How Sarah Dusek Rebuilt Her Legacy After Losing Everything
From flattened tents to funding futures, this is the story of how one woman turned rock bottom into global impact — without compromising her values.
When the storm hits (literally)
In 2008, Sarah Dusek and her husband Jake lost everything. Their socially conscious property development company in the UK collapsed during the financial crash. They moved back in with her parents. Eventually, they packed up and relocated to Montana to start over.
When you hit rock bottom, the only way out is forward. But Sarah’s version of forward wasn’t a safe or steady climb. It was a leap. A wild one.
Inspired by the African safaris she’d experienced while working as an aid worker in Zimbabwe, she had a vision: a way to bring people closer to nature without giving up hot showers or soft beds. Glamping, before it became a hashtag.
They launched Under Canvas in 2009. Their first site? Too remote. Interest? Minimal. Feedback? Brutal. But they listened. They pivoted. And eventually, they found their sweet spot — luxury tented hotels near national parks.
Then came the literal storm.
“We opened our first tented hotel near Yellowstone. That first season, a thunderstorm flattened nearly every tent. I stood in the pouring rain with two small kids and thought, this is it — we’re done.”
Instead, they rallied. With help from neighbours, staff, and even guests, they rebuilt the entire camp by midnight. Not a single guest asked for a refund.
“That night taught me resilience isn’t just about grit — it’s about leaning on the people around you.”
What if business could protect the planet?
After selling Under Canvas in 2018, Sarah could have stopped there. But she wasn’t done dreaming bigger.
She co-founded Few and Far, a regenerative travel venture designed to preserve wild places, sequester carbon, and create unforgettable experiences that don’t cost the Earth.
“We’re hoping to sequester one million tonnes of carbon a year. Travel, when done right, can actually help heal the planet.”
Few and Far isn’t about luxury for luxury’s sake. It’s a blueprint for how business, conservation, and community can thrive — together.
On growth, legacy, and saying no to shortcuts
Growth, for Sarah, isn’t about moving faster or building bigger. It’s about being intentional — every step of the way.
“Scaling often brings pressure to compromise. But we have non-negotiables. If something doesn’t align with our mission, we walk away.”
She’s no longer driven by survival or proving her worth. These days, it’s about legacy.
“I want people to see that doing good and doing well aren’t mutually exclusive — they’re deeply interconnected.”
Through Enygma Ventures, she’s helping women build transformative, scalable businesses — particularly in underserved markets.
“We’re not just funding companies. We’re funding futures.”
She also knows the cost of staying true to that mission. In the early days, when she was raising capital for Under Canvas, she turned down a $7 million investment offer because the terms were predatory and undervalued everything she and Jake had built.
“It was terrifying — we were running out of money, and I didn’t know if we’d survive without the deal. But I couldn’t bring myself to compromise on our values or our worth.”
That decision forced her to find a better path.
“Saying no was one of the most powerful things I’ve ever done.”
The mindset shift that changed everything
Early on, Sarah set manageable, ‘achievable’ goals. But they were smaller than what she truly wanted.
“I had to expand what I believed was possible. I realised I’d internalised limits without even knowing it.”
That shift — from scarcity to abundance, from fear to possibility — reshaped everything.
“I’ve had to tackle impostor syndrome more times than I can count. But showing up — even with doubt — is half the battle.”
Advice for the woman at square one
For anyone at the beginning of their own entrepreneurial journey, Sarah’s message is clear:
“Believe in yourself and your vision, even when others don’t. Don’t set safe goals. Think bigger. Don’t wait for permission.”
And when things get hard — and they will — come back to your why.
“Success isn’t about conforming to a broken system — it’s about challenging it. Your business can be a platform for influence and change.”
Flying higher
So what does flying higher mean to a woman who’s lived through the collapse, the comeback, and the climb?
“It means refusing to settle for what’s easy or expected. In business, it’s about impact. In life, it’s about courage.”
If she could go back and tell her younger self one thing?
“I’d tell my younger self to stop waiting for permission. The sooner you trust yourself and take action, the sooner you’ll discover what’s possible.”
But Sarah Dusek didn’t just rebuild.
She reimagined what business could be — and who it could be for.
From glamping to global funding, from collapse to carbon sequestering, her legacy is one of reinvention with purpose. A legacy that proves you don’t have to play by the old rules to build something extraordinary.
You just need the courage to begin again.
For a deeper look at her mindset, story, and practical approach to building visionary businesses, explore her book: Thinking Bigger: The Pitch Deck Formula to Fund Your Vision, Create Impact, and Change the World. It’s a powerful read for any woman ready to raise capital, rewrite the rules, and lead with purpose.
