I help tech startups & early-stage companies build & scale their people operations.

Fractional Human Resources Leader | People Advisor

Jessica Donahue fractional HR startups

Hi there! I'm Jessica, your fractional HR leader.

After years of leading HR teams at large companies, I realized something—Startups need well-designed People programs just as much as the big names do, and they typically need them way sooner than they think. The catch? Most startups aren't ready for [or can't justify hiring] a full-time Chief People Officer. At least, not yet.

That's where I come in! I bring proven HR expertise from years leading in-house teams, minus the unnecessary corporate complexity. The result? Practical, effective People programs that scale alongside your business.

My goal is to build such a strong foundation that you'll eventually need a full-time People leader—and I'll be there to help find and onboard my replacement when that time comes.

Book your free consultation today to see if I’m a fit for your team!

I help tech startups & early-stage companies build and scale their people operations for a fraction of the cost of hiring a full-time leader.

Why work with me?

A few things you should know about me:

  • I’ve spent the last 5 years building & scaling People programs at Seed-Series B startups.

  • As a solopreneur, I intentionally take on fewer clients than firms to provide high-touch, on-demand support.

  • Unlike working with a firm, you’ll get direct access to the person building your People programs—me!

  • I know which People programs investors look for as part of due diligence and can help you secure funding.

  • I am well-versed in SOC 2 compliance and have helped several clients get their SOC 2 certification.

  • I approach my work through a trauma-informed lens and have the training to back it up.

  • I am committed to building workplaces where all people feel safe, seen, and supported.

Let me take the HR stuff off your plate so you can focus on driving your business forward.

Imagine how great it’ll feel to finally fire yourself from the role of de facto CHRO, knowing that the People function is being managed competently and compliantly.

People programs I can help you build & scale

  • Think of onboarding as your company's user interface—it's your new employees' first interaction with your organizational "software."

    Just like an intuitive UI, a well-designed onboarding program drives adoption and engagement from day one. I can help you create an onboarding experience that turns new talent into power users of your culture and processes.

  • Your training & development offerings are no different than your product development pipeline—without constant iteration, your talent becomes outdated.

    Each training opportunity acts as a new feature release, enhancing your organization's capabilities and the caliber of talent on your team

  • Think of organizational design as your company's codebase architecture.

    Just as clean code enables scalability and collaboration, thoughtful org design creates clear roles and efficient workflows. I'll help you build a structure that minimizes "technical debt" and enables seamless growth.

  • Similar to tracking user metrics across your product, effective performance management provides real-time insights into your team's productivity and health.

    Together, we can implement systems that help you identify top performers, address bottlenecks, and optimize team output. This data-driven approach enables smarter decisions about your most valuable resource—your people.

  • Your compensation & benefits [also known as Total Rewards] package is like your product's feature set—base salary is the core offering, while benefits are the premium add-ons that differentiate you from competitors.

    I'll help you design a competitive "employment product" that attracts and retains top talent, complete with the right mix of base, benefits, and equity to drive long-term success.

  • Employee engagement is your workforce's "stickiness" factor. Just like you want your product to become indispensable to users, I'll help create an environment where employees become deeply integrated into your company culture.

    The result? A loyal team of advocates who are excited to contribute to your success every day.

  • Think of manager coaching as continuously refining your product-market fit. Like products need iteration based on user feedback, managers need to adapt their leadership style to serve their teams effectively.

    I'll coach your People Leaders to help them test new approaches, fix leadership "bugs," and achieve optimal performance from their teams.

  • A strong HR tech stack is like the development platform that powers your product. Without the right tools, managing your workforce becomes inefficient and error-prone.

    I'll help you build an HR infrastructure that automates processes, unlocks data insights, and scales alongside your growth.

  • While not as exciting as your latest product launch, HR compliance is your company's security system. I'll help you navigate labor laws and regulations while collaborating with your Legal Counsel to protect your business so you can focus on innovation without worrying about accidental compliance "bugs."

