Clare Sexton Stern

I attribute my success to my support system and community first and foremost. I grew up with parents who trusted in me and believed in me, even when I didn't believe in myself. I also always felt like I had something to prove when I was younger and was determined to be successful, which gave me the grit, determination, and courage to put myself out there. A throughline of my career has been building genuine relationships with the people I've worked for and with. I believe that when people genuinely care about each other, that's when real success happens.

Someone once told me that how you work when no one is watching is who you really are. I keep this nugget in a draft email in my inbox to remind myself of it in the moments when I don't want to do the hard thing or go the extra mile. To me, it’s a reminder that integrity isn’t about doing the right thing when someone is watching or when there’s recognition attached to it - it’s about holding yourself to that same standard when no one will ever know the difference.

Trust your gut and lean on your network. For a while, I was so focused on finding the next opportunity that I lost sight of what I already knew deep down: it was time to move on. I had several interviews that didn't work out, and while each one was disappointing, they also gave me more clarity about what I was really looking for. Through conversations with people I trusted and by listening to my own instincts, I made the decision to leave a company I had been at almost a decade.

Once I made that decision, opportunities started to come my way. Looking back, I realize that the hardest part wasn't finding the next role - it was having the courage to make the leap. Trust yourself, lean on the people who know you best, and don't be afraid to do the brave thing. More often than not, things have a way of working out better than you could have imagined.

Using AI to empower recruiting rather than treating it like a competitor. I think the best recruiters will use AI to handle the repetitive work so they can spend more time doing the things that really matter - building trust with candidates, understanding their motivations, influencing hiring managers, assessing culture fit, and creating an exceptional candidate experience.

To get to this point, you have to figure out how to make AI work for you. Candidly, I’m not there yet, but it’s something I’m constantly learning, experimenting with, and working to get better at. I don’t think AI replaces the human side of recruiting; I think it gives us more time to focus on it.

Integrity, connection, courage, and accountability.

Integrity is important to me because I want to be able to stand behind how I show up, especially when no one is watching. Connection is at the center of how I work and how I live. I genuinely care about people, and I believe the strongest relationships are built through trust, authenticity, and showing up for one another.

Courage is about being willing to do the hard thing, even when it is uncomfortable or there isn't a clear outcome. Some of the best decisions I've made have required me to trust my gut, take a risk, and put myself out there. And accountability means taking ownership - of my decisions, my mistakes, and my commitments. I don't expect perfection from myself or others, but I do believe in owning your actions and learning from them.