Group and launching a national disability staffing firm—Poticha brings her expertise, persistence, and leadership to advancing educational equity. A University of Wisconsin graduate and lifelong advocate for children’s literacy, she believes early reading success is a right, not a privilege. Under her guidance, Reading Power helps every child build confidence, unlock opportunity, and develop a lifelong love of reading.

What excites you most about the future of your industry? The way literacy is evolving. Literacy is a right, not a privilege, and I’m energized by the growing recognition of its role as the foundation for lifelong learning. Early intervention continues to be a powerful driver of future achievement, and while there will always be students who need our support, that ongoing need is exactly what fuels innovation and inspires us to do better.

How do you maintain balance between your professional and personal life? Over the years, many people have asked how I balanced a career while raising two children. My response has been consistent: perfect balance doesn’t exist. Striving for it only adds pressure and creates more stress. What I’ve learned instead is to give myself grace and embrace the natural ebb and flow of life—trusting that, in the long run, things have a way of finding equilibrium.

What legacy do you hope to leave behind? I strive to live with integrity and lead by example, inspiring others to embrace commitment, kindness, and generosity. In every role—wife, mother, employer, and community leader—I aim to show up with compassion and a generous spirit, always dedicated to being the best version of myself for those around me.

What’s one leadership lesson you’ve learned the hard way? Avoiding difficult conversations often creates bigger challenges later. Early in my career, I encountered an issue with a supervisor but didn’t address it directly. Instead, I quietly pursued another opportunity and eventually resigned. Leadership was surprised and asked why I hadn’t spoken up. I replied, “I didn’t know I could.” That experience taught me the value of open communication. I’ve since learned that honest, even uncomfortable dialogue is a sign of respect and essential for building trust and a healthy team culture.

For more information, visit readingpowerinc.org.