Still think HR needs to be full-time to be high-impact?
Think again.

In this episode of The Culture Chronicles, I sit down with Sarah Alaimo, a powerhouse fractional HR executive who’s redefining leadership on her own terms, minus the burnout, politics, or bloated org charts.

We’re unpacking what it really looks like when HR leads with empathy, sets boundaries like a boss, and becomes the heartbeat of culture instead of the office scapegoat. From emotional safety and expectation setting to calling out red flags and rewriting the role of HR, Sarah brings receipts, real talk, and razor-sharp insights.

If you’re still clutching your pearls at the idea of fractional HR, buckle up. This episode might just shake your definition of leadership, and show you why less really can mean more.

We cover:
– Why fractional HR isn’t a downgrade—it’s a smart, strategic power move
– The role of emotional safety in building real trust (especially remotely)
– How Sarah blends lived experience with executive savvy to lead culture-first orgs
– The green flags you should be looking for—and the red ones you should run from
– Why setting boundaries is the ultimate leadership flex
– What leaders need to know before making the leap into fractional work

Why this episode matters:
Too many companies are stuck in the past—clinging to outdated models of HR that breed burnout and bureaucracy. Sarah offers a clear, compelling look at the future of people leadership: lean, intentional, and deeply human.

About Sarah:

Sarah Alaimo is a seasoned HR executive, leadership advisor, and fractional people strategist on a mission to help companies grow without losing their soul. With a background that spans corporate HR, executive leadership, and lived experience as a recovery advocate, Sarah blends radical empathy with business savvy to create people-first cultures that actually work.

As a fractional HR leader, she partners with fast-growing startups and mission-driven organizations to build trust, establish boundaries, and elevate the employee experience—without the bloated headcount or corporate fluff. She's especially passionate about redefining what leadership looks like for women, for survivors, and for anyone who’s tired of being told they’re “too much” for the boardroom.

Why she matters to you:
Sarah proves that you don’t need to be full-time to be high-impact—and that real HR leadership doesn’t come from enforcing rules, it comes from building trust. If you’ve ever felt called to lead differently, this one’s for you.

Learn more about Sarah and her business: https://elevateconsultingcollective.com

📎 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahdalaimo/

Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sarahdalaimo/?hl=en

Check out Sarah's published works: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Sarah-Alaimo/author/B09CVXVMWG?ref=ap_rdr&isDramIntegrated=true&shoppingPortalEnabled=true&ccs_id=d179f514-7606-4556-a1d0-504004da0848

Host Bio:Kate Ball is an international talent strategist, bestselling author, and unapologetic Bullshit Exorcist on a mission to torch performative HR and take down corporate nonsense with a smile. With 20+ years spent shaking up culture, leadership, and talent strategy at giants like Amazon, Expedia, and Cision, she now runs Sparkle & Sass Consulting—helping brave companies and bolder leaders stop playing nice and start doing better.On The Culture Chronicles, Kate calls it like it is: no jargon, no fluff, and definitely no beige. Just sharp minds, spicy takes, and real talk about what’s broken at work—and who’s bold enough to fix it.This isn’t your HR department’s podcast. It’s the one they hope you never find.

Learn More About Kate:⁠www.sparkleandsassconsulting.com⁠Connect on LinkedIn: ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateball1/⁠Follow on Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/the_culturechronicles/⁠Explore The Culture Chronicles Book Series: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/author/kateball⁠

Ever felt like the only thing your job was fueling… was your therapist’s mortgage?

In this episode, Phil Sterne and I go full throttle into the silent suffering of high performers stuck in golden cages—and the radical self-belief it takes to break free. We tear down the prestige traps, expose the burnout myths, and get honest about what it really means to escape corporate w@nkery and build a life on your own terms.

This is the episode for anyone who’s ever looked around the boardroom and thought, “Is this it?”

We cover:
– What corporate w@nkery actually is (and why it’s everywhere)
– How burnout shows up in high achievers—and why it’s so often ignored
– Why there’s never a “right” time to quit, but there is a wrong time to stay
– How to redefine success without the corporate crutches
– What it really takes to go from prestige to purpose

Why this episode matters:
If you're feeling unfulfilled, stuck in a role that looks good on paper but feels empty inside, this is your permission slip to want more—and build it.

