Sarah Hassaine

MEDTECH: Grew Employee Resource Groups Threefold in 18 Months

Sarah Hassaine, Global Director of Diversity & Inclusion at ResMed, a global leader in digital health and cloud-connected medical devices, is heralded by her contemporaries as compassionate, selfless, driven and inclusive.

With a strong, proven track record of delivering and leading evolving diversity and inclusion programs and initiatives for the last eight years, Hassaine consults, advises, and upskills ResMed's global leaders; designs and delivers trainings on diversity and inclusion values and best practices enterprise-wide; evaluates policies, accessibility and facilities; proposes changes that drive inclusion; and effectively manages partnerships to drive advocacy, sourcing, branding, engagement and professional development opportunities.

Through her community involvement in San Diego and globally, her role within ResMed, her more than 100 speaking engagements at business, diversity, and tech conferences, and her contributions to local media outlets, Hassaine uses her platform to advocate for diversity, inclusion and the value of a shared space of understanding.

Hassaine grew up in a household that emphasized community-building work, community service and activism. This upbringing has become a major part of who she is today as a diversity and inclusion practitioner.

Hassaine is spearheading critical organizational change within ResMed to create a truly diverse and inclusive work environment where all employees feel included, appreciated, welcome and able to develop professionally.

Dedicated to listening to people share their experiences, understanding their needs, and bringing the information to action to help improve different environments, Hassaine is a strategic analytical person whose personality and self-expression marry with her work. She uses her voice to elevate others – whether in the workplace or through her community work.

Hassaine was named by the San Diego Business Journal as 2022 Business Woman of the Year for large public companies with more than 250 employees.

Implementing DEI Programs

In addition to building a global team that focuses on an equitable approach to diversity and inclusion, Hassaine has elevated awareness around accessibility in products and led ResMed through Global Accessibility Awareness Week with a series of learning activities

Among her accomplishments, she developed strategic processes, by-laws, annual planning templates, and operating models for Employee Resource Groups, and expanded internal communities from four to 12 groups within 18 months – each with its own webpage, logo and mission.

She also partnered with ResMed's “People Compliance” and led the update of the company's Code of Conduct and Employee Handbooks with new language on anti-racism, anti-discrimination and use of bathroom of choice.

Additionally, she partnered with ResMed's facilities team in Singapore and the U.S. to put in expectant mother parking spots, “Quiet Rooms” and updated nursing room equipment and experience.

Community Involvement

Hassaine's community involvement underscores her devotion to community empowerment. She has worked with refugees in San Diego County and across the border in Mexico with orphanages through Corazon de Vida.

Hassaine is part of the San Diego Tech Women Coalition, the San Diego Diversity Council and serves on the Boards of Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, the North San Diego Business Chamber and the Kim Center for Social Balance.

She is also a mentor through Operations Connect for Veterans, DisabilityIN's Emerge Program and UCSD's Triton Mentorship Program.

Hassaine received her Bachelor of Arts in political science and international relations from UC San Diego, her master's degree in public policy from George Washington University, an MBA from The Wharton School, and certification in diversity and inclusion from Cornell.