Meet Sanja Kos

When you meet Sanja Kos, one of the first things you notice is her presence. It is calm, steady, and deeply human. It comes from values shaped by early years, sharpened through world-class training, and enriched by ten years of advising leaders at ghSMART. As she celebrates a decade with the firm, Sanja reflects on where she came from, the experiences that shaped her, and why she believes the future of leadership advisory is as human as ever.

A Foundation Built on Connection

Sanja was born in a small town on the coast of Croatia. Roaming the streets of her hometown, whether on a bike or rollerblades, she was always seeking quality time with friends, wanting to form deeper connections. She blended that relationship orientation with curiosity and ambition to expand her horizons and become a “global citizen”. That perspective guided her to start her career at McKinsey & Company, attend Harvard Business School, and eventually join ghSMART, where she has spent the last decade helping leaders navigate complicated and high-stakes talent decisions with confidence and compassion.

Through her years advising CEOs, executives, and boards, Sanja has seen the world change rapidly. But one thing has never changed: the irreplaceable value of human connection and putting people at the forefront of everything she does.

“With AI and digitization accelerating, many people assume our work will become less human. I believe the opposite,” she said.

“Our best moments happen in person with clients and colleagues. Nothing replaces looking someone in the eye and having a conversation that feels safe, protected, and real.”

Technology can support insight, she believes, but it cannot replicate trust, judgment, or empathy. Those remain central to leadership and central to ghSMART’s work.

The Power of Asking a Good Question  

Sanja reflected on how, initially, she felt like she needed to know all the answers. “I initially had the consultant mindset of crunching the data and giving the answer.” With time, she realized that the person on the other side was seeking to be heard and understood.  

She quickly learned the power of asking the right, oftentimes provocative, questions. She recalls a moment when one client was stuck: “They looked like they were carrying the world’s problems on their shoulders. They kept talking about not wanting to disappoint their manager… After a few pointed questions, some rather uncomfortable ones, it became clear that the leader was not worried about disappointing their manager; they were worried about disappointing their spouse. We tackled that first, the light bulb went on, and suddenly, they knew exactly what to do.”  

Integrating Work and Life in a Way That Allows Being Present  

One part of Sanja’s story that she feels deeply grateful for is how seamlessly her personal and professional lives have integrated over the last decade.

“I always tell prospective candidates that, when I decided to join ghSMART, I didn’t just want a good career. I wanted a good life. Here, I have both.” She had both her children while at the firm. Her boys are now six and eight.

“I have never missed anything important. Karate classes, soccer games, class volunteering, field trips, and recitals. I am always present, and my kids know I will show up for anything that is important to them.”

For her, this is not incidental. It is a direct reflection of the firm’s values.

“ghSMART allows you to be your best self at work and at home due to the generosity and kindness of our colleagues, who understand that having a fulfilled personal life will have a direct reflection on your professional life. By taking care of each other, we can better care for our clients.”  

When asked about moments that mattered most, Sanja talked about individuals who are a joy to spend time with, internally and on the client side.

“This is a firm where I would gladly spend a weekend with my colleagues,” she smiled. “We respect each other and genuinely like each other.”

Learn more about Sanja here.