On November 7th, the Daviess County CEO Cohort had the privilege of hosting Sara Welsh, SHRM-SCP, Area HR Manager at Perdue Farms. Sara brought a wealth of Human Resources expertise, covering topics such as staffing, talent acquisition, equal employment opportunities, strategic HR management, risk management, and worker protection.
She opened the session with a memorable insight: “Remembering someone’s name is the sweetest and most important sound.” To demonstrate, the cohort introduced themselves—and after a brief break, Sara flawlessly recalled each student’s name. This set the tone for her message about the power of human connection and respect in the workplace.
Sara encouraged the cohort to approach both their professional and personal relationships with intention, reminding them to:
**Strive to make a meaningful, positive impact.
**Approach every task and interaction with grace.
**Treat documentation as an essential professional tool.
**Embrace lessons learned from real-world experiences—the “school of hard knocks.”
**Be responsible and trustworthy stewards of their duties
**Show genuine engagement and participate actively.
**Communicate clearly, respectfully, and often.
**Build, maintain, and invest in personal and professional networks.
**Take risks and step confidently outside their comfort zones
**Share accomplishments—but remain humble and grounded.
When discussing interview strategies, Sara shared invaluable guidance:
**Ask about company culture to ensure it aligns with your values and goals.
**Don’t be afraid to talk about yourself—confidence matters.
**Practice interviewing to build comfort and readiness (and she offered to help the cohort practice!).
**Stay flexible; very few people follow a perfect or linear career path.
With humor, she reminded students, “We all wear pants,” emphasizing that even top professionals are simply people.
Sara also introduced the S.T.A.R. method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—a structured and effective way to answer behavioral interview questions and highlight real achievements.
Her advice extended beyond HR practices. She emphasized the value of staying organized through a reliable to-do list and encouraged students to engage actively in their community. Networking, she noted, is not just a professional strategy but a path to personal growth and meaningful opportunities.
Thank you, Sara, for an inspiring and impactful session!
