Sara Gorjão

People Leader | Advisor | Executive Partner

At the intersection of people and business.

Organizations don't struggle because of lack of talent. They struggle because growth creates complexity, and complexity demands clarity.

I help tech-driven organizations and leadership teams scale sustainably by designing people systems that support performance, trust and long-term resilience, without losing the human core.

I work closely with executive teams, boards, and leaders who value momentum, thoughtful decision-making, and environments where strong results and full lives can grow side by side.

Get in Touch LinkedIn

How I Can Help

If you're scaling, transforming, reorganizing or simply feeling the weight of complexity, this is where I come in.

I work as a strategic partner to leadership teams at critical inflection points, moments where decisions about people directly shape the future of the business.

Working with me means:

Turning People & HR into a strategic lever, not a support function
Making better decisions through data, without losing judgment or context
Building leadership systems that create accountability and psychological safety
Retaining top talent while scaling, without diluting culture
Creating organizations that are resilient, adaptable and future-ready

My approach is deeply practical. I don't believe in performative leadership, endless red tape or abstract frameworks that never land. I believe in clarity, ownership and execution, grounded in a strong human foundation.

Let's talk about your context

Services

People & HR Advisory / Transformation

I support organizations in designing, scaling and evolving People functions, from building foundations from scratch to transforming existing models into strategic, data-driven operations.

Ideal for companies navigating growth, restructuring or cultural reset.

Executive & Career Coaching

One-on-one coaching for executives, senior leaders and first-time managers stepping into leadership roles.

Focused on decision-making, presence, confidence, and navigating complexity without losing yourself.

Leadership Development & Manager Training

Tailored programs for managers and leadership teams. From first-time managers to senior leadership, with a strong focus on accountability, feedback, trust and sustainable performance.

AI & People Strategy Advisory

Certified in Artificial Intelligence (Microsoft), I support organizations in diagnosing readiness, defining use cases and implementing AI in people-related processes.

I help leaders integrate AI without losing the human dimension.

Public Speaking & Thought Leadership

Keynotes, panels and facilitation on leadership, people strategy, AI & the future of work.

Book a One-on-One Schedule a Conversation

My Story

I've spent my career working at strategic turning points inside organizations.

As I became more senior, my role naturally evolved into a close partnership with executive teams and boards, helping shape decisions that directly impacted growth, cash flow, culture and long-term sustainability.

I presented the model to the board, validated it with data, built the team, and scaled it into one of the most profitable and strategically relevant business units, generating immediate cash flow and opening a new market niche.

Supported hypergrowth without losing culture or performance. I also played a strong advisory role in implementing Portugal's pioneering 36-hour workweek, aligning wellbeing, productivity and employer branding without compromising results.

I assessed process efficiency, established baselines, introduced new performance metrics, and helped shift HR from a support mindset to HR as a product and service, resilient, documented, scalable and ready for change.

Across roles, one pattern stays constant: I anticipate change early, spotting talent needs, market shifts and risks so leaders can act before crises.

I pair critical thinking with vulnerability, helping teams face uncertainty, learn fast and evolve.

Diplomatic when useful, assertive when needed, guided by values. I prioritize substance, momentum and doing what's right over empty politics.

Explore Working Together

Leadership Style

My leadership style blends clarity and accountability with empathy and calm.

I'm present, direct and deeply invested in the people I work with. I care about trust, psychological safety and honest dialogue, especially when decisions are hard.

I don't believe in politics, performative leadership or endless red tape. I believe in momentum, ownership and doing the right thing, even when it's uncomfortable.

I work best in environments that value

Progress over perfection
Substance over noise
Long-term thinking over short-term optics

And while work matters deeply to me, I believe great leaders build organizations where high performance and full lives can coexist.

Start a Conversation

Thought Leadership & Perspective

My work and perspective on leadership, people strategy and AI have been featured in:

Forbes Portugal

Estratégias para reter talento

ECO

Transformação com propósito

Human Resources Portugal

Semana de trabalho de 36 horas

Modern People Leader

Podcast Episode

I write and speak about leadership, the future of work, AI with human purpose, and building resilient organizations.

Connect on LinkedIn

What Others Say

"Sara is one of those leaders you don't forget. She built our entire People function, shaped our culture, and was a constant ally during challenging growth phases. People follow her, she inspires trust and makes a difference."

— Founder & CEO

"She balances strategic vision with a profoundly human approach. Her leadership created a culture where people felt valued, supported and empowered to grow."

— Senior Engineer

"Sara brings clarity, empathy and depth to every conversation. Her perspective consistently elevates decisions and outcomes."

— Brand & Communications Leader

Full recommendations available on LinkedIn.

Let's Talk

If you're looking for a People Leader, advisor or partner who understands both business pressure and human complexity, let's talk.

saragorjao@gmail.com Connect on LinkedIn