Sara Valentine is a seasoned Human Resources executive with over 18 years of experience leading people, culture, and organizational transformation across complex environments. As the Founder of Simply HR, LLC and the creator of the HEART Leadership Framework, Sara is passionate about helping organizations build cultures where both people and performance thrive.
Sara currently serves as Vice President of Talent & Culture at Give Kids The World Village, a nonprofit resort serving critically ill children and their families. In this role, she leads HR strategy, employee engagement, and leadership development for a mission-driven organization rooted in compassion and service.
Throughout her career, Sara has been known for her ability to navigate high-stakes, emotionally complex situations with clarity, empathy, and strength. Her HEART framework — Hear, Empathize, Acknowledge, Respond, and Thank — was developed from real-world leadership moments and is designed to help leaders respond with intention, build trust, and reduce burnout in today’s workplace.
Sara is also the host of the HEART Leadership Podcast, where she shares honest conversations with leaders who are shaping culture and redefining what it means to lead with authenticity and purpose.
At her core, Sara believes leadership is about meeting people where they are, creating space for growth, and having the courage to do the right thing — even when it’s hard.
