Senior Partner & Global Practice Lead | Korn Ferry Consulting
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Sarah Jensen Clayton started out in government as an intern for Bob Bennett (R-UT) in the U.S. Senate. She moved on to help implement legislation at the U.S. Department of Education as a presidential management fellow, ultimately landing in the East Wing of the White House, where she supported first lady Laura Bush on various initiatives benefiting America’s youth. Sarah then transitioned to the private sector and has spent the last 15 years advising senior leaders through large-scale transformation at companies like Deloitte Consulting and Weber Shandwick. Sarah was awarded Korn Ferry’s “Founder’s Award” in 2023 for embodying the company’s values and having an impact. She is a frequent speaker and facilitator at leadership offsites and publishes regularly with Harvard Business Review, Quartz and other outlets.
What is your favorite part of your job?
Korn Ferry is all about unleashing potential in individuals, teams and organizations. It’s a mission that’s pretty easy to get behind. Whether it’s helping a first-time CEO find their footing, creating more inclusive workplaces, developing employee value propositions, scaling a growth mindset or supporting people through change, it all has meaning. It all makes a difference. It’s particularly rewarding to help other women clients and colleagues lean into their strengths, stretch themselves and reach new heights.
Who are your role models, and how have they influenced you?
One of my earliest role models was (and still is) my sister Emily, who was in an accident when we were teenagers and has lived the last 24 years with traumatic brain injury. Her day-to-day courage and persistence have always been a source of inspiration to me. What inspires me about Emily is also what I valued so much in my boss at my first job in New York City — grit. She doesn’t give up. She advocates for herself and others in a way that is bold yet well-received and shows me what it looks like to be nice and assertive. My boss taught me by example to be tougher, stronger and more resilient. I’ve been fortunate to have exceptional bosses (all female!) before and since, to whom I will always be indebted. To Main Page