Rann Sharma

Director, Human Resources
Free The Children

Interesting fact: Despite being arachnophobic, while living in Japan Rann attempted to co-exist with a few uninvited roommates, a gang of non-poisonous hand-sized spiders!

Rann serves as the global head of Human Resources for Free The Children. Since 2006, she has developed and formalized the Human Resources functions at Free The Children, for a team of over 250 employees. Rann has also worked directly on the ground with Free The Children staff in Kenya, India and UK offices while providing support to China, Ecuador along with North American regional offices located in Quebec, Western Canada and in Palo Alto, California. Furthermore she has successfully led hiring, training and on-boarding through major organizational growth, staffing to implement projects and initiatives for partnerships with National Bank Financial, Oprah’s Angel Network, Robert C. Atkins Foundation, Nokia, Skoll Foundation, McConnell Family Foundation, Walter and Duncan Gordon Foundation, Investors Group, Toskan- Casale Foundation, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Participant Media, Virgin UK, Canadian Living and the Toronto Star. From 2007-2009 Rann has also spearheaded volunteer coordination for Free The Children’s signature We Days. She has overseen recruiting and training of over 2000 volunteers for We Days in Vancouver and Toronto.

Rann holds a master’s degree in Human Resources, awarded from a six star rated UK business school, Lancaster University. Her graduate work examined the role of western education and its impact on international learners, particularly women enrolled in business management education. She also has a degree in cultural anthropology and business administration from Trent University. It was while at Trent, Rann found her passion for capacity building as she worked at the University Women’s Centre advocating for and raising awareness about issues like violence, poverty and health as they affect women. Upon graduation, Rann was selected by the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme held in partnership through the Japanese and Canadian governments.

In 2008, Rann was awarded admission into into the Women’s Executive Network (WXN) Wisdom II Mentorship Program featuring Canada's most influential female audience and the country's leading organization dedicated to the advancement and recognition of executive-minded women in the workplace to further develop her leadership skills. In 2010, with her experience recruiting, hiring and training new graduates, Rann was invited to lend her expertise to the University of Toronto’s Career Centre Advisory Board, where she is a member ensuring that Career Centre prepares new graduates for employment. In 2011, Rann ensured that the work of Free The Children as an employer, was celebrated when Eluta.ca and The Globe and Mail announced Free The Children as a Top Employer for Young People.

Rann volunteers locally with the Cabbagetown Youth Centre reading to children who are new Canadians and is passionate about education for young people in North America and abroad.