Amber Hamilton
Perkins&Will
“I don't think anybody grows up thinking they're going to be an HR leader.”
Amber Hamilton has been named to the Talent 100, Class of 2026, the annual award recognizing up to 100 leaders in each category of talent acquisition. Honorees are nominated by peers or found by committees that look for excellent work wherever it happens, then chosen for the depth of their craft and their impact on hiring. This is Amber's story.
For Amber Hamilton, a career in human resources was never part of the original plan, and that may be exactly why she has built such a distinctive one.
Like many people leaders, her journey into the profession happened gradually, shaped by curiosity, opportunity, and a genuine passion for people rather than by any early blueprint. "I don't think anybody grows up thinking they're going to be an HR leader," she says, and her own path bears that out.
After earning degrees in psychology and sociology, Amber began her professional career in banking. The experience delivered valuable business exposure, but she quickly realized it wasn't where her passion truly lived. Drawn back toward understanding people, behavior, and organizational dynamics, she returned to the people profession, later earning her MBA and continuing to build a career focused on helping individuals and organizations succeed together.
That path ultimately led her to Perkins&Will, where she has spent the majority of her career. Having joined the firm in 2003, she has grown alongside the organization, holding numerous leadership positions before stepping into the role of Chief Talent Officer. Along the way, she also took time away from her career to focus on her family, an experience that further shaped her perspective on leadership, flexibility, and employee well-being.
Recruiting in a Relationship-Driven Market
Talent acquisition represents only one part of Amber's remit, yet she has watched the recruiting landscape shift dramatically, particularly within the architecture and design industry. One of the largest challenges facing the profession is the growing shortage of experienced talent. As many Baby Boomers approach retirement, organizations face increasing pressure to identify, attract, and develop the next generation of leaders, all while demand for skilled architects and designers continues to grow.
That combination has fundamentally changed how recruiting works. "It's much more about relationship building." Rather than relying solely on active job seekers and inbound applications, organizations must proactively engage talent, cultivate networks, and establish meaningful connections long before hiring needs emerge.
For Amber, recruiting today is increasingly a matter of community-building and long-term relationship development rather than simply filling open positions. Even for one of the largest firms in the industry, success depends on maintaining strong external networks and continuously engaging passive candidates.
Keeping People at the Center in 2026
As organizations continue navigating talent shortages, workforce shifts, and changing employee expectations, Amber believes people leaders must stay focused on what matters most: people. "It's your people who serve your clients."
Organizations often concentrate heavily on growth strategies, business development, and operational performance, but she believes sustainable success ultimately comes from investing in the people responsible for delivering those results. In practice, that means prioritizing employee well-being, creating meaningful development opportunities, offering competitive benefits, and building workplace cultures where people can thrive.
Her advice for leaders heading into 2026 is simple but powerful: keep your people at the center of every decision. Regardless of industry, technology, or business model, organizations succeed when their people succeed. By combining deep business understanding with a genuine commitment to people, Amber Hamilton exemplifies the kind of people-first leadership that continues to shape the future of work.
The Talent 100 exists to celebrate the people shaping the future of how the world hires, and few embody that better than Amber. We are honored to welcome Amber Hamilton to the Talent 100, Class of 2026, and grateful for the experience, perspective, and craft they bring to this community. Congratulations, Amber. Welcome to the Talent 100.
About the Talent 100
The Talent 100 is an annual list spotlighting the leaders who push HR and talent acquisition forward, organized by Noon AI. Honorees are selected through peer nominations and independent selection committees. Selection is entirely merit-based, with no fees or pay-to-play requirements.
