This month, we are excited to highlight Sarah Katherine Schmidt, our VP of Customer Experience (CX).
Sarah Katherine (SK) is a Human Resources and People Ops Leader who loves working in startups and building new teams, programs, and processes. When she’s not making 3 different meals for her 4 awesome children, she’s walking the family dog, Noma (short for Sonoma), binge watching comedies and dramas with her amazing husband and a great glass of Pinot Noir, or reading WWII historical fiction.
SK also loves photography so get ready for a picture-packed spotlight interview!
Employee Spotlight Q & A:
Ashley Alderman: As a leader, how do you manage work-life balance, and what strategies do you use to prevent burnout?
Sarah Katherine Schmidt: I've come to know many things about myself and how I can best show up for me and the individuals I lead. BUT it took me burning out to really understand my behaviors and how I needed to shift my mindset and responses to change. For me (and many), the key to preventing burnout is self-awareness: truly understanding, from a biological perspective, what your body and brain are telling you what you need at any given moment. AND listening! I've come to know my own signals for burnout: I retreat from family and friends, I'm easily fatigued, and I generally lack inspiration in my work. HOW do I find my way back to me? Movement. Whether it's walking my dog (see a pic of Noma), hot yoga, or fitness training, I've found that I have to move energy through my body.
AA: What type of recognition and appreciation do you value most and why?
SKS: I most appreciate recognition in private as I don’t like being the center of attention. ☺️
AA: What is the most challenging decision you've had to make as an HR Leader, and what did you learn from it?
SKS: As an HR Leader I’ve had to make many difficult decisions about people, and transitioning people out of a company is always the hardest. Over time I’ve learned that it’s just as important to be empathetic as it is to be clear and direct in those decisions and conversations. It’s a delicate balance, but we should always treat people as humans first.
AA: If you could get the answer to one question in the universe, what question would you ask and why?
SKS: I would ask, "What is the ultimate purpose of existence?" Understanding the fundamental reason for our existence could provide a deeper sense of meaning and direction in life.
AA: How do you stay connected with your values and principles, both in your personal and professional life?
SKS: This comes back to movement for me, and I do a lot of thinking and research with myself. If I’m feeling “off” I try to be curious about that feeling and what may be the root cause of it. Usually, I’m experiencing something that’s out of alignment with who I am and what I believe. Then I must figure out the best way to get back to ME.
AA: If you could have a growth-related superpower, what would it be and why?
SKS: This is a hard one for me because within all the difficult and challenging moments in life is where growth happens. So, I wouldn’t want to give up those sticky moments easily. I do think it would be awesome to be able to learn new languages quickly so I could converse with people all over the world.
AA: Can you share a pivotal moment or decision in your career that significantly influenced your leadership style?
SKS: When I left Devada I was burnt out. It was hard to make the decision to take care of me and my family at the time, but it was imperative to my health and wellbeing. I took time to be with my son, get my executive coaching certification, and learned that to be a good leader, I needed to show up for myself first. It’s like the safety speech on planes – put your oxygen mask on yourself first and then help others. If you can’t breathe, you’re no use to anyone who needs you.
AA: How would the person closest to you describe you in three words?
SKS: My husband would describe me as: Supportive, Thoughtful, and Caring
AA: How do you approach innovation to stay ahead in a rapidly changing business landscape?
SKS: I read and think A LOT. I’ve always liked to absorb information and then see how it all fits together as something new that perhaps people haven’t thought about before. I love learning about the brain and how psychology plays such a pivotal role in HR. I don’t think leaders are paying enough attention to the psychology around the employee experience and the role mindset plays in building high performing teams.
AA: What’s your go-to tactic for unwinding after a stressful day?
SKS: I usually take a walk with my husband and the dog to downshift my brain and decompress in the evenings.
AA: In your opinion, what qualities are essential for a successful leader in today's work environment?
SKS: Reflecting on my career in growing and leading teams, and as an executive coach, I strongly believe that leadership is the ability of an individual to cultivate emotional intelligence, meaning self-awareness, self-regulation, empathy, and social awareness.
AA: If you had to describe the role of VP of CX at Peoplelogic using only emojis, which ones would you choose and why?
