Sara Jane Ho

Sara Jane Ho is a Chinese businesswoman, author, and socialite. She is the founder of Institute Sarita, a Beijing finishing school established in 2013 (closed since 2024). She is the etiquette expert and host for the 2022 Netflix series Mind Your Manners. The New York Times has described her as a representation of the new "Superrich" in China.

Early life and education Sara Jane Ho was born in Hong Kong in December 1985. Her father did oil exploration, while her mother was a music industry executive. Ho's mother died in 2007 when Sara Jane was 21. Ho credits her mother for her interest in etiquette through early exposure to international business and cultural norms.

At 16, she interned as a reporter at the South China Morning Post. At 17, she interned at Citigroup in Hong Kong and Zhongguancun in Beijing, as well as at multinational consulting firms.

Ho is fluent in English, Cantonese, and Mandarin. She attained native-level Mandarin proficiency after moving to mainland China. She also speaks German and French. 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.

Career Sara Jane Ho started her career as a Mergers & Acquisitions Analyst at the New York investment bank Perella Weinberg Partners.

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. Ho closed both schools in 2024 when she moved to Los Angeles.

In 2013, Ho was named to the Forbes 2013 list of "Future Women in the Mix in Asia: 12 to Watch", and in 2015, she was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 and included in the BBC 100 Women. Institute Sarita was recognized as one of the "World's Most Innovative 50 Companies" by Fast Company magazine in 2014.

In 2023, Ho was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for her makeover reality show Mind Your Manners on Netflix. The show was filmed in Australia after COVID-19 restrictions prevented production in Shanghai. It follows Ho as she provides etiquette and personal development coaching to individuals seeking to improve their confidence, social skills, and self-presentation. That same year, she published her etiquette book Mind Your Manners. This was renamed Hot Water in April 2026. The podcast focuses on Chinese culture and wellness including traditional Chinese medicine and feng shui.

Also in 2024, Ho co-founded the intimate skincare brand Antevorta with Annie Ho, who is not related to Sara Jane Ho. Antevorta's products are formulated using traditional Chinese medicinal herbs. The brand won "Best Wash" in Oprah Daily Menopause O-Wards in 2025. Antevorta is sold on QVC, where Ho appears regularly to educate viewers on TCM principles and holistic care.