Workhuman, is the world’s fastest-growing social recognition and continuous performance management platform. This evolution acknowledges both the traction and effectiveness of our Workhuman Cloud platform, and the demand from progressive global organisations who want to motivate and empower their people to do the best work of their lives. Great leaders instinctively know that the more gratitude in a company, the better it performs; and their data proves this, over and over again. Around the globe, more than 4 million humans at hundreds of companies are celebrating the power of humanity in the workplace through gratitude and peer-to-peer recognition.

As Director of HR for North America, Sarah is passionate about building a work environment where employees have a voice and a strong sense of belonging. She firmly believes that the role of HR is not to enforce rules and processes. Rather, it is to be a true partner to employees to lift them up and inspire them to do their best work. Here is her 5Mins 5Qs with Sarah Hamilton.

What are you reading at the moment? I’m currently reading “The Power of Moments” by Dan Heath, which explores why specific brief experiences can jolt, elevate and change us; and how we can learn to create these extraordinary moments in our life and work.

What’s keeping you awake at night? If you watch the news for just 10 minutes, there are plenty of things that can keep you up at night. I try to stay positive, focus on the things I can control, and create the best environment I can at work and outside of work. I have the fortunate opportunity to develop and contribute to a culture of positivity and gratitude at Workhuman, where we encourage employees to bring their whole selves to work by focusing on the human moments that matter. What helps me sleep at night is knowing that we are assisting companies in creating environments rooted in gratitude, where employees feel appreciated, valued and empowered to achieve their highest potential.

What’s the one thing in the world you want to see change? I would love to see a greater shift toward being more mindful of the importance of expressing gratitude and making it a part of daily life. In today’s fast-paced culture and the ‘always on’ mentality, it’s easy to take for granted what a difference expressing gratitude can make. Taking the time to stop and think of those in your life that have helped you get to where you are can play a significant role in boosting happiness. Being more in the moment and pausing to appreciate the small day-to-day moments at work and outside of work can trickle down and spread to other areas of life.

What is the hardest thing you overcame? The hardest thing I overcame was losing my mom at age 15. In life, we all experience hurdles that shape whom we become. During a difficult time, it’s essential not to lose sight of the challenges that help build character. Bad things happen, but you always have a choice – to either allow them to define you or rise above challenges and use them as learning opportunities along your journey. This is all part of bringing your whole self to work. This experience has shaped me and is a part of who I am.

How did you get out of your own way? We all have moments when we get in our own way, and to overcome this, we need to be more mindful about acknowledging what we have and be grateful for it. Gratitude is the gift that keeps on giving – the more you recognise all of the good you already have in your life, the more good things you attract into your life. Whenever I’m making a decision, I try to stop and think of what I’m hoping to achieve in the end and what kind of person I want to be. I always ask myself – what would my mom like to see? Using a moral compass to guide your decisions can be vital to getting out of your own way, both personally and professionally.

Author(s)

  • Sunita Sehmi

    Leadership Advisor I Exec Coach I Author I CEO Mentor @RichardBranson I Coach @Cancer Support Switzerland

    Walk The Talk

    I am an executive coach and organisational consultant with over 20 years of experience, specialising in leadership transformation and change management for C-suite leaders and senior executives. As the founder of Walk the Talk Organisational Consulting and Leadership Advisory Services, I have supported leaders across major industries, including Tech, Banking, Pharma, Business Schools, International Organisations, and Social Entrepreneurship, helping them drive impactful leadership development and cultural change. Having worked with CxOs worldwide, I am passionate about helping leaders unlock their full potential and align personal growth with organisational objectives. I’m known for inspiring authentic leadership, driving transformation, and creating sustainable organisational impact. As an author and thought leader, my work has been featured in publications such as Forbes Middle East, Thrive Global, and Huffington Post. I am the author of two books, How to Get Out of Your Own Way and The Power of Belonging, which explore the intersection of personal development and organisational success. Through my involvement with the Richard Branson Centre of Entrepreneurship, I actively mentor emerging leaders and support social enterprises. I am deeply committed to empowering leaders and helping them create lasting, meaningful change within themselves and their organisations.