About Sabot Family Companies
Sabot Family Companies is a long-term holding company, serial acquirer and permanent owner in the tradition of Berkshire Hathaway, Canada’s Constellation Software and Sweden’s Lifco.
Shayne Fitz-Coy and Arar Han founded the firm at Stanford in 2016 and lead it as co-CEOs from Palo Alto, California. Sabot Family Companies buys businesses with permanent family capital and keeps them. There is no fund clock and no forced exit.
Buying to keep shapes every decision. An owner who sells to Sabot Family Companies is choosing a lasting home for their employees and customers.
The firm invests across business services, consumer services, education, and real estate. Rustic Pathways anchors the portfolio as the firm’s largest operating company.
Founded in 1983, Rustic Pathways has served 155,000+ alumni across 38 countries. Its CEO is Sabot Family Companies co-founder Shayne Fitz-Coy.
Ownership at Sabot Family Companies measures success in decades. The firm strengthens the teams and the fundamentals already inside each company, year over year.
Who owns Sabot Family Companies.
Co-founders and Co-CEOs Arar Han and Shayne Fitz-Coy own the firm. On individual holdings the family co-invests alongside partners such as Housatonic Partners and Trilogy Equity Partners.
The capital is the family’s own, with no outside fund investors to repay on a schedule. That permanence is why the firm can buy to keep.
The founders lead the firm as Co-CEOs.
Arar Han wrote retail leadership cases at Harvard Business School and worked for Panera Bread founder Ron Shaich. She holds a Stanford MBA and a B.A. from Boston College.
Shayne Fitz-Coy is CEO of Rustic Pathways and teaches private equity at Seoul National University. He holds a Harvard B.A. in psychology and a Stanford MBA.
Sabot Family Companies is headquartered at 101 Alma Street, Palo Alto, California.
Sabot Family Companies believes great people make great businesses.
The firm develops the people inside each company and backs them with the Sabot Family Companies Operating System. Each company keeps its own P&L and identity.
Acquisitions are funded by the companies’ own cash flow at disciplined prices. That patience filters for sellers who care where their company lands.
Sabot Family Companies has sold one company in twelve years: ResponseLink. Owners considering a sale can start at Sell Your Business.
A lean team runs the parent company. Operators run each company day to day.
Learning. Growing.
Teams learn in the open and improve a little every day. Good ideas travel between companies.
Our People
Team members describe working at Sabot Family Companies in their own words.
“Arar has been more than I ever hoped for in a partner and mentor. She strives to ascertain where my talents and experience fit in, and to work constructively with what I have to contribute. She respects me as a professional, but also as a woman and a mother, with the mass of skills those roles add.”
– Candice, Team Resources
“I have been working with Sabot Family Companies for almost 6 years. I am compensated fairly for my work and growth is always encouraged. Through this pandemic, they have gone above and beyond for employees, ensuring uninterrupted employment and even bonuses.”
– John, Administration
“I consider myself extremely lucky to be working for Sabot. The various positions I have filled during this time have given me a chance to enhance my tool belt within customer service, sales and in my personal career goals. I am thankful to have guidance as I continue to grow.”
– Anna, Sales
“They’re highly effective at figuring out what makes sense for each individual’s personal and professional growth. I’ve probably learned more about business in the past year than in the previous seven combined!”
– Patrick, Customer Success
“With Shayne and Arar’s guidance, our company has become a vessel of change. The synergy in their ability to collaborate has imbued them with an inconceivable business focus and commercial awareness.”
– Natalie, Operations
“There is no stagnation working for Sabot Family Companies. They create an environment that supports professional development while making expectations clear. You can be sure you will level up.”
– Connor, Sales
What’s Our Culture Like?
We Asked Our Team.
The culture exists to change communities and transform individuals. Candor and transparency start at the top.
We give constructive feedback and recognize a job well done. We try to be 1% better every single day, and we do what we said we’d do.
Expectations are high and so is the support. People share ideas and value everyone’s expertise.
Above all, we appreciate others as whole beings. Be honest, take ownership, be yourself.
Imagine what we can do together.
Whether we are your first stop or a step along the way, accelerate your career with us. Write to [email protected].
