Sarah Walton: Doing Business Differently

Sarah Walton built her career inside some of the world’s most competitive corporate environments—Target, Nike, and others—where she became known for solving complex problems and leading global teams. During the pandemic, as she saw burnout rise and colleagues face profound loss, she began to question the pace and purpose of her work. Her story is about building companies differently, where kindness is not a risk but a strategy for lasting success. She used to joke, “I always say that I’m really bad at business.” Then she is asked how she has built seven-figure businesses and still donates time to help others. She no longer says that she is bad at business—she just does business differently. “Why can’t we win in some area financially and give in another.”

Raised in Oregon by a single mother, Sarah learned the value of hard work early. She spent fifteen years in corporate leadership, known for her problem-solving skills and for building high-performing, loyal teams. By the time she was leading global initiatives at Nike, she was fixing sustainability systems, managing digital transformations, and mentoring employees around the world. But when the pandemic hit and she saw colleagues lose loved ones and burnout rise, she asked herself: “What are we doing?”

Sarah left her corporate career without another job lined up. She took some time off, though she soon decided to start a company—now a growing coaching and leadership business—dedicated to helping people and organizations find purpose and happiness in work again. “Life doesn’t have to be miserable,” she said. “Work should be fun and engaging.”

Her approach to leadership is a balance of empathy and accountability. She said that the biggest misconception about her is that she is nice, “because I’m actually not nice. I’m kind.” Sarah distinguishes between being nice and being kind. “Nice is this fake comfortable in the moment.” She continues, “I’ll tell you what you need to hear. You know where you stand with me, and so if you’re not meeting the bar, you will know that, because I will be telling you, and I will be helping you.” In her company, employees know exactly where they stand because feedback is honest and supportive. She hires based on capability, not experience, building teams that thrive on trust and shared values.

Her companies operate without traditional investors, marketing budgets, or aggressive sales tactics. Growth comes through integrity and word of mouth. Sarah deliberately chose not to take outside investment, believing that retaining control of her company allows her to protect its purpose and ensure that employees have power to make decisions. She believes the future of leadership lies in shared ownership, profit-sharing models, and reimagined workplace structures that prioritize humanity over hierarchy.

Outside her coaching company, Sarah and her business partner also manage real estate and Airbnb ventures guided by the same principles. They have never evicted a tenant. When renters fell behind during difficult times, they stepped in to help—assisting with resumes, job searches, and budgeting. In one case, they bought another house so a family would not lose their home. Every tenant has eventually repaid what was owed, often in unconventional ways, such as exchanging a used car of equal value.

“Business can be done differently; we can win financially and still be good people.”

Sarah Walton is a company founder, coach, and business leader proving that kindness can be both compassionate and strategic. It creates loyalty, builds capability, and drives sustainable results. She created impact for the families she helped, the employees she empowered, and the communities she strengthened through thoughtful action and ethical leadership. Keep an eye out for more interviews.