I help startups and early-stage companies build and scale their HR functions.
Fractional Head of People | HR Consultant | Startup Advisor
As a fractional Head of People, I help my clients build and scale their HR functions for a fraction of what it costs to hire a full-time Head of People.
Building a high-performing team requires more than luck. I help my clients build and scale their People functions by distilling the best practices I learned leading HR teams at larger organizations into straightforward yet effective strategies tailored to their unique needs. With 4+ years of fractional experience helping Series A-C startups, I understand the challenges you'll face when scaling your team and how to achieve results quickly.
Your startup deserves a People strategy that reflects its unique culture and values, not a one-size-fits-all approach. Like you, I'm a builder at heart. So whether you're looking to build your People function from the ground up or revamp what you've already established, I can help you take your employee experience to the next level.
Book a free consultation today to learn more and see if I’m a fit for your team! If I’m not a fit, I’m happy to help find you someone who is.
Jessica Donahue, PHR
Fractional Head of People | Consultant
Work With Me
Fractional Leadership
As a fractional Head of People, I work as an embedded leader, helping my clients build and scale the HR function in a part-time, interim capacity and for a fraction of what it costs to hire a full-time People Leader.
With fractional engagements, I function as both a builder and an operator. In addition to building foundational People strategies, programs, and processes, I offer on-demand support to leadership in handling day-to-day People issues.
Most clients prefer that I be employee-facing so employees can come directly to me with concerns. Some clients also have me directly manage the more junior members of their People team.
Pricing Structure: Monthly Retainer ($6k - $10k/mo)
Advisory Services
I work with a limited number of Series A to C startups as a People Advisor to support the company's growth.
As a People Advisor, I advise my clients on how to build the foundation of their People function, recommend HR tech platforms, facilitate introductions to top talent within my network, and provide guidance on avoiding common but costly HR missteps.
Unlike fractional leadership, where I am a hands-on builder and operator, Advisory Services are more about helping Founders think strategically about building the People function.
Pricing Structure: Monthly Retainer ($2k-$4k/mo)
Project-Based Consulting
Project-based consulting makes sense when clients have a clearly defined need to complete a specific project.
The specifics of each project vary widely, but past projects have included developing performance management frameworks, compensation philosophies, and leadership development programs, to name a few.
After assessing your current People processes and future needs, I’ll partner with you to scope your project’s requirements, define deliverables, and align on the expected timeline.
Pricing Structure: Fixed fee structure (varies)
FAQs
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Individual approaches to HR or People Operations exist along a spectrum.
On one end of the spectrum is the old-school, personnel management approach to HR. On the other end is a version of HR that is much more concerned with the Employee Experience.
I approach my work through the Employee Experience lens, acknowledging that when we treat our people well and create an environment of psychological safety, good things happen to the business. When you have a team willing to go above and beyond for you and your customers, the sky is the limit!
You can learn more about my approach to specific People issues by exploring my blog posts here.
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Most of my clients have been Series A-C startups with anywhere from 20-200 employees, but I occasionally work with smaller or larger organizations if and when their People needs align with my strengths.
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No problem! Many of my clients come to me never having had an HR or People Ops team in place, which allows us to build the function from the ground up.
Whether your goal is to implement new HR processes, redesign existing People programs, or perhaps you have a People Ops team that could use a little extra support, I can help.
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In many cases, bringing in a fractional People Leader can be the most cost-effective way to implement foundational People strategies.
My clients often tell me that they were surprised by how much I was able to accomplish in a part-time, interim capacity.
And, when you are ready to hire a full-time Leader, it’s common for me to recruit and hire my replacement so that you can focus on what you do best.
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Over 10 years of experience leading corporate HR teams
4+ years of HR consulting experience supporting startups
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
Explore examples of past projects below
Featured Blog Posts
5 Ways Your Startup Can Benefit From Fractional HR Leadership
“Fractional HR leadership frees you up to spend less time working in the business and more time working on the business by taking some of the ‘people stuff’ off your plate. Fractional HR leaders can field employee questions, maintain momentum on high-priority people projects, and function as an extension of your leadership team.”
How to Tell an Employee They’re Not Meeting Expectations
“Eventually, the time will come when someone on your team isn’t pulling their weight, and you will be faced with a choice. You can choose to ignore it, compensate for it, work around it, and accept the toll it will take on the broader team’s morale, or you can opt to have the tough conversation. Spoiler alert — the former always ends up being more damaging than the latter.”
This Is Why Every Startup Needs To Invest In Leadership Development
“While leadership development is important for all organizations, it's perhaps even more critical for those working at startups. Business growth can easily outpace soft skill development in the startup environment if not for planful investment in learning and development.”
In The News
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![https://www.worklife.news/leadership/how-people-leader-trauma-awareness-is-growing-in-the-workplace/?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=worklifesiteshare&utm_source=linkedin]()
How Trauma Awareness in the Workplace is Growing for People Leaders
Featured in worklife by Digiday Media
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How to Use Data to Monitor the Success of Your People Program
Featured in Lattice.com’s Resources for Humans Magazine
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3 Best Practices for Hybrid Hiring and Onboarding
Featured in Lattice.com’s Resources for Humans Magazine
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How to Develop an Effective New Hire Training Plan
Featured in Business News Daily’s Guide to Developing a Training Program
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Signs Your Company Needs Performance Management
Featured in Lattice.com’s Resources for Humans Magazine
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How to Approach Goal-Setting As a Team
Featured in Lattice.com’s Resources for Humans Magazine
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Why You Need a People Management Platform by Jan. 1
Featured in Lattice.com’s Resources for Humans Magazine
