Sara Jane Ho
Chinese businesswoman and etiquette coach
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sara Jane Ho (Chinese: 何佩蓉; pinyin: Hé Pèiróng) is a Chinese businessman, writer, educator, socialite,[1] and founder of Institute Sarita, a Beijing finishing school established in 2013 (closed since 2024).[2][3] She is the etiquette expert and host for the 2022 Netflix series Mind Your Manners.[4] The New York Times has described her as a representation of the new "Superrich" in China.[5]
Harvard Business School (MBA)
Sara Jane Ho | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | December 5, 1985 |
| Education | Georgetown University (BA) Harvard Business School (MBA) |
| Occupations | Businesswoman and writer |
Early life and education
Sara Jane Ho was born in Hong Kong in December 1985. Her father did oil exploration,[6] while her mother was a music industry executive.[7] Ho's mother died in 2007 when Sara Jane was 21.[8]
Ho attended the Peak School and German Swiss International School, followed by Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire.[9] She studied English literature at Georgetown University, where she sits on the Georgetown College Board of Advisors, and received a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School.[10][11]
Career
Sara Jane Ho started her career as a Mergers & Acquisitions Analyst at the New York investment bank Perella Weinberg Partners.[12]
After graduating from Institut Villa Pierrefeu, a Swiss finishing school, Ho moved to Beijing in 2013 to establish Institute Sarita. This was her first high-end etiquette school, which she founded through capital input from her father. Her courses ranged in price from about $3,200 to $16,000.[8] In May 2015, Ho opened a second school in Shanghai.[13] Ho closed both schools in 2024 to focus on her work in the United States.
In 2013, Ho was named to the Forbes 2013 list of "Future Women in the Mix in Asia: 12 to Watch",[14] and in 2015, she was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 and included in the BBC 100 Women.[15] Institute Sarita was recognized as one of the "World's Most Innovative 50 Companies" by Fast Company magazine in 2014.[16]
In 2023, Ho was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for her makeover reality show Mind Your Manners on Netflix.[17][18]
In 2024, Ho published her etiquette book Mind Your Manners and, in April 2025, launched the weekly podcast Mind Your Manners.[19][20] This was renamed Hot Water in April 2026.[21] The book focuses on etiquette, including traditional Chinese medicine and feng shui.[22][19]
Also in 2024, Ho co-founded the intimate care brand Antevorta[23] with Annie Ho, who is not related to Sara Jane Ho. Antevorta's products are formulated using traditional Chinese medicinal herbs.[24][25]