Sarah Forth-Smith is a people-first software engineering leader with over 15 years of experience delivering large-scale, high-impact consumer products. She combines hands-on technical expertise, strategic vision, and empathetic leadership to build teams that thrive and products that matter.
As a Director of Software Engineering at Yahoo, Sarah led critical initiatives in user experience, AI integration, and platform modernization. She built and scaled a high-performing full-stack engineering team, guiding them through organizational change and technological transformation while delivering product excellence.
In addition to her technical leadership, Sarah is a dedicated coach to early-career engineering managers, helping them grow into confident, emotionally intelligent leaders. Her passion for mentorship reflects a deep commitment to cultivating a more inclusive, thoughtful, and people-centered tech culture.
Follow Sarah on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahforthsmith/
Download a copy of our FREE Book List, which includes books written by and recommended by our speakers: kdwinchenbach.com/leadfearlessly.