Her Story
About Sarah
Sarah Mayfield is a training and development professional with more than 12 years of experience in the legal services industry, specializing in employee development, compliance, litigation support, and organizational training. As the Training and Development Manager at Nathan & Nathan P.C., she is responsible for onboarding and developing new employees, delivering instruction on legal procedures, communication, human resources topics, and fostering a culture of continuous learning. Her career has evolved through a variety of roles within the legal field, including client communications, legal document preparation, complex litigation support, compliance management, developing a library of standard operating procedures, and internal audit oversight, providing her with a well-rounded understanding of legal operations and workforce development. Before transitioning into the legal profession, Sarah built a strong foundation in education and leadership through roles as a teacher, lead teacher, and center director in early childhood education. These experiences strengthened her instructional abilities, communication skills, and passion for helping others grow—qualities that now define her approach to corporate training. She attended Jacksonville State University, studying Criminal Justice, and further expanded her legal expertise through paralegal studies at Auburn University. Committed to lifelong learning, she continually enhances her knowledge through professional development resources such as LinkedIn Learning and practical, hands-on experience. Beyond her professional responsibilities, Sarah is deeply committed to serving her community through volunteer leadership and advocacy. She serves as Vice Chairman of the Board for the Alabama Wildlife Center, where she supports wildlife conservation, education, and environmental stewardship. She also volunteers with Cross Cultural Connections, assisting individuals with refugee status as they establish new lives. Guided by a philosophy of empowering others, Sarah believes the best leaders develop people to become confident and capable on their own. Her dedication, resilience, and passion for mentoring continue to make a meaningful impact in both her profession and her community.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sarah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my tenacity and a deeply ingrained work ethic developed from a young age. Growing up as one of six children in a modest household, I started working early and quickly learned that hard work and ingenuity are valuable for their own sake, not just for the immediate rewards they bring. Success is built on the understanding that pouring your absolute best into your tasks builds character, resilience, and self-respect—qualities that are worth far more than financial gain. This unshakeable inner drive ensures that I see challenges through to the end and take pride in delivering excellent results.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever embraced and shared with others is that you must bring your own passion with you—it cannot be taught. While an organization or a mentor can train you on technical skills, systems, and industry knowledge, they cannot instill the inner fire, curiosity, and enthusiasm needed to truly excel. Passion is an inside job. Showing up every single day with an authentic drive for what you do is the ultimate differentiator that transforms a standard job into a highly impactful and fulfilling career.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Work smarter not harder. Make sure you are keeping a balance as your best results will come out of being methodical and considering efficiency.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The ultimate challenge in an ever-changing field is avoiding stagnation and resisting the urge to settle into comfortable routines. As industries experience shifts and transformations, it is easy for professionals to become resistant to change or overly set in their ways. The real opportunity lies in cultivating a mindset of continuous growth. By deliberately staying open to learning new methodologies, adopting fresh strategies, and leaning into organizational shifts, you transform an unpredictable landscape into a personal competitive advantage. Viewing change not as a disruption, but as an ongoing invitation to expand your skill set, is what keeps your career dynamic and relevant.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
My core values are authenticity, unwavering integrity, and a deep appreciation for the collective power of people. To me, integrity means consistently doing the right thing when absolutely nobody is watching, which directly feeds into showing up authentically in every professional and personal space. Additionally, I firmly believe that every individual brings unique life experiences to the table. By valuing these diverse backgrounds and working collaboratively, we become vastly stronger, more innovative, and more effective as a collective than we ever could be on our own.
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