We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Amber Thomas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Amber below.

Amber, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Before we get into specifics, let’s talk about success more generally. What do you think it takes to be successful?

To me, success is the result of consistent effort, adaptability, and clarity of purpose. It’s not a single moment or milestone—it’s a pattern of behavior over time. It’s built day by day, through small, intentional choices and a commitment to keep moving forward, even when things are unclear or difficult.

One of the most important traits I’ve seen in successful people is resilience. Thomas Edison captured this perfectly when he said, “I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” That mindset—seeing failure as feedback rather than a stop sign—is critical. Success often means staying the course during long stretches of uncertainty and continuing to believe in the process.

Another key trait is self-awareness. People who understand their strengths, limitations, and motivations are more effective. They make better decisions, form stronger relationships, and stay aligned with their long-term goals. In my own growth, I’ve learned that success isn’t just about being smart or right—it’s about being useful, reliable, and willing to grow. The moments I’ve helped someone solve a tough problem or navigated a difficult conversation with clarity and empathy have felt more like true success than any title or salary ever could.

But one of the most powerful tools I’ve discovered on the path to success is visualization. Success isn’t just about doing the work—it’s also about believing in the outcome and mentally preparing yourself to achieve it.

Visualization isn’t wishful thinking—it’s a form of mental rehearsal. When you imagine yourself succeeding—leading a project, delivering a powerful presentation, or stepping into a new role—you’re actually training your brain to feel comfortable with success. Neuroscience shows that visualizing an action activates similar areas of the brain as actually doing it. That means you’re wiring your mind to recognize and pursue the outcomes you want.

This became especially real for me during the pandemic. Like many others, I found myself in a space of uncertainty. But instead of simply waiting for life to return to normal, I used that time to turn inward and refocus. I began journaling every morning—writing down what I was grateful for, what I wanted to achieve, and how I wanted to show up. I created a vision board full of images and words that reflected the lifestyle, career, and purpose I was working toward. I meditated daily to quiet the noise and reconnect with my inner clarity.

Those practices became a form of mental conditioning. I wasn’t just visualizing success—I was preparing myself to live it. That inner work gave me the confidence to pursue professional development, take on more leadership opportunities, and say yes to challenges I might have shied away from before.

And over time, the vision became reality. I advanced in my career, stepped into new leadership roles, and became a six-figure earner—something I had clearly visualized on my board months before. But more than the financial achievement, it was the clarity, confidence, and alignment that made the biggest difference.

That experience taught me something powerful: Success starts in the mind. When you take the time to see it, feel it, and align your daily actions with that vision, you begin to attract and create the very life you’ve imagined. Visualization didn’t just help me picture a better future—it helped me build it.

Amber, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

As a Senior HR Manager at a leading water technology company, I serve as a strategic partner to business leaders, aligning talent strategies with operational goals in a highly technical and mission-driven environment. My role focuses on driving organizational effectiveness through workforce planning, employee engagement, change management, and leadership development.

I often solve complex challenges such as navigating organizational restructuring, improving team performance, resolving employee relations issues, and implementing people-focused solutions that support business growth. Whether it’s guiding a manager through a sensitive performance issue, leading culture initiatives, or supporting large-scale change, I bring a solutions-oriented mindset to ensure both employee well-being and business outcomes are achieved.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One important lesson I’ve had to unlearn is the idea that fitting into a mold is the key to landing the job you want. In reality, true success comes from embracing your authenticity. When you show up as your full, genuine self, you attract roles and opportunities that align with your values, strengths, and long-term goals—rather than just conforming to what you think others expect. Authenticity isn’t a limitation; it’s your greatest asset in building a fulfilling and sustainable career.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

What’s helped shape my reputation in the HR space is a commitment to showing up with both strategy and heart. I’m known for solving complex problems with clarity, navigating change with confidence, and building trusted relationships at every level of the organization. Whether I’m guiding leaders through sensitive employee issues or aligning HR initiatives with long-term business goals, I approach every challenge with a people-first mindset and a drive to deliver lasting impact.

Over the years, I’ve learned that success doesn’t come from fitting into a mold—it comes from owning your authenticity. That’s the energy I bring into every conversation, project, and partnership.

Let’s connect if you’re passionate about building workplaces where people and performance thrive.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/luxurysasha2_?igsh=Zzd3OWdxejZtMTc4&utm_source=qr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amber-thomas-286a0096
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@luxurysasha2?si=nO3wz78c9pvJ6zeB