Saidah Leatutufu-Burch, Ed.D. (Sa-EE-duh Lay-uh-tootoo-foo-Burch), affectionately known as Dr. Sai (Sy), is a Black and Sāmoan San Franciscan, organizer, cultural orator, economic mobility strategist, and liberationist. Dr. Sai is the founder and CEO of SLB Strategies—a social impact-focused consulting firm committed to equipping organizations with the tools and strategies necessary to drive sustainable change and achieve bold impact. Her work is guided by a core belief: Liberate with love. Transform with power.

Serving at the forefront of locally and nationally recognized reparative initiatives across housing, economic mobility, education, and health and wellness, Dr. Sai works with nonprofits, educational institutions, philanthropy and government organizations seeking to advance change. Most recently, she directed a $60 million-annual effort aimed at advancing prosperity, equity, and community well-being across San Francisco’s diverse Black communities. It is through this work that she catapulted Black homebuyers in San Francisco by seven times, exponentially grew the launch of Black-owned businesses, and provided access for hundreds of scholars to enroll in post-secondary education.

Dr. Sai’s career has taken her across the country and the globe. She is a skilled architect of systems that build organizational capacity, drive economic resilience, and operationalize equity within government, nonprofit, and private spaces—fostering environments where the communities served have the opportunity to flourish. She believes that true liberation is rooted in intentional care for people and communities, and that transformation requires harnessing power, strategy, and collective strength. She designs initiatives that challenge conventional thinking, and implements bold and innovative solutions to activate agency within marginalized communities so that they may thrive.

As a cultural orator and organizer, Dr. Sai recognizes and honors the power within communities that are often neglected. She us a highly sought after speaker—sharing her expertise in innovative change strategy on national and international stages. She brings a deeply held belief that Black liberation and Indigenous sovereignty are achievable in her lifetime, guiding her relentless commitment to transformative, community-centered change.

Dr. Sai holds a BA in Politics from the University of San Francisco (Go Dons!), an MPA from San Francisco State University (Go Gators!), and a Doctor of Education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California (Fight On!). Rooted in her dedication to preserving the vibrant culture and legacy of the North Beach and Bayview-Hunters Point neighborhoods that raised her, she is passionate about cultivating the collective power, voice, and future of her community. Dr. Sai values joy, justice, the power of the people, and good food. When she is not dreaming and implementing liberation strategies, she is spending time with her husband, participating as an active member of the Bey-hive and Niner Empire, and exploring global gastronomy.