Her Story
About Kiran
Kiran Sanghera is a seasoned People & Culture Director with deep expertise in HR strategy, employee relations, talent acquisition, and organizational development. Based in Burbank, California, she currently leads the People & Culture function at a prominent public accounting firm, overseeing a team of eight professionals across talent acquisition, HR, benefits, payroll, and leadership development. Her career path was anything but conventional — she initially set her sights on a legal career, spending her early professional years embedded in law firm environments. A pivotal moment came when a trusted partner invited her to help build an entirely new organization from the ground up, and true to her philosophy of embracing aligned opportunities, she said yes. That decision launched her into the world of human resources, where she discovered a passion for building people-first systems, earning her PHR and SHRM-SCP certifications along the way.
What distinguishes Kiran as a leader is her ability to transform HR from a transactional support function into a forward-thinking, strategic business partner. Over the course of her career, she has built HR infrastructures from scratch, led large-scale human capital management implementations, shaped total rewards strategies, and designed firm-wide development programs that meaningfully improve the employee experience. She brings a rare balance of strategic vision and hands-on execution, using workforce analytics and data-driven insights to align people strategy with broader organizational goals. Her work spans multistate operations, and she has successfully scaled HR functions across organizations at various stages of growth — from lean startups to mid-sized professional services firms with hundreds of employees.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Kiran is a passionate advocate for continuous learning, meaningful human connection, and the evolving future of work. She holds two Bachelor of Arts degrees from UC Irvine — one in Political Science and Government and another in English Language and Literature — and is an active member of the Society for Human Resource Management and the LEA Global HR Steering Committee. Guided by core values of adventure, curiosity, freedom, growth, and well-being, she leads with both optimism and resilience. Outside of work, Kiran enjoys hiking, Pilates, fitness, reading, and exploring new experiences which is a reflection of the same spirited, growth-oriented mindset she brings to everything she does.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Kiran
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to embracing a "yes" mindset — leaning into opportunities that genuinely excite me while remaining aware of my own limitations. I've always been comfortable taking calculated risks, knowing that regardless of the outcome, I will come out stronger on the other side. Confidence in myself, even in uncertain moments, has been essential. I believe in approaching every situation with a sense of bravery — even when you don't feel particularly brave — and maintaining an optimistic outlook. If you keep a positive mindset, there is always something to gain or learn from any outcome, whether things go as planned or not.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best advice I ever received was to slow down and ask more questions. As a young female leader, I often felt pressure to walk into every room with immediate solutions. But I was advised that most people simply want to feel heard and included in the process. When you take the time to understand what others need and want, you earn their buy-in and reach better solutions — not necessarily faster, but more effectively. That shift in approach has made a significant difference in how I lead and collaborate.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The landscape is changing rapidly, and the next generation will face an environment shaped heavily by AI, where many entry-level roles are evolving or diminishing. My advice is to invest heavily in networking and soft skills development. Regardless of your industry, the human element — connecting with employees, advising stakeholders, and negotiating with external partners — will only become more valuable as AI takes on more of the administrative and reporting functions. People skills are your differentiator, and they will be increasingly recognized and rewarded.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The most significant challenge and opportunity right now is the impact of AI on the workforce, particularly at the entry level. Roles that once served as foundational learning experiences — coordinator and intern-level positions — are being transformed as AI handles reporting, project streamlining, and employee inquiries through chatbots. These roles aren't disappearing, but the skill sets required for them are being elevated considerably. As HR leaders and employers, we have a responsibility to rethink how we design jobs going forward. Equally, higher education institutions need to evolve their curricula to ensure graduates are equipped with the competencies the modern professional environment demands.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My five core values are adventure, curiosity, freedom, growth, and well-being. Professionally, resilience stands out as an extension of those values — it's what allows me to push through challenges and continue evolving. Personally, freedom is what drives me — the ability to explore new experiences, stay open to change, and live life on my own terms. Together, these values shape how I lead, how I connect with others, and how I continue to grow both inside and outside of work.
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