[2] Her father was an executive for SIG in Neuhausen am Rheinfall, which was later merged with Canadian Onex Corporation.

Until 2012, she also served in the capacity of executive director of Forel Klinik, a specialized clinic for drug rehabilitation.

Between 2008 and 2012 Sauter has been president of the Swiss Diabetes Society and from 2008 to 2011 executive director for Frauenzentrale Zürich a non-governmental organization for women's rights.

[9] More recently, Sauter as served as an executive director for the Europe Institut at the University of Zurich since 2012, member of the board of Federas Beratung AG (consulting) since 2016, member of the board of Zürich Opera House between 2017 and 2022.

[11][12] In 2022, she made public that she wants to campaign for a seat in the Council of States, to succeed incumbent Ruedi Noser.