She Lost Everything. Then She Built a Legacy.
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. With two small children, they moved back in with her parents. Eventually, they packed up and relocated to Montana to start over.
But Sarah’s version of starting over wasn’t a cautious, calculated climb. It was a leap.
Inspired by her time in Zimbabwe as an aid worker - and the magic of African safaris - Sarah imagined a way to bring people closer to nature without sacrificing comfort. Glamping, before it became a hashtag.
They launched Under Canvas in 2009. The first site was too remote. Interest was slow. Feedback? Brutal. But they adapted. They pivoted. And eventually, they found their sweet spot: luxury tented hotels near US 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.”
But instead of closing down, they rallied. With help from guests, neighbours, and staff, they rebuilt the entire camp — that same night. Not one guest asked for a refund.
“That night taught me that resilience isn’t just about grit. It’s about asking for help. Letting people lift you.”
(Related reading: What Resilience Really Means in Leadership)
From glamping to global funding
After scaling and eventually selling Under Canvas in 2018, Sarah could’ve stopped there. But the mission wasn’t over.
She co-founded Few and Far, a regenerative travel company designed to sequester carbon, preserve wild places, and create transformative experiences.
“We’re hoping to sequester one million tonnes of carbon a year. Travel can help heal the planet - if we do it right.”
Few and Far is more than a luxury brand. It’s a blueprint for how conservation, commerce, and community can coexist - and thrive.
Through Enygma Ventures, Sarah is now funding female-led businesses across underserved markets. But she’s quick to clarify: it’s not just about capital.
“We’re not just funding companies. We’re funding futures.”
(Related reading: Why Long-Term Vision Beats Short-Term Gain in Business)
Saying no to shortcuts - even when it’s scary
At a time when venture-backed growth is celebrated at all costs, Sarah believes in moving with intention.
“There’s so much pressure to compromise. But we’ve had to walk away from deals that didn’t align with our mission.”
That includes a $7 million investment offer she turned down while building Under Canvas - because the terms undervalued the business and would have cost her control.
“It was terrifying. We were nearly out of money. But saying no was one of the most powerful things I’ve ever done.”
The mindset shift that changed everything
Early on, Sarah kept her goals “achievable.” But that version of safety became its own kind of limitation.
“I realised I was unintentionally playing small. I had to learn to think bigger. To believe I was allowed to.”
That shift - from survival to purpose, from scarcity to possibility - changed the way she built everything that followed.
“Impostor syndrome? I’ve had it a hundred times. But you show up anyway. Doubt doesn’t disqualify you.”
Advice for women at the beginning
“Believe in yourself and your vision - even when no one else does. Don’t wait for permission. Don’t play it safe. Think bigger.”
She acknowledges that entrepreneurship will test you. But the harder moments are often the ones that refine you most.
“Success isn’t about playing by the old rules. It’s about writing new ones.”
Flying higher
So what does flying higher mean to someone who’s rebuilt everything from the ground up?
“It means refusing to settle. In business, it’s about legacy. In life, it’s about courage.”
Sarah Dusek didn’t just recover. She reimagined what business could be - and who it could serve.
From glamping to global investing, from collapse to carbon-sequestering, her story proves one thing: you don’t have to play small to play with purpose.
You just need the courage to begin again.
Want more from Sarah? Her book Thinking Bigger: A Pitch Deck Formula for Women Who Want to Change the World offers practical strategies, powerful mindset shifts, and funding advice for women ready to lead with purpose.
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