I Chose to Be Here: Loyalty, Lies, and Leaving the Con

Sarah Lopez is an award-winning communications strategist, professional speaker, and author of her debut memoir I Chose to Be Here: Loyalty, Lies, and Leaving the Con.

Raised by a con artist who recruited his children into elaborate schemes, Sarah learned the art of persuasion before she was old enough to drive. By age eleven, she and six other children had helped generate more than $250,000 selling candy for fraudulent causes.

She later became a first-generation college graduate and built a successful career in public relations and education, including serving as Director of Communications and Community Engagement for Dublin Unified School District, where she worked alongside superintendents Chris Funk, Dr. Daniel Moirao, and Dr. Dave Marken.

Today, Sarah shares her extraordinary journey from childhood deception to professional leadership, exploring the unexpected connections between trust, resilience, and the choices that shape our lives.