Sarah Tessier

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT SARAH TESSIER

Hi, I’m Sarah I work across people and business operations, with a strong focus on total rewards, perks and benefits, and the payroll and financial systems behind them.I help teams grow in ways that actually work by connecting people programs to real business needs, so compensation and benefits are competitive, compliant, and easy to understand.My work sits at the intersection of HR, finance, and business ops. I spend a lot of time partnering with leadership teams as a trusted right-hand, helping turn strategy into day-to-day reality across compensation, payroll, vendors, and forecasting.A big part of that work is policy development. I take a contingency-first approach, setting clear guardrails without being rigid. The goal is to keep policies practical and approachable, so managers and their teams can use what’s on offer and make it work for real life.I also enjoy tooling and infrastructure, building low-friction systems that give people clear access to what they need without overcomplicating things.More recently, I’ve been spending time in strategic business ops and FP & A, working cross-functionally to support better decisions around structure, spend, and growth. I’m at my best when I can zoom out to see the full picture — then zoom in and make it practical.At the core of all of this is a belief in values-aligned business and the B Corp mindset. Companies can be people-first and financially sound.Alongside my professional work, I completed a Master’s degree focused on digital workplace relationships and organizational design. My thesis explored how technology shapes trust, communication, and outcomes in distributed teams. Read my MA thesis: currently working toward a Doctorate in Business Administration (DBA). My research focuses on AI-enabled systems, organizational values, and operational decision-making, particularly how compensation and financial infrastructure communicate what an organization values.I really enjoy sharing insights from my work and research, and contributing to thoughtful conversations about the future of work and sustainability. So please reach out if you want to chat about an event. Recent speaking highlights: AI at Float: a mindset, not a toolset — Float Annual Conference (Sydney) Building a Global Benefits Strategy That Works — SafetyWing Webinar Managing B Corp certification from a People Ops lens — CPHR Roundtable Digital workplace relationships & culture — DisruptHR (Victoria, BC)