Binghamton student learns how to be ‘the heart of an organization’ on path to human resources career

Sade Salazar '23 has never backed away from a challenge, even when it seemed insurmountable. Her undergraduate years at Binghamton University were peppered by housing insecurity and medical difficulties, which led to five surgeries over four years.

While juggling a triple major in philosophy, politics and law, economics and accounting, it didn't take long before Salazar discovered working in human resources was her calling. She believes that life's inevitable obstacles might shape your journey but should never define you.

Salazar's drive to succeed, coupled with diverse student experiences and academic credentials, has earned her a spot as a master's fellow with the National Academy of Human Resources (NAHR). This recognition -she's among 20 students nationwide who were chosen - put Salazar one step closer to making her career goals a reality.

"People are the heart of our society; conversely, human resources is the heart of an organization," said Salazar, a first-generation college student from Westchester County, N.Y., who graduates in December with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at Binghamton University's School of Management (SOM). "Having experienced times when I didn't feel truly heard myself, I understand the importance of building genuine connections and actively listening to others within organizations and teams. By truly hearing people, we can collaboratively develop change."

The NAHR, considered the preeminent organization for senior HR leaders, was founded in 1992 to recognize HR professionals for their achievement and collaboration in advancing the profession's work.

Being named a master's student fellow with the NAHR is a significant honor in the HR profession that will distinguish Salazar throughout her career, said Ian Ziskin, the SOM adjunct professor who nominated her for the program, which kicked off with an event Nov. 14 in New York City.

Ziskin said Salazar was not only "one of my best MBA students" with a strong desire to learn about the human resources field, but she also volunteered to be a contributing author and research assistant for a book he is working on.

"Sade has demonstrated a strong commitment to pursuing a career in human resources and has backed up that commitment by taking the initiative to enhance her experience and professional network," Ziskin said. "This honor offers a combination of learning from NAHR fellows and networking with other experienced human resources professionals as well as with peer HR students. That network will be unique and valuable throughout Sade's career.

This isn't the first noteworthy kudos Salazar has earned during her time at Binghamton: she's previously been chosen from among 10,000 other students nationwide for the Hispanic Scholarship Fund and was the first recipient of the Bernard and Ruth Bass Scholarship for students pursuing leadership at SOM.

Salazar credits all the experiential learning opportunities available to SOM students like her and throughout the University as being pivotal to her success. For her, the NAHR recognition is also much more than a new professional opportunity. It's a recognition of her perseverance and resilience as a student. It's a chance to learn new perspectives from others with different backgrounds who are following a career path that mirrors her own.

"Often, HR is seen as the 'bad guy'. Traditionally, its role has been to establish a shared purpose and vision and empower people through it," Salazar said. "But, if transformative changes haven't been implemented, HR's fundamental role can be overshadowed by its other functions.

"As the world rapidly evolves, driven not only by technological advancements but also by shifting perspectives that redefine our core values, HR's role is becoming more agile," she added. "An organization's ability to keep up with societal demands will determine if it's successful in the long run."

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