Twenty-three years ago, Sirmara Campbell joined LaSalle Network at the age of 19 as a receptionist and has worked her way to the position she holds now: chief human resources officer.
Growing up as a Black woman on the west side of Chicago, Campbell didn’t have a lot of examples of successful Black women in corporate America, but she did have an amazing mentor at LaSalle who believed in her and pushed her to achieve more. “I was lucky enough to have a CEO as a mentor,” Campbell says. “If I can provide a positive influence for today’s youth and show them different routes and how they can build their careers, I want to be a part of that.”
This past year, Campbell started a diversity, equity and belonging group at LaSalle Network because, in her words, “inclusion comes with belonging.” The group comprises 12 individuals to help represent diversity as well as educate and engage employees in the diversity, equity and inclusion conversation.
Campbell is willing to have hard conversations to help raise awareness and educate others on diversity and representation. During the pandemic, Campbell hosted virtual town halls to discuss the issues that the country was facing. “I was vulnerable, and I spoke about my struggles as a Black woman and … being in situations where I felt attacked,” she shares. She also opened the floor to questions to help people better understand her point of view and the situation in the country and why it mattered.
As a result of her leadership, Campbell has been recognized twice by SIA on its Global Power 150 — Women in Staffing list and twice by Crain’s Chicago Business’ “Notable Leaders in HR,” and she has appeared on Chicago Business Journal’s “Women of Influence,” Workforce Magazine’s “Workforce Game Changers” and Diversity Journal’s “Women Worth Watching” lists.
Campbell is a leader in staffing, helping to educate other human resources leaders in developing DE&I strategies as well as educating diverse job seekers on how to succeed in today’s working world.
2023 DE&I Influencers List