From growing up on a farm to leading people and culture at RLB, our People and Culture Director, Sarah Draper reflects on the experiences that have shaped her career. Why authentic workplace culture matters more than tick-box exercises, and how RLB is building an environment where people can thrive. Speaking as part of HR Grapevine’s Big Interview series, Sarah shares her insights on leadership, culture and the future of work.
A sliding doors moment in Barcelona
“I studied at the University of Valencia for six months. My friend’s father then got us two jobs in Barcelona – one in finance and one in HR – and I said to her, ‘you pick,’ and that’s how I ended up in HR!”
That sliding-doors moment was to set her career path for the rest of her life. It opened the door to Reuters, where she began a rotation of roles.
“It was a great way to learn – at the time they were, and still are, fairly advanced in the market.”
Choosing businesses with a sense of community
There’s a deliberacy in who she has chosen to work for.
“Growing up in a farming community, I’ve chosen to work for businesses that have a community within them – I’ve never wanted to work somewhere that’s just names on a spreadsheet, people I don’t really know.”
A new industry, a steep learning curve
Then it was time for a completely new industry – Gerald Eve, a real estate firm.
“I had a seat with the board, and that was a great experience for me. We started off as 300 people, and by the time I left there were close to 500, so it was a real period of growth.”
“Growing up on a farm gives you an incredible work ethic. It doesn’t matter what the weather is – when you have animals, you still have to go out there and feed them. It taught me that work happens no matter what,” she says.
Joining RLB just as lockdown began
Timing is everything, and Draper knows that more than most. In 2020, as Covid crept around the corner, she joined independent built environment management consultant, Rider Levett Bucknall (RLB), where she remains today.
“I’d met the person who interviewed me, and the receptionist, and then we went into lockdown – I started the job at home, with just a laptop and a mobile phone sent to me!” she laughs.
“That’s where my relationship-building skills really came into their own – I built some really strong relationships through this little screen in front of me.”
Building a culture around people, not tick-boxes
Today there are 1,500 people working across the UK and Europe, stretching to 4,500 globally.
“As an employee owned business, the culture at RLB is incredibly strong – ‘people’ is one of our strategic pillars. To shape our values, we surveyed all our colleagues, and that resulted in four simple words: truth, trust, togetherness and tomorrow.”
“If people are happy, they provide a better service to our clients. Communities are at the heart of RLB. We set up the DE&I group, and within that we have sub-communities including wellbeing, able, pride and menopause. It gives everyone a voice.”
“I don’t spend time on tick-box exercises. It has to be genuine and beneficial.”
Progress in a traditionally white, middle-class industry
RLB is also making strides to partner with universities known for the built environment.
“We’re working with ‘Building and Beyond’ – a women’s group set up by female students at Reading University. In turn, we’ve provided them with internships.”
The reverse mentoring scheme has also been especially helpful.
“The aim is to keep building a better environment – that’s been a very powerful learning experience.”
A farmer’s daughter who still hosts the village
At home, she rarely puts her feet up either. Recently she cooked for 27 of her neighbours as part of the village’s “safari suppers” – an “everyone’s invited” occasion taking in starter, main and pudding across different houses. When she moved to the village, it was a great introduction to the community, and that sense of belonging – instilled in her growing up on the farm has held her in good stead – over time it has given her a well-respected reputation and set her stall as an admired figure in her field.
This article first appeared in HR Grapevine: People and Culture Director, RLB – ‘We don’t waste time on exercises that are tick-box’ | HR Grapevine
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