Sarah Lovelace

Sarah Lovelace is a seasoned People Operations leader, currently serving as VP of People at Airbase. She has a strong track record of building and scaling People functions in fast-growing tech companies, including Plenty (where she was the first VP of People, growing the company from 6 to 400 employees) and Box. Her expertise spans recruiting, people operations, talent acquisition strategy, total rewards, learning & development, and diversity & inclusion. medium+2

Her professional journey is profoundly shaped by her background as a two-time World Champion Baton Twirler. This athletic discipline instilled in her crucial skills such as resilience, grit, commitment, and a 'winning mentality', which she directly applies to leadership and talent management. She emphasizes perseverance through failure and taking initiative in career development. medium+1

Sarah is recognized for her strategic approach to talent acquisition and retention. She advocates for intentional and targeted outreach, structured interview processes, and creating a human-centered candidate experience. Her retention strategies include clear communication, treating employees as adults, and fair compensation, alongside a philosophy that HR's role is not to make everyone happy but to provide a strong organizational foundation. medium+1