Sonja Smith is a global people & culture leader with 20+ years of experience driving HR strategy and organizational growth across the US and UK. She has scaled HR operations in tech start-ups and SMBs and held senior roles, including Sr. Director of HR at Umbra Space and SVP of HR at American Riviera Bank. As the founder of Artera HR, Sonja provides fractional HR consulting that helps companies build strong people practices, from compliance and talent strategy to executive coaching and culture-building. A mentor and thought leader, she’s passionate about redefining HR as a true business driver. Sonja is the author of Rethink HR, a candid look at the unspoken truths of people work. She lives in Santa Barbara, CA with her husband and their dog, and enjoys writing, gardening, and creative projects.