HR Business: A HR Leader's Journey

Sharon King’s journey into Human Resources underscores the enduring power of human connection. An HR Business Consultant who built her career while simultaneously working full-time, raising a family and earning her degree, Sharon developed a uniquely holistic perspective, one where academic theory and daily practice continually inform one another. Her path has been shaped by a pivotal piece of advice that redefined compassion as a core professional strength, rather than a weakness. In this interview, Sharon reflects on her unconventional career, the essential strengths for today’s HR business professionals, and the rewarding challenge of building an international HR function from the ground up, offering wisdom that is as practical as it is profound.

Q1. Was this the career path you had always planned? What avenues did you take to bring you to where you are today?

My career path wasn’t the typical graduate-to-intern route. I took a very different path. I was already working full-time as an HR Administrator, raising a family, and completing a BA in HR simultaneously. It required a great deal of commitment and determination (as many people in similar situations will understand!).

The advantage of this path was that I learned HR in a truly holistic way, gaining both practical, hands-on experience and solid academic grounding at the same time. This combination significantly strengthened my capability and confidence and allowed me to progress to senior level.

HR professionals often walk a fine line between supporting employees and protecting the interests of the business. The key is to approach with fairness, transparency, and sound judgment.

Q2. What was the best piece of career advice you ever received?

The best career advice I ever received came from an International HR Professor many years ago during a formal dinner. I had just returned to the table after receiving the “Student of the Year” award for my BA in HR Management when he asked me about my long-term career plans.

I admitted, with little confidence, that I wasn’t sure HR was the right path for me. I worried that I wasn’t suited to the role because I didn’t like the idea of delivering bad news.

He paused and then told me something that has stayed with me ever since. He said my kindness and compassion weren’t obstacles or weaknesses, they were exactly what the profession needed. He said my real strength was the ability to walk into a room and deliver difficult news in a humane, respectful way that preserved people’s dignity.

This advice helped me to be my authentic self and I have continued with this approach throughout my career.

Q3. For those considering a career in Human Resources, what is one piece of advice you would give them?

HR professionals often walk a fine line between supporting employees and protecting the interests of the business. The key is to approach with fairness, transparency, and sound judgment. When you strike that balance, you will earn the trust and respect that are essential for success in this field.

Q4. In your view, what are the top 3 strengths that define a successful HR professional today?

Human Centric Approach: Understanding and valuing the human side of every decision, this strength is needed more now than ever in the context of AI. I believe that the role of HR in the future will evolve in such a way that this key strength will be at the core of the profession.
An Advocate: Someone who balances and bridges the needs of both employees and the organisation. This means being a representative voice, a supportive listener, a trusted partner, and a diplomatic presence who ensures fairness and understanding on all sides.
Data Analyst: It is critically important for HR business professionals to have the ability to turn HR data into actionable, strategic insights that support the business. Examples of the value add are; informed decision making, predicting trends, measuring impact and planning.

Q5. Over your career, what would you consider to be your best memory or achievement?

Building the EMEA HR function from the ground up for a US Medical Diagnostics company. I spent my first day on a plane to California and returned a few days later with a laptop and a remit to build a HR function to support the business throughout Europe. I didn’t have knowledge of most of these countries, so it was a huge challenge where I needed to learn, deliver and execute to tight timelines. I was recruiting at pace while at the same time creating and localising policies, contracts, handbooks and procedures that aligned with a US business strategy, yet complied with the complex legal and cultural requirements within each country.

In addition, I had the opportunity to recruit and work with an exceptional team of people, some of whom have become long-term mentors and friends. This experience stretched me professionally, strengthened my resilience, and remains one of the most rewarding chapters of my career.

Q6. If you were entering the workforce again, would you do anything differently?

An easier path might have been nice, but looking back, I wouldn’t change a thing. The journey I talked about in question one really shaped who I am as an HR business professional, it gave me a depth of understanding and an abundance of hands-on practical experiences to draw on.

Q7. If you weren’t in your current profession, what possible path would you have chosen?

I have often been told professionally that I have a calming presence, a natural ability to teach, and a way of explaining complex concepts so that they truly resonate and stick with people. On that basis, teaching might have been a natural vocation for me. However, as I am just launching my own HR Consultancy business, I am sure that these skills will be very useful when it comes to coaching and supporting my clients.

Thank you, Sharon, for your candour and for sharing the lessons from your remarkable career path. Your insights on the strengths that define modern HR business are invaluable.