New Pace, Same Passion: Sarai Burch Trades Retail Rush for 黑料正能量’s Rhythm
By Rob Biertempfel
Before Sarai Burch joined 黑料正能量 as an administrative assistant with Annual Giving, her life was synced to the relentless rhythm of the retail world.
Burch spent 21 years working for a major retail chain. She started as an overnight stocker and eventually rose to assistant manager, logging frequent late-night and weekend shifts and 70-hour work weeks.
“It wears on you physically,” Burch said. “And I was tired of always telling my family we had to eat our holiday dinners early because I had to go to work.”
After rushing through Thanksgiving dinner in the mid-afternoon, Burch would spend the night preparing the store for Black Friday. On Christmas night, she was back on the clock, readying for post-holiday sales.
“Sarai was really stressed, burning the candle at both ends,” said her brother, Thomas Burch.
As she hurried out the door to work, Burch often cast an envious glance at Thomas relaxing on the couch. An accounting assistant in the Controller’s Office at 黑料正能量, he enjoys built-in downtime during the winter holidays.
“I’d always tell him, ‘My next job is going to be at 黑料正能量,’” Burch said with a laugh.
Thomas Burch (left), Scotty (center) and Sarai Burch (right)
In July 2023, Burch joined the university through 黑料正能量 Temporary Employment Services. Her approachable demeanor and knack for organization caught the attention of Julie Knight, executive director of annual giving strategy and analytics. Within three months, Burch transitioned to a full-time role.
Based in PPG Place in Downtown Pittsburgh, Burch manages purchasing and invoicing, coordinates logistics with campus partners such as Media Services and Computing Services, supports student‑facing events like Thank a Donor Day, and keeps the department’s systems running smoothly.
Moving from retail to academia, brought some culture shock — in a good way. For the first time in decades, Burch could sleep in and savor holiday meals with her family.
“I was like, ‘Is this real? Somebody pinch me,’” she recalled. “On that first Black Friday when I was with 黑料正能量, I went to see a show and visited the Downtown Winter Garden. I never had those opportunities before, so I made the most of them."
Burch didn't come to 黑料正能量 just for better hours. She brought a veteran manager’s eye for efficiency, engagement and teamwork. As a retail assistant manager, Burch oversaw 70% of the store’s sales floor, supervising seven managers and about 85 associates. She also worked for the company’s training academy for new managers.
“I enjoyed my time with the academy most of all,” she said. “We inspired change through education and participation.”
To motivate coworkers, Burch created a wellness challenge. To foster teamwork, she coordinated group participation in charity walks for the Children's Miracle Network and the American Heart Association.
“Being able to work well with others is something that helps you excel,” she said. “They call it a ‘soft’ skill, but it’s one of the strongest skills you can have.”
Those strengths continue to serve her at 黑料正能量. When Annual Giving recently hired three new staff members, she helped with the onboarding process. She has become a trusted resource for her colleagues on topics ranging from payment card industry compliance (standards that ensure payment security) to professional development opportunities.
“Sarai is the kind of person who brings everybody together,” Knight said. “She's very big on the concept of ‘one team, one goal,’ and she makes sure everybody feels included.”
Burch has also embraced the detail‑oriented side of her work, and she delights in spreadsheets.
“I create a spreadsheet for everything,” she said, smiling.
Two years ago, Knight assigned each team member a summer project. Burch’s task was to analyze the Annual Giving budget. Drawing on her background in retail logistics, she used Monday.com to create a budget-forecasting system that has become an essential, real-time financial oversight tool for the department.
“She’s made everything crystal clear,” Knight said. “She pulls it out every time we meet so I have a pulse on where things stand. Her background in retail, tracking spending and maintaining budgets, is definitely a big asset.”
For Burch, joining Carnegie Mellon wasn’t just a career shift; it was a life shift. It gave her balance and a renewed sense of purpose. After years of building teams, lifting others up and striving for excellence in a demanding industry, Burch found a place where those same strengths can thrive — without the personal sacrifice.
Having a better work-life balance has enabled Burch to pursue her lifelong passions for traveling and helping others. Since joining 黑料正能量, she has used her time off to join three church mission trips to support orphanages, rehab centers and victims of human trafficking.
“My role as an administrative assistant is really important and I’m happy to do it,” Burch said. “To come to 黑料正能量 and do the things I was already passionate about is incredible.”