Sarah Hamilton, B.B.A.’20

The International Ideator

GOglobal HR Trainee, North America Total Rewards Partner and Human Resources Business Partner, Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany

Human resource management is a universal need for business professionals around the world, and Sarah Hamilton knows this better than anyone. She’s an expert in employee relations between her Bachelor of Business Administration from WMU Haworth, Master of Human Resources and Industrial Relations from the University of Minnesota, Associate Professional in Human Resources certification, and Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional credential.

Hamilton’s work has spanned continents—diving into change management, employee engagement, diversity, equity and inclusion, and talent development across her roles. Spending six months in Germany on a job rotation and her position as a team lead consultant in Spain have been highlights of her global experience. Currently, she’s in a global human resource leadership development program at Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, where she rotates through HR positions in global healthcare R&D; people insights and effectiveness; local life sciences; and North American employee relations and total rewards.

She’s a tour de force in her commitment to empowering others to create positive change both within themselves and throughout the world. Supporting people on their professional journeys is central to Hamilton, which is why she also serves as a global change management expert on the Developing Capabilities Committee at her company and coaches others in behavioral interviews and negotiations.

Favorite WMU Professor:

“Dr. Christina Stamper. Her mentorship was invaluable in building my confidence and the skills to reach my goals! She has a uniquely special talent of encouraging students to believe in themselves by emphasizing using HR as a force for good, while also leveraging her industry knowledge to map out building a tangible career journey toward success.”