Sarah Olivier – Episode 8

Transcript

What’s it really like growing up as an expat kid—and how does that shape your future?

In this powerful episode, host Sabiya Pathan Withoeck sits down with Sarah Oliviers, a Belgian veterinary student, international show jumper, and tech founder, to share her incredible journey—from discovering horse riding in Pune, India, to launching a veterinary admin app called VACS.

 In Part 1, we cover:

• Sarah’s early days riding and competing in India—and how community shaped her passion.
• The cultural shift from collective sports in Asia to individual competition in Europe.
• Her academic transition back to Dutch-language university life in Belgium.
• How growing up between India, France, and Belgium built adaptability and depth.
• Lessons learned from training with Olympic-level riders—and what not to copy.
• Why the bond with her horses is non-negotiable.
• The story behind VACS: a startup born from frustrating vet bills and a gap in the market.

This is our first episode featuring an expat kid as the guest, not the subject—and Sarah’s story proves just how grounded, entrepreneurial, and insightful the next generation can be.

 Key takeaway: Cross-cultural experiences don’t scatter identity—they sharpen it.

 Don’t miss Part 2, where we go deeper into her entrepreneurial journey, startup development, and the future of vet tech in Europe.

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 Share this episode with someone who grew up between worlds—or is building their own.

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SEASON 2 – EPISODE 8 – SARAH OLIVIER – PART 2

In this inspiring part 2 episode, Sabiya sits down again with Sarah Oliviers—Belgian equestrian consultant, founder of Sarah Strides, and creator of the VACS app—for an honest deep dive into how she balances her many roles as a student entrepreneur and global equestrian.

🎯 Key Takeaways from this episode:

Routine, Resilience & Relationships
Sarah reveals the power of her personal support system and how meticulous organization (yes, even writing down “clean the kitchen”) helps her juggle riding, business, and vet school.

Founding VACS & Sarah Strides
Get the behind-the-scenes of how VACS was born from lived frustrations in the equestrian industry—and how Sarah’s startup mindset is reshaping vet-client dynamics.

Student Entrepreneurship in Belgium: Expectations vs. Reality
Sarah discusses the real-world challenges of navigating Belgian student-entrepreneur policies—and the gaps in support despite good intentions.

Why Riding in Asia Still Feels Like Home
With rich insights from training in India and Japan, Sarah opens up about how environment, not luxury, makes all the difference in sport and life.

Sarah’s Golden Rule for Growth: Just Ask
From riding lessons with Olympians to university speaking gigs, Sarah shares how asking—with confidence and clarity—has opened doors throughout her journey.

💡 Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, an equestrian, or a globally-raised student wondering how to carve your own path—Sarah’s story offers valuable lessons, practical insights, and a whole lot of encouragement.

📲 Follow Sarah’s journey:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahs.strides.official
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-oliviers-411540357
Sarah’s Website: https://www.sarahs-strides.com
Veterinary All-in Customer System App (VACS app): https://www.vacs.vet

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Tagged as:
Belgium France India japan netherlands

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