Work has changed....shouldn't HR?

Work has changed…

shouldn’t HR?

Don’t jeopardize all that you’ve put into your business.

Startups and small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) often overlook HR early on — but having strong human resources support from the start is critical for sustainable growth, legal compliance, and building a thriving workplace.

“Fast-growth companies face constant growing pains, especially at critical inflection points, and investors attribute 65% of failures in their portfolios to people and organizational issues.”

-McKinsey & Co

FAQs

What is Fractional HR?

Fractional human resources (HR) refers to a model where companies hire HR professionals on a part-time or limited basis rather than having a full-time, in-house HR staff - usually at the senior or executive level. This can be especially beneficial for small to medium size organizations that may not have the workload or resources to hire a full-time professional but still need seasoned expertise with the people function. In short, it allows you as a business to access top-notch HR expertise without the cost and commitment of a full-time hire.

What if I already have some HR professionals on my team?

We love partnering with your current team! We support your HR professionals part-time with our scope generally more strategic. We offer the benefit of ‘outside eyes’ that offer a fresh view on your current goals and the strategic pillars to support both current and long term growth goals. Utilizing a fractional HR executive or team often offers a more personal relationship with the organization, integrated into the company’s culture and strategic planning processes.

What are some things Fractional HR can help me with?

We offer a wide variety of services especially in terms of talent management and growth strategy. Some of our most utilized services are short term project leadership, transitional management, a vast array of training to help your employees work better together, scalable HR system implementation, and gap analysis & recommendations.

What are some of the benefits of utilizing Fractional HR?

Well, we think there are LOTS of benefits to utilizing us as your fractional HR partner (we’re a bit biased). But some of the top benefits our clients find are:

  • Access to Specialized Skills: Organizations can tap into the expertise of seasoned HR professionals for specific needs such as talent acquisition, compliance, & VP/CHRO level strategic planning.

  • Reduced Costs: Companies avoid the expense of a full-time salary, benefits, & other associated costs of a permanent employee.

  • Flexibility & Scalability: We allow you to adjust HR support to match your company’s evolving needs - whether it’s rapid growth, seasonal fluctuations, or specific projects.

  • Focus on Core Business: We can help free up internal resources so you can concentrate on bore business activities by outsourcing some (or all) of your HR functions.

  • Strategic HR Leadership: A Fractional HR executive can provide strategic guidance & leadership to ensure your HR is aligned with business goals.

  • Improved HR function: Fractional HR can help optimize HR processes, implement foundational HR components, improve the employee experience, and ensure compliance.

What types of businesses do you support?

We support a wide variety of industry type but our ‘sweet spot’ is with start-ups and small to medium sized businesses (SMBs) with limited budgets. We are also ideal for companies experiencing rapid growth or seasonal fluctuations, organizations needing specialized expertise for specific projects or initiatives, and businesses looking to optimize their HR function without the cost of a full-time HR department.

About our Founder & CEO

I believe in people-first HR for modern businesses.

Hi, I’m Laura Hessler — a Fractional HR Leader and People Operations Consultant passionate about building workplaces where people thrive and businesses grow.

With over 20 years of experience leading HR strategy, I’ve worked with early-stage startups, fast-scaling teams, and established businesses to create people systems that are both thoughtful and scalable. I also bring experience from Fortune 100 firms, federal and state organizations, and public, private, & PE-owned companies in a variety of industries including healthcare, manufacturing, banking & finance, higher education, and the energy sector.  From hiring frameworks to compliance support to leadership coaching, I bring the right mix of strategy and hands-on execution. I help startups and growing companies build healthy, high-performing teams — without hiring a permanent, full-time HR executive. 

Why I Do This:

Because culture is too important to leave to chance.

I started this practice to support founders and leaders who care deeply about their teams but don’t need — or aren’t ready for — a full-time HR department. I believe the best people strategies are the ones that work in the real world: clear, empathetic, and built to grow. I also believe compliance is something that should be built in to the foundational elements of people processes to both mitigate risk and be effective in supporting employees and hiring managers.

How I Work:

I partner with companies as their part-time HR executive (CHRO or VP level) or project-based HR lead — building systems, solving people problems, and helping leadership feel confident about their next move.

Some of the ways I can support your team:

  • HR infrastructure & policy development

  • Hiring, onboarding & team structure

  • Compliance, audits & risk management

  • Performance systems & culture alignment

  • Executive & management coaching

  • Change management & org design

A Bit More About Me:

I’m equal parts strategist and coach — data-driven, people-minded, and endlessly curious about what makes a team click. When I’m not designing better workplaces, you’ll find me traveling, reading, writing, knitting (well, trying to knit), volunteering, and exploring the world around me.

 

Ready to build a better HR foundation?
Let’s talk about how I can help you scale your people strategy with intention.

Our Services

    • HR Policy & Legal Compliance

    • HR Technology analysis and advisement

    • Employee Relations

    • Crisis Management

    • Risk Management

    • Recruitment & Retention - including building your employment brand

    • Performance Management

    • Training & Development

    • Succession Planning

    • Compensation & Benefits

    • Organizational Development: guiding large-scale changes including M&A, restructuring, & improving company culture

    • Rapid Growth: building foundational people structures that scale with business growth

    • Workforce Analytics assessment and analysis: establishing data-driven decisions to gauge strategy and growth

    • Working closely with your business to assess needs and build strategy

    • Serve as Sr. HR Leadership for your organization during temporary gaps or when less than full-time leadership is necessary

Mission

To partner with startups and growing businesses by delivering flexible, strategic HR solutions that elevate people, strengthen culture, and drive sustainable business growth. We provide the expertise of seasoned HR leadership — without the full-time cost — so leaders can focus on scaling their vision with confidence.

Core Values

  • Partnership – We act as an extension of your team, building trust and lasting relationships.

  • Accessibility – We make high-level HR strategy and support available to businesses of all sizes.

  • Flexibility – We adapt to your stage, pace, and evolving needs with scalable solutions.

  • Excellence – We bring best practices, innovative tools, and proven strategies to every engagement.

  • People-First – We prioritize employee well-being, engagement, and growth as the foundation for business success.

  • Integrity – We provide honest, ethical, and compliant guidance every step of the way.

  • Impact – We focus on outcomes that improve culture, reduce risk, and fuel performance.

Our
brand vision

  • Empower growing businesses by making world-class HR strategy accessible, flexible, and affordable.

  • Redefine HR leadership by delivering tailored, on-demand expertise that scales with a company’s evolving needs.

  • Bridge the gap between people and performance by aligning culture, compliance, and business goals.

  • Champion people-first workplaces where employees feel valued, engaged, and inspired to contribute their best.

  • Be the trusted HR partner for startups and small to mid-sized businesses, ensuring they have the tools, insights, and leadership traditionally reserved for large enterprises.

  • Drive sustainable growth by cultivating resilient teams, future-ready leaders, and innovative HR practices.

Contact Us

Interested in working together? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly. We can’t wait to hear from you!