SARAH

MOYO

3 WORDS TO DESCRIBE ME
Driven. Caring. Determined.

TEA OR COFFEE?
COFFEE — lots of it!

WHAT DID YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU WERE GROWING UP?

When I was at school, I really wanted to work in travel and tourism — either as an air hostess or a travel agent. I loved the idea of travelling, meeting new people and seeing different parts of the world.

I definitely never imagined I’d end up working in HR. I actually didn’t know anything about the role of HR when I was younger!

WHAT WERE YOU LIKE AT SCHOOL?

I was sociable, confident and loved being around people. I wasn’t the most academic and I had to work really hard because learning didn’t always come easily to me. I was probably more interested in chatting to my friends than I should have been at times too!

I think that’s why I’m so passionate about young people knowing that how you do at school doesn’t define what you’re capable of achieving in life.

WHAT DID YOU FIND DIFFICULT?

I’ve always been tall — I’m over 6ft — and when I was younger, I really struggled with always being “the tall one”.

When you’re young, anything that makes you feel different can seem like a huge thing and I definitely felt self-conscious about it. As I’ve got older, I’ve learned to embrace the things that make me different rather than wishing I could blend in.

Early in my career, I applied for a graduate scheme that I really, really wanted and I didn’t get it. I was absolutely gutted at the time and felt like I’d missed out on this huge opportunity.

But not long afterwards, another opportunity came my way that involved moving to London and took my life and career in a completely different direction. Looking back now, I’m so glad things worked out the way they did.

I still doubt myself sometimes. I’ve walked into rooms and wondered whether I really belonged there, especially as my career progressed and I became more senior. The important thing is not letting that doubt make your decisions for you.

My family, especially my husband and my parents, have always been there on the sidelines, cheering me on and believing in me, sometimes more than I believed in myself. Having people around you who remind you what you’re capable of makes such a difference. And, of course, a lot of determination — I’ve never been someone who gives up easily!

WHAT DO I ACTUALLY DO?

My day usually starts around 6am — although that’s more because I’m a mum than a Chief People Officer!

There really isn’t one typical day, which is one of the things I love about my job. I could be talking to our CEO about the future of the business, supporting someone through a difficult situation, visiting one of our sites, looking at how we can improve safety or technology, or working with my team on a new idea.

No two days are the same.

My favourite part of my job is seeing people grow and achieve things they didn’t think they were capable of. Knowing you’ve played even a small part in someone’s development is incredibly rewarding.

Something that might surprise people about my job is how much of it is about business rather than just “HR”. I’m involved in decisions right across the organisation, and sometimes there isn’t an obvious right answer. A big part of my job is balancing what is right for our people with what the business needs to succeed.

MY ADVICE

YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE IT ALL FIGURED OUT.

You can change direction, make mistakes and still end up exactly where you’re meant to be. I certainly didn’t have it all figured out.

DON’T WAIT UNTIL YOU FEEL COMPLETELY READY.

Apply for the opportunity. Ask the question. Put yourself forward. You are probably far more capable than you think.

DON’T LET OTHER PEOPLE DECIDE YOUR PATH.

There is no single version of success, and your path doesn’t have to look like anyone else’s.

INTERESTED IN A CAREER IN HR?

GET SOME EXPERIENCE
Say yes to opportunities and get involved in as much as you can. When I was 13 or 14, I handed out leaflets at Teesside Park, had a paper round and helped with netball coaching.

None of those things felt like they were preparing me for a future career at the time, but they were. They taught me how to communicate with different people, be responsible, work as part of a team and build confidence. Every experience teaches you something, even if you don’t realise it at the time.

BUILD YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Learn how to really listen to people, not just wait for your turn to speak. Being able to understand different perspectives will help you in almost any career.

THE MYTH?
That HR is just about hiring and firing people!

Modern HR is about understanding how a business works, helping people perform at their best and having a voice in some of the biggest decisions an organisation makes.

REMEMBER: “Don’t decide you’re not good enough before you’ve even given yourself the chance to try.”