Authenticity at the top: the perks of leading with purpose with CEO of Ampa, Sarah Walker-Smith

Episode twelve

Authenticity at the top: the perks of leading with purpose with CEO of Ampa, Sarah Walker-Smith

Creativity and professionalism are not always polar opposites—Sarah Walker-Smith shows that they’re two sides of the same coin.

As CEO of Shakespeare Martineau and Ampa, Sarah has redefined what leadership looks like in the professional services world—bringing together strategic clarity, personal purpose, and a deep commitment to culture.

Join us on Pivot Points to discover how Sarah overcame impostor syndrome, why you need to go slow to move fast, and her inventive use of a shadow board.

"If I think about my career up to that point, I'd always been hiding something or stifling something, and I got to show up as me for the first time. So that was a really pivotal point; not getting the job, but deciding to take it."

Sarah Walker-Smith

CEO, Ampa

Key takeaways:

Personal purpose and authenticity are vital in guiding career decisions and leadership styles.
Sarah’s career journey demonstrates that success isn't always planned, but can result from being open to opportunities.
Using tools like a shadow board can create strategic alignment and empower emerging leaders.
Sarah has challenged traditional professional environments, particularly as a woman in male-dominated sectors.
Personal creativity can coexist with professional life, and even enhance professional leadership.

To tune in, head here:

“For 15 years I had an awful lot of the component parts of being a chief exec, but when you’re actually CEO and the buck stops with you, it feels very different.”

Sarah Walker-Smith

CEO, Ampa