R.E.D Interview with Sunny: Learning, Leadership, and Shaping the Workplace
In this recap of our interview with Sunny, we explore her journey as an HR professional, her belief in continuous learning, and how empathy and psychological safety shape the way she leads and supports her teams.
A Bit About Sunny
If you’re an HR leader looking for practical insights, Sunny’s story is full of lessons on leading with learning, empathy, and emotional awareness.
On June 4th, she shared her experiences as an HRBP at Ansell. Discussing reflections and tips for building resilience and psychological safety in the workplace.
Ansell is a global company specializing in personal protective equipment (PPE), with more than 130 years of history in protecting people and workplaces around the world.
Sunny shared that she finds strong alignment with Ansell’s vision, “Leading the world to a safe future”.
A mission that reflects not only the company’s work, but also her own approach to HR leadership.
Sunny has been working in HR for many years and has plenty of experience under her belt, even earning accolades such as the HR Shining Star from Ansell and an HR excellence award in appreciation of her outstanding contribution from her business stakeholders.
From the very beginning, Sunny brought such a warm and welcoming energy to the conversation. As her name suggests, she radiated warmth and positivity, while being thoughtful, open, and easy to talk to. Making the interview feel less like a formal Q&A and more like a conversation with someone you already know.
A Lifetime of Leading with Learning
We kicked it off by asking Sunny what keeps her inspired. Her answer was simple: learning. For Sunny, learning is not just something that helps her grow at work. It adds value to her life and gives her a real sense of achievement. She believes continuous learning is essential for staying adaptable, growing personally and professionally, and keeping up with a world that seems to change every five minutes.
That mindset has shaped much of her career. Working across the APAC region brought new challenges, especially when she first began navigating local HR legislation. To adapt, she consulted experts, used the resources available to her, and focused on understanding the local context. In many ways, her story showed that great leadership often starts with being willing to learn what you do not yet know.
The Human Side of HR
When we asked how she got into HR, Sunny spoke about two strengths that have guided her throughout her career: communication and empathy. These qualities have helped her build strong relationships with employees, managers, and stakeholders.
She was also very honest about the difficult side of HR. Some of the toughest moments involve employee exits, restructuring, and helping people prepare for life after leaving the company.
These transitions are never easy, especially when real relationships have been built along the way.
Her reflections reminded us that HR is not just about policies and paperwork. It is also about people, emotions, and sometimes having the difficult conversations no one else wants to have.
Setting the Emotional Weather
One of the most memorable parts of the conversation came when Sunny spoke about psychological safety. As an HR leader, she sees herself as someone her team can turn to when challenges arise. She also understands the responsibility that comes with supporting people through difficult moments. A quote that really stuck with us was:
“Your team depends on you to set the emotional weather.” – Sunny
That line says so much. For Sunny, leadership is not just about decisions, policies, or processes. It is about setting the tone in the room. It’s about creating an environment where people feel safe, supported, and comfortable speaking openly. For instance, when a team is facing a difficult change, a calm and reassuring leader can help people stay focused and confident rather than anxious or overwhelmed.
Resilience, Persistence, & More
During our rapid-fire round, Sunny described her year so far in two words: Resilience & Persistence. Two words that fit her career, her leadership style, and the way many HR professionals continue to navigate change.
Interestingly, resilience also came up repeatedly during the R.E.D. Forum a couple of weeks ago, where other leaders used the same word to describe their own approach to work and growth.
Looking ahead to 2030, Sunny hopes to keep growing as an HR leader while building on her resilience and love for learning.
She also mentioned the possibility of becoming a coach or talent developer in the future.
Whatever path Sunny chooses, we are sure she will continue to bring in positivity and success.
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