Building accessible & inclusive workplaces isn't just a goal—it's the foundation of everything I do.

[It’s also just smart business].

I prioritize working with companies that want to build People programs that celebrate diversity, promote belonging, and uphold the dignity and rights of every individual on the team.

Ways you can work with me

1]Fractional HR Leader

As your fractional HR Leader:

  • I become an embedded leader serving as an extension of your leadership team, providing strategic guidance AND hands-on execution

  • I personally build and implement your People programs and processes

  • I serve as an employee-facing HR resource for your people leaders and their teams

Best for: Companies needing both HR strategy and execution support

  • $7,000 - $12,000/month

2] HR Advisor

As your strategic HR Advisor:

  • I provide strategic HR guidance to the executive team, but your team handles implementation internally

  • I share expertise, frameworks, and recommendations for YOUR team to execute

  • I make targeted introductions to HR vendors and talent in my network

Best for: Companies with internal resources who just need expert direction

  • $2,000 - $4,000/month

3] Project-Based Consulting

With project-based consulting:

  • I execute specific, time-bound People initiatives

  • I assess needs, create project plans, and deliver concrete results

  • Common projects: Performance frameworks, compensation philosophy, leadership development programs, etc.

Best for: Companies with targeted HR initiatives needing expert execution

  • Fixed fee, varies by project

The Receipts: Real Projects, Real Impact

"If I could clone Jessica, I would! I rely on her for her sound judgment and ability to navigate any employee situation that comes her way. She understands how to balance creating a great employee experience while meeting the needs of the business. As a leader, she is practical, realistic, empathetic, and proactive. I would work with Jessica again in a heartbeat."

— Operating Partner | VC Firm

“Jessica has been wonderful to work with. She does not just complete something but takes the extra step to explain what she did, and why ensuring that you have the information for future reference or trainings. She is incredibly capable and able to work with minimal guidance. She is also very accessible and responds quickly to questions. We are very lucky to have found her to roll out our performance management process.”

— COO | Series B, Cybersecurity

"Jessica was a great addition to our team in a time where we needed People Operations leadership. She is a great communicator and passionate about people. Our People Ops functions would not be where it is today without her.”


— CFO | Series B, EdTech

As a Founding Member of Fractional People People, I'm connected to a broad network of fractional HR Leaders.

If I'm not the right fit for you, I'm happy to introduce you to a colleague who is.

In the news

ARTICLE

I've seen firsthand how companies are increasingly turning to part-time executive talent to access high-level expertise without the full-time costs. The fractional model is particularly valuable in HR where experienced leadership is crucial for building strong workplace cultures and managing complex people challenges.

FEATURE ARTICLE

As someone leading the charge in workplace trauma awareness, I've seen firsthand how new training programs are helping HR teams and managers create more supportive environments where employees can thrive at work despite past trauma.

Frequently asked questions

What’s your approach to HR?

My approach centers on crafting exceptional employee experiences because I've seen how transformative it can be when team members feel truly valued and supported.

Employees who feel empowered and appreciated consistently go above and beyond—not because they have to, but because they want to. Their enthusiasm and dedication naturally flow into every customer interaction, driving excellence across the business.

When you invest in your people, you're not just building a better workplace—you're laying the foundation for extraordinary business outcomes.

Do you work only with tech startups?

I specialize in partnering with high-growth startups, primarily working with Seed to Series B companies with fewer than 100 employees. While my sweet spot lies in supporting scaling organizations through their crucial growth phases, I selectively collaborate with both smaller and larger companies when there's a strong alignment between their people-focused initiatives and my areas of expertise.

What are your qualifications?

  • 15 years leading HR teams

  • 5 years of fractional experience

  • Bachelor's Degree in Human Resources

  • Professional in HR (PHR) certified

  • SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certified

  • Trauma-Informed Workplace Practitioner certified

  • Korn Ferry Leadership Architect certified

  • Korn Ferry 360 certified