Giving Back with Libby Sartain

Chris Hoyt: Just talked about this a little bit, but as luck would have it, the kid’s got a cold day from school. If you’re in Texas, you know what a cold day is—but I guess it’s just too darn cold to go to school today.

And Libby, you’re almost a neighbor to me.

Libby Sartain: Yeah, not too far away. It’s 25 degrees at my house, with a wind chill of zero or something this morning. Very cold. I took my trash out and I almost died.

Gerry Crispin: It’s actually warmer here in New York than in Austin, which is rare. On Long Island, we just got our first real snow in over 700 days. We’re starting to think about planting palm trees. But for now, I’m enjoying the winter weather.

Libby Sartain: Well, good!

Chris Hoyt: You can have our winter weather if you’d like it. Nobody moved to Texas to be cold.

Libby Sartain: Although I wish we could split the difference and have some of this cold in the summer—maybe 20% of the day?

Chris Hoyt: That would be nice. Now there’s a committee I’d join. Let’s figure that out.

Are we ready to talk a little bit about giving back?

Libby Sartain: Let’s do it.

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Chris Hoyt: A little bit of a delay this morning—technical difficulties with the host—but that’s okay. We’re jumping right in.

Welcome to the Recruiting Community Podcast. We do this weekly. For those who don’t know me, I’m Calvin, and I’m bringing in my co-host Mr. Hobbes. How are you, Hobbes?

Gerry Crispin: Just dandy.

Chris Hoyt: There are too many of these—at some point, we’re going to have to sort out all the characters.

Did you know this is our 400th podcast?

Gerry Crispin: Oh my god! That’s a milestone. I don’t think we want to go back to the first one though…

Chris Hoyt: The first podcast? No—we were just reading blog posts. It was not great.

Gerry Crispin: But it keeps evolving. We haven’t yet peaked.

Chris Hoyt: We’re not a 400-meter dash—we’ve got more to go.

And today’s guest is a perfect example of that.

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Now let’s bring in today’s guest. I’m super excited to welcome Libby Sartain.

Libby Sartain: Good morning!

Chris Hoyt: Libby, we’re thrilled to have you. Not just because you’re a friend and live nearby, but because you’re a titan in this space. You’ve held roles at Yahoo and Southwest Airlines. Most recently, you were named one of the 2023 Most Influential Corporate Board Directors by Women’s Inc. Magazine. And you currently serve as Chair of the Board for AARP Foundation, right?

Libby Sartain: Yes—Chairman of the Board at AARP Foundation and on the AARP board as well. And just to clarify, I’m one of 100 most influential women corporate directors—not the only one!

Chris Hoyt: I’m still impressed. For those who haven’t had the chance to connect with you, give us the quick Libby Sartain elevator pitch.

Libby Sartain: I’ve been part of the HR profession from back-office roles to the C-suite to the boardroom. I never imagined I’d see that progression in my own career, but I’ve had a front-row seat to the evolution of HR. I joined my first public board 17 years ago and have loved the work—especially the HR-related aspects.

Now I split my time: one-third on personal/family, one-third on professional, and one-third on giving back. And even though I might be past the traditional retirement age, I’m still working.

Chris Hoyt: I wish I’d known the story about your hat, Jerry. You still have it?

Gerry Crispin: I do! I bought it in New Orleans during a SHRM conference. Someone spotted me because of it and I ended up landing a consulting contract. It became my trademark!

Libby Sartain: I was with him when he bought that hat! We just walked down the street and he picked it up.

Chris Hoyt: I love that story—Jerry’s origin story. The hat is iconic now.

So Libby, let’s set the stage. You’ve been advising since about 2008. But when did you really decide to step away from the C-suite and do something different—something that allowed you to give back?

Libby Sartain: It was more of an evolution than a turning point. I started my career in Dallas, where community involvement was expected of business leaders. I had a CEO who encouraged me to lead our United Way campaign and join leadership programs like Leadership Dallas and Leadership Texas.

That exposure was invaluable. I eventually became Chair of SHRM in 2001, which was an eye-opening experience, especially working on public policy issues like healthcare reform.

Around age 50, I started thinking more about my legacy. I had some financial flexibility thanks to stock options, so I didn’t need to work full-time anymore. Instead, I focused on things I was passionate about—public boards, community organizations, and personal growth.

Gerry Crispin: You started early with involvement. By the ’90s, you were already making a name for yourself in the profession. You became a role model for many.

And now, we often hear from people in their 50s saying, “I just need 10 more years of doing the same thing.” That’s the wrong mindset. It makes them less hirable, frankly. We need to encourage people to think bigger and broader.

Libby Sartain: I agree. Also, my father died of cancer at 70. He had planned to travel in retirement but never got the chance. He made me promise to retire early. My husband passed suddenly two years ago, but I’m so grateful we had 15 years to travel and enjoy life together. That perspective really matters.

Gerry Crispin: That resonates deeply. It’s about shifting how we spend our time as we age—focusing on what truly matters.

Chris Hoyt: Libby, can you share how your skills from roles like Yahoo and Southwest equipped you for board work? What should leaders be developing now if they’re eyeing future board opportunities?

Libby Sartain: About a third of board work is HR-related—executive comp, culture, succession planning, and talent strategy. I’ve chaired compensation committees and served on people and culture committees.

When considering nonprofit or board roles, choose organizations aligned with your passions. For example, I loved using Shutterfly, so I joined their board. I drank Pete’s Coffee, so I served there too.

AARP’s focus on health, wealth, and self for the 50+ demographic aligns perfectly with my career in comp, benefits, and helping people find fulfillment at work.

At Southwest, I often pushed employees to contribute to their 401(k) and profit sharing. Years later, I get messages from people thanking me for helping them retire with millions. That’s rewarding.

Chris Hoyt: That’s powerful. You mentioned giving back—what does that really look like at the leadership level?

Libby Sartain: I couldn’t have succeeded in HR without being part of professional associations like SHRM. I learned more than I gave, and I built a network I could rely on for anything.

Giving back should also push you to learn and grow. That’s how I feel about my work with AARP and Manpower.

Speaking also helped—I had to prepare, which forced me to keep learning. Everything I’ve done to give back has made me better at what I do.

Gerry Crispin: If you’re not curious, engaged, and willing to learn from others, you’re not setting yourself up for growth.

Chris Hoyt: Libby, we always ask our guests: if you were going to write a book about this topic today, what would you title it?

Libby Sartain: A Life Well Lived.

Chris Hoyt: I like that. And who gets the first signed copy—present company excluded?

Libby Sartain: Probably Colleen Barrett, my former boss at Southwest Airlines. She’s at the top of the list.

Chris Hoyt: That’s lovely. Libby, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re grateful for your time and your insights. Let’s book another breakfast at our favorite diner soon.

Libby Sartain: Yes, we will. That sounds fun.

Chris Hoyt: Alright, hang out in the green room for a sec. Everyone else, we’ll see you next week!

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