Sara Cramlet SPHR
Sara Cramlet, SPHR, is a seasoned HR executive and founder of SuccessCreation LLC, a consultancy dedicated to helping organizations drive company success by investing in employee success. With over two decades of experience partnering with CEOs and executive teams, Sara has built a reputation for strengthening culture, developing leaders, and delivering measurable business results. Her approach emphasizes clarity, performance alignment, leadership coaching, and culture strategies that engage and retain employees while enabling organizations to scale effectively.
Throughout her career, Sara has held senior HR leadership roles across diverse sectors, including technology, higher education, and government contracting. She has led organizations through rapid growth, significantly improving employee retention, establishing leadership development programs, and building talent pipelines that drive internal promotions. Her work has resulted in tangible business outcomes, such as scaling companies from hundreds to thousands of employees and boosting employee engagement through structured performance and recognition programs.
Sara’s professional philosophy centers on the belief that people are investments, not costs, and that clear success roadmaps empower employees to thrive. She began her career in retail at Nordstrom, where she excelled as a top salesperson before moving into recruitment and HR generalist roles. Sara holds a Master’s in Human Resource Management from Golden Gate University and a Bachelor’s in Business and Marketing from San Francisco State University. Beyond her professional achievements, she is active in the HR community through SHRM and contributes to local boards, demonstrating her commitment to leadership, mentorship, and creating meaningful impact in both business and community spheres.
• Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR®) Certification
• Golden Gate University- Master's
• Created an internal Excellence Reward Program and leadership development initiatives that led to high promotion rates and improved MPS scores
• SHERM also on the board
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to the journey that brought me to where I am today. I was born in Ethiopia and came to the United States as a child, and my early experiences—along with my mother’s influence—shaped my resilience, work ethic, and drive. I started out at Nordstrom in college, earning top sales positions, and later worked in HR and recruiting. Now, having found my calling, I’ve launched my own business and am excited to grow, develop, and help others achieve success.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received is that I can achieve anything I set my mind to, as long as I never give up and keep moving forward.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to know that you can overcome any obstacle, and that true success awaits at the end of your journey.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The biggest opportunity in my field right now is to help companies achieve success through a strong people strategy that increase productivity, retain employees and help leaders manage obstacles. I also enjoy inspiring other women see that success is possible. At the same time, challenges include maintaining a positive culture amid changes, focusing on reinforcing strengths rather than negatives, and providing a clear roadmap for employees to achieve success so the company can be successful during this uncertain time..
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are helping others achieve success by providing guidance and a clear roadmap to get them there. I also value my work–life balance by taking time to travel, enjoy new foods and cultures, and spend time with my dog. I believe in seeing people as investments and not just cost. The more you do for others; the more others are willing to do for you. Lead with empathy and care to foster success for others.
