According to learning, leadership and organisational development expert, Sarah-Louise Herring, a successful business always starts with the employees.
However, during her 20-year-long career leading teams within companies such as Tiffany & Co. and HelloFresh she felt more could be done to nurture and support those keeping the cogs turning.
Deciding to take things into her own hands, Sarah-Louise enrolled in a Bachelor of Organisational Leadership at UNE, and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource (HR) Management shortly after.
My decision to go back to university and continue my education was sparked by a desire to create positive change.
“My goal is to bring a holistic approach to mental health and well-being for employees,” she says. “My decision to go back to university and continue my education was sparked by a desire to create positive change. I am a people-centred practitioner, and I noticed several years ago a lack of people-centred approaches. This was pre-pandemic, with little work-life balance for most people.”
During her time at UNE, Sarah-Louise began the process of achieving this through volunteering, mentoring and inspiring others. This eventually led her to be named a winner of the New England Award upon graduating, which is an accolade that recognises those who have gone above and beyond in giving back to their community and the University during their studies.
“One of my values is legacy, and for me, the New England Award was an opportunity to apply what I was learning, share my knowledge with others, and contribute to the community, with the hope of leaving a small legacy,” she says. “Planting a small seed can grow amazing outcomes, ideas, and innovations. My goal was to plant seeds within my local HR and Organisational Development community to inspire other community members to reach a little further or think a little differently.”
Image: Sarah-Louise with her partner Michael and daughter Cadence at her ceremony in April.
Sarah-Louise says the flexibility of her courses, which she studied online and completed in 2020, meant she was able to work towards this legacy while keeping on top of everything life threw at her.
“Studying at UNE was extremely supportive and learner-centred, and it really understood adult learning needs," she says. "You can show up and study in a way that suits your personal circumstances– for example, I could work full-time, travel and raise a family all while studying.”
No small feat, the chance to celebrate her achievements in person at the recent Autumn Graduation is one that Sarah-Louise will always cherish.
“The celebration and the ritual of a graduation ceremony is really about the completion of a cycle,” she says. “It is a symbolic way of recognising the effort and sacrifices that students and their families make. It is nice to reflect on the achievement and pause to show gratitude towards yourself and the support of others, albeit a few years later.”
As for what’s next for the HR guru, Sarah-Louise is almost finished studying a double Masters in Applied Positive Psychology and Psychotherapy and Counselling. In her current role with Red Wolf Group, a leadership consultancy firm, Sarah-Louise and the team focus on data and evidence-based approaches to equip leaders to be future-ready and lead with confidence.
She says for anyone else wanting to work their way up the corporate ladder, it’s important to forge your own path.
Think about what your needs are, listen to others' stories, ask lots of questions, and live authentically.
“What works for me, isn't going to work for someone else, and replicating my experience or someone else's may not place you in a better position,” she says.
“Think about what your needs are, listen to others' stories, ask lots of questions, and live authentically.”
