Cynthia Benoit-Sarrazin

Director of Engineering

Fontainebleau, Île-de-France, France37 yrs experience
Most Likely To SwitchHighly Stable

Key Highlights

  • Raised over €30M for INSEAD's capital campaign.
  • Expert in stakeholder engagement and relationship building.
  • Bilingual leader with global philanthropic experience.
Stackforce AI infers this person is a leader in Higher Education fundraising and stakeholder engagement.

Contact

LinkedIn

Skills

Core Skills

FundraisingStrategyStakeholder EngagementStrategic Partnerships

Other Skills

Project ManagementBoard of DirectorsCoaching & MentoringVolunteer ManagementMedia RelationsPress ReleasesResearchBudgetsProposal WritingCommunity OutreachEditingCorporate CommunicationsTeachingTheatreNon-profits

About

Senior advancement leader with 25+ years of international experience mobilising philanthropy, alumni, and stakeholders in higher education, the arts, and social impact. At INSEAD, I lead fundraising and alumni engagement across North America, contributing over €30M to the School’s €300M capital campaign. I work in close partnership with Deans, Board members, faculty, and senior volunteers to secure and steward six- and seven-figure investments in research, scholarships, facilities renewal, and the endowment. Earlier in my career, I held senior fundraising roles at the Stratford Festival in Canada and founded a consulting practice in Asia, supporting NGOs, cultural organisations, and social impact initiatives across Southeast Asia. These experiences shaped a global, cross-cultural approach to philanthropy and stakeholder engagement. Known for a strategic and empathetic leadership style, I specialise in complex relationship-building, governance, and guiding organisations through moments of transition and change. I recently completed INSEAD’s Executive Master in Change and Coaching Certificate, deepening my work with senior leaders and institutions navigating growth and transformation. Bilingual (English/French) and internationally mobile, I bring a global perspective grounded in trust, discretion, and long-term partnership with leaders and institutions.

Experience

37 yrs
Total Experience
6 yrs 2 mos
Average Tenure
12 yrs 8 mos
Current Experience

Insead

2 roles

Director of Development | North America

Promoted

Jan 2017 – Present · 9 yrs 5 mos · Fontainebleau, France

  • Lead fundraising strategy and alumni engagement across North America for INSEAD’s €300M capital campaign.
  • Secure and steward six- and seven-figure philanthropic investments supporting research, scholarships, facilities, and the endowment.
  • Partner closely with Deans, Board members, faculty, and senior volunteers on strategy, governance, and donor relationships.
  • Facilitated the strengthening of the INSEAD foundation in Canada, including securing anchor endowment support.
  • Act as a bridge between global leadership and regional stakeholders in a complex, international environment.
FundraisingStrategyProject ManagementBoard of DirectorsCoaching & Mentoring

Associate Director Development | Belgium - Canada - France - UK - USA

Sep 2013 – Dec 2016 · 3 yrs 3 mos · Fontainebleau, France

  • Supported regional fundraising and alumni engagement across Europe and North America during an early phase of the capital campaign.
  • Managed and stewarded relationships with alumni leaders, donors, and volunteers across multiple geographies.
  • Worked closely with senior development leadership, faculty, and volunteers to advance campaign priorities.
  • Built cross-cultural fluency and institutional knowledge supporting progression to Director role.
FundraisingStrategic PartnershipsStakeholder EngagementProject Management

Stratford festival

2 roles

Major Gifts Manager

Oct 2007 – Sep 2013 · 5 yrs 11 mos · Toronto, Canada

  • Led major gifts fundraising in the Greater Toronto Area, contributing towards the Festival's annual operating revenue.
  • Partnered with senior leadership to develop the case for support, laying the groundwork for a subsequent campaign.
  • Cultivated and stewarded high-capacity donors through complex, multi-year relationships.
  • Secured philanthropic support aligned with diversity, equity, and inclusion priorities, including funding for Black and Caribbean programming.
  • Collaborated cross-functionally with artistic teams to align donor interest with institutional priorities.
FundraisingStrategic PartnershipsVolunteer Management

Corporate Sponsorship Manager

Aug 2006 – Sep 2007 · 1 yr 1 mo · Toronto, Canada

  • Managed corporate sponsorship partnerships, contributing to institutional revenue and long-term donor relationships.
  • Worked with senior leadership to align corporate support with programming priorities and organisational strategy.

Singapore repertory theatre

Corporate Development Manager

Jan 2005 – May 2006 · 1 yr 4 mos · Singapore

  • Led corporate development and sponsorship strategy in support of artistic programming and organisational growth.
  • Advised senior leadership on partnership positioning and revenue diversification.

Cbcs global | southeast asia

Founder and Executive Director

Jan 1996 – Jan 2005 · 9 yrs

  • Founded and led an international consulting practice supporting NGOs, cultural organisations, and social impact initiatives across Southeast Asia.
  • Advised boards, executive leaders, and funders on strategy, partnerships, and organisational development in emerging markets.
  • Directed donor-funded programmes, including a multi-year social impact initiative with the Lao Handicraft Association.
  • Built and managed cross-cultural teams and stakeholder ecosystems spanning government, civil society, and the private sector.
  • Developed deep on-the-ground experience in institutional capacity-building, partnership design, and sustainable impact.

Canadian commercial corporation

Corporate Affairs & Contracts Officer

Jan 1992 – Jan 1996 · 4 yrs · Ottawa, Canada

  • Worked at the intersection of government, international trade, and public-sector communications.
  • Managed contracts and stakeholder communications with foreign governments and multilateral institutions.

Government of canada

Administrator / Reference Officer

Jan 1988 – Jan 1991 · 3 yrs · Ottawa, Canada

  • Supported public access to information and archival research within federal departments.

Education

INSEAD

Certificate — Coaching (Systems Psychodynamic Approach)

May 2024 – Jan 2025

INSEAD

Executive Master in Change

Mar 2021 – Jul 2022

National University of Singapore

MA — Southeast Asian Studies

Jan 2003 – Jan 2006

University of Ottawa

BA — Interpersonal and Organizational Communication

Jan 1992 – Jan 1996

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