09-15-2025
When Sabrina A. Wilson reflects on her career, she traces much of it back to a pivotal moment: walking onto Purdue’s campus as a first-generation college student, ready, if with some uncertainty, to navigate college. Today, with more than three decades of executive-level human resources leadership, Wilson joins the Daniels School as a Business Fellow, bringing not only her professional expertise but also her lived understanding of how education, networks and supportive communities transform lives.
Wilson graduated from Purdue in 1994 with a bachelor’s in organizational and corporate communication. At the time, there wasn’t a dedicated undergraduate program in human resources, so she “pieced together” her own version of an HR-focused education. That foundation sparked a career spanning employee-owned, private equity-backed, family-run and publicly traded organizations.
Wilson has navigated mergers and acquisitions, global expansions, turnarounds and hyper-growth stages — experiences that demanded both strategic acumen and calm leadership in the face of uncertainty. Along the way, she discovered her true passion: helping leaders and teams thrive during bold transitions. This ultimately led to the founding of her own firm, Spill the T Consulting, LLC, in 2025, focused on what she calls the "T pillars”: trailblazing, training, teambuilding, thriving, transformation and transition.
Her approach to leadership is people-centered, a value she credits to her experience at Purdue.
For Wilson, Purdue offered far more than coursework; it was a place where she learned how to chart a path with the support of the Purdue community. “As a first-generation student, you don’t have anyone in your family to guide you,” she explains. “The professors, counselors — everyone — helped me with that navigation.”
That network became the backbone of her career success. Purdue connections not only helped her land roles and build programs but also kept her rooted in a culture of giving back. For years, she has returned to campus to recruit interns, mentor students and serve on advisory boards. She views the Business Fellow role as a natural extension of what she’s been doing all along — only now in a more formal way.
Her motivation is simple: “By producing great talent, Purdue strengthens its brand and reputation. As Fellows, we help students understand not only what’s happening in the industry but also how to thrive in it. That strengthens the cycle for both the university and the organizations they join.”
When asked what wisdom she hopes to share with students, Wilson returns to one theme: Success is never achieved alone.
She recalls a pivotal moment when an executive mentor encouraged her to take on a role she didn’t want — leading a large internal HR team instead of staying embedded in the business unit she loved.
“I thought I’d hate it,” Wilson admits. “Instead, I discovered I had a talent for coaching and teaching HR business partners to be better at their roles. It unlocked an entirely new dimension of my career that I hadn’t seen in myself.”
Her takeaway: surround yourself with mentors, colleagues and allies who push you beyond your comfort zone. “You need people who will challenge you, support you and sometimes see potential in you that you don’t yet recognize in yourself,” she says. “None of us succeeds alone.”
In her new role, Wilson hopes to help students recognize the power of networks and relationships, not just for landing their first job, but for fueling long-term career growth. She’s eager to connect Purdue’s community with her own broad professional network, opening doors for projects, internships and corporate partnerships.
Wilson also emphasizes the unique spirit of the Purdue community: humble, hardworking and collaborative. "I’ve traveled the world, and everywhere I go, whether on a Colorado mountain trail or abroad in Germany, Purdue sparks connection. Being a Boilermaker opens conversations and opportunities you could never predict.”
For Sabrina Wilson, being a Daniels School Business Fellow is not just an honor — it’s a continuation of a lifelong cycle of giving back. She sees it as a way to ensure that Purdue students enter the workforce not only knowledgeable but also collaborative and ready to make an impact.
Her advice for today’s students is timeless yet urgent: “Learn all you can, but don’t underestimate the power of relationships. Build your network early. Invest in your mentors. And when someone challenges you to stretch into new territory, say yes.”
Daniels School Business Fellows are senior industry leaders with more than 20 years of experience or a significant contribution to their field. Fellows serve as an extension to the Daniels School’s strategy, representing the school in their industry, engaging with students, faculty, and curriculum, and providing thought leadership to guide our future direction. This role offers a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact on both the school and the future of business.
