Leading With Light: How Sara Ting Is Building a Global Movement for Unity

In a world often divided by race, culture, politics, and belief systems, some leaders choose to respond not with anger, but with illumination.

Sara Ting, President of World Unity Inc, has dedicated her life to a message that is both simple and profound: equality is not optional — it is fundamental to our shared humanity.

Her journey did not begin in a boardroom. It began with a child’s question.

A Childhood Question That Became a Mission

As a young girl, Sara found herself wondering why she was here and what her life was meant to contribute. That early curiosity about purpose never left her. Years later, in 1978, she wrote what would become the foundation of her life’s work — the Sun Poem.

The poem asks a powerful question:

Are you greater than the sun,
That shines on everyone?

Its message is clear. The sun does not discriminate. It shines equally on all — regardless of race, color, or background. The simplicity of that metaphor carries a transformative weight.

What began as a personal reflection soon became something much larger.

In 1993, Sara founded World Unity Inc., anchoring its mission in the principles expressed in the poem. Today, the organization uses art, education, music, and public initiatives to challenge unconscious bias and promote dignity for all people.

Transformation Through Art and Awareness

Unlike traditional advocacy models that rely solely on policy or protest, Sara’s approach is rooted in emotional awakening.

Through programs like children’s music initiatives and public talks, including a TEDx presentation, the Sun Poem is brought to audiences of all ages. Children who learn the accompanying songs often describe feeling empowered, confident, and hopeful. Adults share stories of confronting painful memories of discrimination and gradually finding forgiveness.

Sara believes lasting change does not begin in legislation — it begins within individuals.

“Laws cannot erase bias,” she often emphasizes. “Transformation happens when we look inward.”

This philosophy guides World Unity Inc.’s mission to address unconscious bias across society, including in critical areas such as healthcare, education, and law enforcement.

Faith, Resilience, and Leadership

Every visionary path encounters obstacles. One of the most challenging chapters in Sara’s journey was the long effort to establish a World Unity Landmark — a permanent space dedicated to the message of equality.

After years of planning, collaboration, and design partnerships, the project faced setbacks that forced the organization to reassess its direction. For many leaders, such disappointment might have ended the vision.

For Sara, it became a test of faith.

Her leadership is deeply influenced by spiritual conviction and an unwavering belief that perseverance, guided by faith and purpose, will ultimately create a path forward. Rather than allowing setbacks to define the outcome, she chose to continue building momentum in other ways.

Resilience, in her view, is not stubbornness. It is commitment to a purpose greater than personal frustration.

The Power of Imagination and Collaboration

Sara often speaks about imagination as a leadership tool. Innovation, she believes, begins when people are invited to envision something better.

Within her organization, she fosters an environment built on respect, kindness, and open dialogue. Team members are encouraged to contribute ideas freely and to see themselves as active participants in a larger mission.

True leadership, she says, is not about authority. It is about inspiring others to grow into their own sense of responsibility and vision.

Her values — gratitude, integrity, humility, compassion, and accountability — shape both her personal life and professional decisions. These principles create alignment between message and action, something she considers essential in an era of rapid global change.

A Message for a Changing World

As technology reshapes communication, culture, and even identity, Sara believes the Sun Poem’s relevance is only increasing.

Artificial intelligence, social media, and global connectivity have amplified both unity and division. In such a landscape, she argues, the values embedded in our systems matter deeply.

What kind of world are we designing?

What biases are we allowing to persist?

For Sara Ting, the answer lies in grounding innovation with humanity.

The envisioned World Unity Landmark remains part of that future — a physical symbol of inclusion and a reminder to future generations that equality is not negotiable.

A Leader Rooted in Purpose

Sara Ting’s story is not one of overnight success. It is a story of conviction sustained over decades. From a journal entry to an international nonprofit, her journey demonstrates how one idea — clearly expressed and consistently lived — can ripple outward into communities around the world.

At its core, her leadership asks each of us to reflect:

Are we living in a way that shines equally on others?

In a time marked by rapid change and growing complexity, Sara Ting stands as a reminder that unity is not merely an ideal — it is a responsibility.