How Sabrina Crespo Helps Audible Keep Pace with Our Global Growth

When Sabrina Crespo joined Audible in 2016, she was immediately tasked with a daunting project—in fact, heading up a major transformation. She would be responsible for scaling Audible’s human resources’ technology, immigration, and operations, which had been combined into one centralized team, People and Places, to keep pace with employee growth. “I thrive on taking ambiguity, chaos and a blank slate, and then creating order and a foundation to build upon,” Crespo says. In addition to her passion for large-scale transformation, she brought 20 years of experience working in human resources for large companies across investment banking and financial technology.

Crespo soon found that Audible allowed plenty of room to implement new structures, “in the spirit of being better tomorrow than we are today.” For example, she led the global implementation of foundational HR infrastructure that resulted in the organization having access to employee data and information that informs decision-making for all levels of HR programming.

Here Crespo details her passion for human resources, the inspirations that drive her, and her approach to leadership as Audible’s Head of People Operations, Technology, Immigration and PMO.

How would you describe your approach to leadership?

One: Lead by example. In their prior employment experiences, people might have seen behaviors, practices, and work ethic articulated but not practiced. Encouraged, but not exhibited. It is so vital to be the leader you would want leading you, to guide and develop with care and thought.

Two: Invest in your team. They are people, not just “resources.” They have aspirations, career goals that need to be nurtured and invested in, no matter how busy one can become. It has often been said that the greatest asset we have is our people—a true leader exercises that belief through action. Investing in our people is not only critical, it is our responsibility.

What do you like best about your work?

I’ve had the opportunity to focus my career on driving change through the human resources lens, building HR teams from the ground up or transforming them to meet the needs of the organization. This has kept me engaged and excited while allowing me to focus on improving the employee journey through the avenues of HR technology, infrastructure, operations, immigration, project management and change management.

What’s one of your superpowers?

Transformation. That is my superpower and my passion—to take complete ambiguity, chaos, or nothingness and create order, value, and a foundation upon which to build. Through resilience and a relentless pursuit of growth we can continuously reshape the future of work in whatever area of expertise we offer in the spirit of being better tomorrow than we are today.

If we made an Audible Original about your life, what would the title be?

Even When I am Weak, I am Strong.

Lightning Round

• Coffee or tea? Coffee, a thousand percent.
• Morning person or night owl? Morning. Mornings are when I'm most productive—even at 3 or 4 a.m., the clarity is unmatched.
• Where are you working from currently? Two days a week—sometimes three—in our Newark hub, and the rest of the time at home.
• How long have you been with Audible? Seven years and counting.
• Who is your biggest inspiration, career-wise? My mama. She showed me you can do anything, be anything, despite the challenges placed before you. Despite facing many workplace barriers and obstacles, she never gave up and pushed through these challenges to support her family and teach her children strength and resilience. I am so grateful and privileged to have her as my inspiration, my muse, and my rock.
• Dine in or take out? I live by both practices because there is enjoyment in both.
• Favorite outside of work hobby? Singing and community service that focuses on events in support of social service and human development programs.
• Favorite Audible listen, go. Quiet by Susan Cain. As an introvert, it is challenging to be understood—and sometimes valued—in an extroverted world, but there is value at all points on the spectrum.