AuguryA People-First HR Chief: Tammi Wortham of Sun Life U.S. Named a Boston Business Journal Icon
This article was written by the Augury Times
A leader honored for making work better
Tammi Wortham, senior vice president of human resources at Sun Life U.S., has been named an Icon by the Boston Business Journal, a recognition that highlights long-term influence rather than a single achievement. The award came as the company’s U.S. arm continues to push on benefits, inclusion and employee development — areas where Wortham has been a visible driver.
The honor is aimed at executives whose careers have shaped their organizations and the wider business community. For Wortham, the nod signals public recognition of years spent building teams, refining people systems and standing for workforce fairness. Colleagues and outside observers say the award shows her role has moved beyond traditional HR tasks into company-wide strategy and public leadership.
Wortham’s path: steady moves and people work that matters
Wortham’s rise to senior vice president did not come from a single headline initiative. Instead, it grew from steady work: running talent programs, redesigning pay and benefits through changing markets, and focusing on inclusion in hiring and promotion. Those efforts helped shift how Sun Life U.S. thinks about its people — moving HR from a back-office function to a strategic partner that shapes business decisions.
Throughout her career, Wortham has balanced everyday HR duties with projects meant to have long-lasting effects. Examples include updating career pathways so employees see how to move up, tightening talent pipelines for key technical and sales roles, and introducing training to help managers build stronger teams. These are quiet changes that add up: they tend to lower turnover, raise morale and make it easier for an insurer to attract skilled workers in a competitive market.
People who’ve worked with her describe Wortham as practical and hands-on. She is known for listening to frontline managers and responding in ways that leaders can implement without bureaucratic delay. That mix of empathy and execution is a common thread in the kinds of careers the Boston Business Journal highlights.
What the Boston Business Journal award recognizes and why it matters
The BBJ Icon distinction focuses on leaders whose influence is felt over many years. It’s not for a single successful deal or a viral moment. Instead, the program highlights sustained service, mentorship and the public footprint a leader builds through industry work, boards, mentoring younger executives and speaking up on important issues.
For human resources leaders, that kind of recognition is still relatively new. Traditionally, awards and headlines favored sales, product or finance leaders. Honoring an HR executive signals a shift: businesses and the media are paying more attention to the human side of running large organizations. That’s important because it underscores a growing belief that company culture and people strategy are central to long-term performance.
Why this recognition matters for Sun Life U.S., employees and the HR field
For Sun Life U.S., the visible recognition of an HR leader is a reputational win. It sends a clear message to employees and potential hires that people strategy is taken seriously at the top. That can help with recruiting, retention and brand perception — all practical benefits in a crowded labor market.
For employees, the award is a morale boost. It suggests the company values leaders who invest in staff and not just short-term financial results. For the HR profession, the recognition helps normalize the idea that HR leaders should be judged on how they shape organizations over the long run, not only on administrative success.
All of this is quietly useful. Companies that communicate internally about leadership wins tend to see a modest lift in engagement. More importantly, it encourages other firms to take a longer view of people strategy.
The ceremony, her remarks and what comes next
The Boston Business Journal will honor Wortham at its upcoming Icon event, where peers from across the region gather to celebrate longtime business leaders. Wortham is expected to speak about teamwork, mentorship and the practical steps that deliver better employee experiences.
In the weeks ahead, look for Sun Life U.S. to lean into this moment with renewed emphasis on its people programs. That could mean new training initiatives, more visible career-path work, or public-facing efforts that highlight the company as an employer of choice.
More than an individual award, this Icon nod is a small signal about how companies are valuing leadership that centers on people. For Wortham, it crowns a career built on steady improvement and quiet leadership. For Sun Life U.S., it offers a chance to show that culture and strategy can move together.
Photo: Edmond Dantès / Pexels
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