Sarah Jane Sabanis

Publications

Academic writing from my time in medical education.

• Sabanis, S. (2021). A celebration overwrought with hesitation and isolation. Wake Forest Journal of Science and Medicine, 6(1), 34–36.

  Open journal PDF

• Akinola, M., Shen, E., Sabanis, S., Rosenbaum, D. (2021, April 14–17). Rethinking the MD admissions process during the COVID-19 pandemic [Conference poster]. AAMC GSA/OSR Spring Meeting, Virtual.

• Jodene SaavedraSenior Director of Strategic Programs, NextivaShow full recommendationHide recommendation

  I've had the pleasure of working with Sarah, and she is truly one of the most talented and versatile professionals I've encountered. Her ability to rapidly learn new products, technologies, roles, and business complexities is exceptional, and she consistently comes up to speed faster than expected and begins adding value almost immediately. Sarah has a rare capacity to deliver across multiple projects simultaneously without sacrificing quality or focus. What makes this even more impressive is her ability to operate effectively as both a Project Manager and a Product Manager at the same time, without ever becoming a diluted generalist. She brings depth, clarity, and strong ownership to every responsibility she takes on. She isn't afraid to roll up her sleeves and dive deep to fully understand the work. Sarah actively engages with the details, learning by doing, and embraces challenges with a level of curiosity and determination that sets her apart. She thrives in complex, ambiguous environments and can be trusted to lead with minimal direction, consistently finding a path forward. Her collaboration with product development teams and stakeholders is another standout strength. She builds strong, trust-based relationships and communicates effectively across all levels. Even the most experienced team members quickly develop confidence in her, thanks to her ability to grasp new concepts and deliver thoughtful, well-executed solutions. Sarah is a highly trusted leader and a force for progress on any team. I have great respect for her capabilities and would recommend her without hesitation.

• Danielle KavanaughSenior Product Designer, NextivaShow full recommendationHide recommendation

  I worked with Sarah for four years and she is one of those people who just makes everything run better. She's incredibly proactive, she sees what needs to happen and does it before anyone has to ask. She helped implement countless processes in our design team and improve cross-functional collaboration. Beyond all of that, she's just really great to work with and any team would be lucky to have her.

• Melissa IngleAtlassian Solutions Manager, NextivaShow full recommendationHide recommendation

  I worked alongside Sarah for several years as a cross-functional collaborator and she is someone I consistently appreciated and respected throughout that time. Sarah has a willingness to take on whatever comes her way. No hesitation, no complaints. She approaches new challenges with a steady, positive attitude that makes her a pleasure to work with. She also has a real knack for managing complex implementations. She's the kind of person who can hold a lot of moving pieces together while keeping everyone focused on the outcome and she does it through clear, effective communication that keeps teams aligned without unnecessary friction. On top of all that, she's always looking to grow. She doesn't coast. She seeks out new experiences and continuously builds on her skills. Any team would be lucky to have Sarah and I wouldn't hesitate to work with her again.

• Laura LedrayProgram Manager, NextivaShow full recommendationHide recommendation

  Sarah's best qualities: Getting to know people and learning how she can help make their work days simpler and more effective, learning new tools like AI software, and working hard at any new task or skill she wants to master. She goes after problems in a strategic manner, gathering research and talking to coworkers before determining a plan of approach. Her execution is unparalleled; her follow up enviable. Working with Sarah is enjoyable and effective - I highly recommend her.

• Jeramie BichlerSenior Product Manager, Lucid SoftwarePreviously at NextivaShow full recommendationHide recommendation

  I had the privilege of mentoring Sarah as she transitioned into a Product role, and watching her growth has been nothing short of impressive. She has quickly developed a deep understanding of the product craft, from discovery and prioritization to execution and delivery. She applies it with a level of thoughtfulness you usually only see in far more tenured leaders. What truly sets Sarah apart is her ability to manage complex stakeholder environments with clarity and confidence. She listens carefully, synthesizes competing perspectives, and consistently drives alignment toward the right outcomes for customers and the business. Teams trust her, leaders rely on her, and projects are better because she's involved. Sarah is a natural product leader with a bright future ahead, and any organization would be incredibly lucky to have her on their product team. I can't recommend her highly enough.

• Ray HarkerVice President - Product Design & UX Research, NextivaShow full recommendationHide recommendation

  I recommend Sarah Jane Sabanis based on her performance in both project design and product management roles. Sarah coordinated a team of more than 20 designers and UXR professionals, ensuring that requirements were clearly defined and fully executed. She maintained alignment across teams by actively engaging product managers and business stakeholders, driving timely feedback and participation throughout the design and research process. Her ability to impose structure on complex, cross-functional workflows improved both delivery speed and output quality. She later transitioned into a product management role, where she applied the same operational discipline and cross-team coordination. She led a major Microsoft Teams integration into our platform, managing dependencies across product development, marketing, and design. The integration was driven effectively due to her ability to track progress, resolve blockers, and maintain stakeholder alignment. Sarah operates with consistency, clarity, and accountability. She is highly organized, detail-oriented, and reliable under pressure. She contributes beyond her defined role and supports team members without prompting. I would work with Sarah again without hesitation.

• Jennifer GrebilSenior Pendo Analyst, NextivaShow full recommendationHide recommendation

  I had the pleasure of working with Sarah as both a direct teammate and cross-team partner, and she is one of the most impactful Project Managers I've worked with. She is exceptionally organized and brings clarity to complex projects. When Sarah is assigned to something I'm part of, I immediately trust that she will align the right people, keep everyone on track, and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. What sets Sarah apart is her initiative and drive. When an area of the product was missing a Product Manager, she stepped up, learned quickly, and made herself an invaluable contributor. She also brings warmth and positivity to every interaction, making teams feel more connected and collaborative. It's no surprise she was elected to her town council, as her leadership and dedication truly stand out. Any team would be fortunate to have Sarah. She is driven, dependable, highly organized, and a genuine joy to work with.

• Coy NoblesSystem Architect, Nucor CorporationPreviously at Wake Forest School of MedicineShow full recommendationHide recommendation

  Sarah was always a pleasure to work with. In our time together at Wake Forest School of Medicine we worked on many projects to drive the organization forward and to train our faculty on technology and teaching fundamentals. Sarah was particularly astute in her handling of faculty relations. Sarah always made decisions with the betterment of all stakeholders at the school of medicine. She's a fantastic individual and is a valuable team member.

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