Performance problems don’t come from bad people — they come from unclear systems
That’s Where I Come In.
Who I Work With
I partner with founders and leadership teams at growing companies who feel the strain of people problems but don't yet have the in-house HR depth to fix them.
Most of my clients are between 20 and 300 people. They're past the "we'll figure it out" stage and into the "this is starting to cost us real money and good people" stage. That's the sweet spot for the work I do.
“Sara’s absolute superpower is saying the hard thing. She is brilliant at navigating difficult conversations with grace and empathy - a skill that most people don’t have. She handled all of these dialogues for us with both Manager and Employees, and helped to facilitate them. How she both gets the point across and holds a safe space for people is genius. She seems to always know what to say and the questions to ask in these dialogues”
How I Help
Fractional HR for Founders
Ongoing partnership for companies who need senior HR judgment without a full-time hire. I sit alongside your leadership team, handle the complicated stuff, and build the systems that make HR less of a fire drill.
Performance System Design
Build the performance management system that actually fits your company, from clear expectations to manager training to a review process that doesn't take six months to run. No bloat. No theater.
Manager Coaching and Training
One-on-one coaching for managers stuck on hard conversations, plus group training that teaches people leaders to give feedback, address performance, and lead with consistency.
AI Skills for People Leaders
A growing library of Claude AI-powered tools that help managers and HR partners do the hardest parts of the job better and faster. Currently in early access. Get on the list.
Why Companies Choose to Work With Me
Leading a growing company comes with people challenges that don't always look like HR problems at first. They show up as inconsistent management decisions, unclear expectations, and performance issues that quietly grow over time.
I partner with founders and leadership teams to bring clarity and structure to how people are managed. With nearly two decades of experience across high-growth tech and complex organizations, including Target, Cisco, AppDynamics, and DataRobot, I help leaders navigate hard situations, strengthen manager capability, and build simple systems that support consistent performance as the business scales.
My role is not to add bureaucracy. It's to translate complex people challenges into clear, actionable approaches that protect the business while helping people do their best work.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Sara at multiple companies, and she is one of the most trusted HR leaders I’ve worked with. She has a rare ability to design practical performance frameworks, coach managers through tough situations, and handle the most sensitive employee matters with sound judgment, empathy, and discretion. Any growing company looking to build a strong, accountable culture would be lucky to have her as a partner.”
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