Sarah Oquist is a results-driven business leader and C-suite advisor with a track record of empowering leaders to achieve transformative growth. As a strategic change agent, Sarah has improved efficiency, engagement, and success across various companies. As the former CEO of $500M Mille Lacs Corporate Ventures, she bolstered organizational stability and resilience amid economic and political fluctuations, promoting transparency and tactical communication to maintain profit margins and avoid workforce reductions during market downturns.
 
With over 25 years in governance, Sarah chairs the Woodlands National Bank and Management HQ boards and serves as Board Vice-Chair (formerly Treasurer/Finance Committee Chair) of the Walker Art Center. She is also a board director for two non-profit real estate development companies, a director on Creighton University’s National Alumni Board, and Board Secretary/Governance Committee Chair for the NACD Minnesota chapter. Her extensive governance experience includes leading Compensation, Finance, Nominating/Governance, and Strategic Planning committees. Notably, under her leadership, Woodlands National Bank grew total assets by 63%, improved cross-functional roles, and developed a CEO evaluation and compensation process.
 
From her first job as a field worker in Arkansas to her role as board chair in Minnesota, Sarah has refined her skills in leadership, board trust, operations optimization, employee engagement, customer loyalty, consensus change management, and risk management. Among her recognitions, Sarah was honored as a 2024 Twin Cities Woman Leader in Philanthropy & Business, a 2021 Notable Woman in Commercial Banking, a 2019 FBI Citizens Academy Leader, and a 2017 NACD Corporate Governance Fellow.
 
Sarah lives in a Minneapolis suburb with her husband and two children. As the first Native American of her tribe to earn a law degree and the first African American female graduate of her high school, Sarah is passionate about mentoring and facilitating success.