Keywords: Corporate W@nkery, Burnout, Career Change, Executive Coaching, Self-Employment, Imposter Syndrome, High Performers, Success Redefined, Coaching, Authentic Leadership

Guest Bio:
Phil Sterne is a former senior HR leader who traded boardrooms for brave moves, and now helps others do the same. As the founder of Phil Sterne Coaching and the author of Escape Corporate W@nkery: Build Self-Belief and Go It Alone, Phil is on a mission to help high performers reclaim their energy, rewrite their rules, and lead from a place of purpose, not pressure.

With two decades of experience inside corporate powerhouses, Phil knows exactly where the system breaks, and how to get out with your sanity (and sarcasm) intact. He’s helped countless professionals navigate the shift from burnout to boldness.

Why he matters to you:
Phil’s the coach you wish you had before you hit the wall. He doesn’t peddle fluff, he offers real strategies, sharp insight, and a whole lot of truth-telling.

Learn More About Phil:

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philsterne/
Check out his book: Escape Corporate W@nkery

Host Bio:
Kate Ball is an international talent strategist, bestselling author, and unapologetic Bullshit Exorcist on a mission to torch performative HR and take down corporate nonsense with a smile. With 20+ years spent shaking up culture, leadership, and talent strategy at giants like Amazon, Expedia, and Cision, she now runs Sparkle & Sass Consulting—helping brave companies and bolder leaders stop playing nice and start doing better.

On The Culture Chronicles, Kate calls it like it is: no jargon, no fluff, and definitely no beige. Just sharp minds, spicy takes, and real talk about what’s broken at work—and who’s bold enough to fix it.

This isn’t your HR department’s podcast. It’s the one they hope you never find.

Learn More About Kate:
www.sparkleandsassconsulting.com
Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateball1/
Follow on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the_culturechronicles/
Explore The Culture Chronicles Book Series: https://www.amazon.com/author/kateball

We’ve all seen the leadership slide decks packed with bold claims, aspirational values, and zero follow-through.

In this episode, Caitlin Quarrington and I tear into the disconnect between corporate strategy and culture reality, and explore how today’s most effective leaders are shifting from performative noise to systemic, people-centered impact.

This is a deep dive into what it really takes to move from vision statements to lasting behavioral change. We’ll talk about how skilled facilitation, emotional intelligence, and transparent systems design are replacing outdated models of leadership.

This episode covers:
– Why traditional top-down leadership models are breaking down
– How to embed employee voice into organizational strategy
– Why facilitation is an underrated leadership superpower
– What it looks like to lead with context instead of control
– Practical advice for new leaders who want to create impact and legacy

Why this episode matters:
If you're leading people, managing change, or trying to build culture that actually works, you need this conversation in your ears.

Keywords: Leadership, Culture Strategy, Organizational Change, Emotional Intelligence, Systemic Thinking, Transparency, Facilitation, Inclusion

Guest Bio:
Caitlin Quarrington is a people-and-culture expert currently leading global culture strategy at Autodesk—where she helps build adaptive, human-first organizations through cross-functional collaboration and systemic design.

She’s also the founder of Bursty, a platform dedicated to challenging outdated leadership norms and helping teams translate good intentions into real organizational impact.

Caitlin brings a rare blend of warmth, systems thinking, and practical leadership strategy to every conversation. She’s spent her career pushing past the optics and into the operational core—where real change lives.

Why she matters to you: Caitlin helps leaders evolve from top-down managers into architects of trust, alignment, and collective success. Her lens on leadership is sharp, strategic, and deeply human.

Learn More About Caitlin:Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/quarrington/Learn More About Bursty: www.bursty.ca

Host Bio:

Kate Ball is an international talent strategist, bestselling author, and unapologetic Bullshit Exorcist on a mission to torch performative HR and take down corporate nonsense with a smile. With 20+ years spent shaking up culture, leadership, and talent strategy at giants like Amazon, Expedia, and Cision, she now runs Sparkle & Sass Consulting—helping brave companies and bolder leaders stop playing nice and start doing better.

On The Culture Chronicles, Kate calls it like it is: no jargon, no fluff, and definitely no beige. Just sharp minds, spicy takes, and real talk about what’s broken at work—and who’s bold enough to fix it.

This isn’t your HR department’s podcast. It’s the one they hope you never find.

Learn More About Kate:

www.sparkleandsassconsulting.com

Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kateball1/

https://www.instagram.com/the_culturechronicles/

The Culture Chronicles Book Series: https://www.amazon.com/author/kateball