People Planning
Align workforce priorities with business goals using a comprehensive guide, templates, and planning frameworks built for HR leaders managing growth, complexity, and strategic execution.
Build a stronger, more strategic HR function with People Leader Accelerator’s HR Excellence Services. From people analytics and organizational assessment to mentoring, compensation frameworks, culture design, and practical templates, leaders gain proven tools to align people priorities with business goals, reduce execution risk, and elevate HR’s influence across growing organizations.
Practical HR strategy, assessment, mentoring, analytics, compensation, and culture resources for people leaders.
Align workforce priorities with business goals using a comprehensive guide, templates, and planning frameworks built for HR leaders managing growth, complexity, and strategic execution.
Evaluate executive effectiveness, leadership team dynamics, and development needs through custom 360 surveys, stakeholder interviews, team assessments, and facilitated action planning.
Support HR leaders stepping into broader scope, higher visibility, or top-of-function roles with 1:1 guidance focused on judgment, presence, and decision quality.
Use workforce data more effectively with guidance on selecting high-value metrics, building dashboards, and translating insight into stronger organizational decisions.
Create fair, competitive pay structures with practical guidance on compensation benchmarking, leveling, market alignment, internal equity, and compensation planning.
Assess and intentionally shape organizational culture with research-backed frameworks, reflection exercises, and implementation tools for building the desired employee experience.
People Leader Accelerator helps HR leaders move from reactive support to strategic influence. Through expert-led frameworks, assessments, guides, mentoring, and peer learning, organizations can improve decision quality, strengthen leadership capability, clarify people priorities, and connect HR work to measurable business outcomes with less disruption and greater confidence.
See how HR leaders strengthen strategy, decision-making, and organizational impact through practical development.
"I left the PLA program with several key takeaways. First, the value of making time for your own thoughts. This program was great for structured reflection. Second, don't over-engineer things, especially in growth companies. And finally, my biggest 'takeaway' from the PLA was really the new relationships. I've already found..."
"PLA offers a truly unique learning experience through its emphasis on reflection and practical application. Each week dives into a new People topic, with assignments designed to encourage deep reflection on how you've applied key concepts and how you'll implement them going forward. The assignments are incredibly practical and I..."
"Every week I look forward to the PLA meetings and even get excited about the homework because I know the readings will provide valuable information to reflect on. What I have learned in PLA has helped build my confidence. It is not just the knowledge I've gained, but the connections..."
"I left the PLA program with several key takeaways. First, the value of making time for your own thoughts. This program was great for structured reflection. Second, don't over-engineer things, especially in growth companies. And finally, my biggest 'takeaway' from the PLA was really the new relationships. I've already found..."
"PLA offers a truly unique learning experience through its emphasis on reflection and practical application. Each week dives into a new People topic, with assignments designed to encourage deep reflection on how you've applied key concepts and how you'll implement them going forward. The assignments are incredibly practical and I..."
"Every week I look forward to the PLA meetings and even get excited about the homework because I know the readings will provide valuable information to reflect on. What I have learned in PLA has helped build my confidence. It is not just the knowledge I've gained, but the connections..."
"I left the PLA program with several key takeaways. First, the value of making time for your own thoughts. This program was great for structured reflection. Second, don't over-engineer things, especially in growth companies. And finally, my biggest 'takeaway' from the PLA was really the new relationships. I've already found..."
"PLA offers a truly unique learning experience through its emphasis on reflection and practical application. Each week dives into a new People topic, with assignments designed to encourage deep reflection on how you've applied key concepts and how you'll implement them going forward. The assignments are incredibly practical and I..."
"Every week I look forward to the PLA meetings and even get excited about the homework because I know the readings will provide valuable information to reflect on. What I have learned in PLA has helped build my confidence. It is not just the knowledge I've gained, but the connections..."
People Leader Accelerator combines deep expertise with practical tools for strategic HR leadership.
Faculty bring 25–30+ years of real HR, talent, and executive leadership experience.
Frameworks connect HR priorities to business goals, measurable outcomes, and executive decision-making.
Guides, templates, assessments, and mentoring are designed for immediate practical application.
Members and alumni gain access to peer learning, mentorship, and ongoing leadership support.
Learn from seasoned HR practitioners, coaches, and academics.
Core Faculty – HR & Talent Leadership
Andrew Bartlow is a Core Faculty member at People Leader Accelerator, specializing in HR and Talent Leadership with 25 years of deep practitioner experience. He is co-author of 'Scaling for Success: People Priorities for High Growth Organizations' and holds prestigious certifications including CECP, SPHR, Six Sigma, and Executive Coaching. Andrew brings a unique blend of academic rigor and real-world application to his teaching, having served as a private equity operating partner, venture advisor, and HR mentor. His curriculum equips HR and people leaders with strategic frameworks to drive organizational success in high-growth environments. Andrew is dedicated to bridging the gap between operational HR and strategic business partnership for professionals across the United States.
Core Faculty – People Operations & Executive Coaching
Marie Szuts serves as Core Faculty at People Leader Accelerator, focusing on People Operations and Executive Coaching. She brings firsthand experience leading the people function at high-growth tech organizations, including Figma, where she developed scalable HR strategies during periods of rapid expansion. Marie holds a BA and MA from Yale University and is a certified Executive Coach through the prestigious Hudson Institute. She also advises people leader networks, venture capital firms, and companies navigating growth challenges. Her practical, experience-driven approach helps HR professionals elevate their strategic impact and build resilient people operations within dynamic organizations across the United States.
Core Faculty – Management & Human Resources Academic
Brad Harris, Ph.D. is a Core Faculty member at People Leader Accelerator, bringing academic excellence and real-world management expertise to HR and people leaders. He serves as Associate Dean of MBA Programs and Professor of Management and Human Resources at HEC Paris, and is an affiliated professor at the University of Illinois. Brad is co-author of 'Scaling for Success' and '3D Team Leadership,' with research published in leading academic journals. He holds a Ph.D. in Management from Texas A&M University and an Executive Coaching Diploma from Emory University. Recognized as a top '40 Under 40 Business School Professor' by Poets and Quants, Brad is committed to equipping leaders with evidence-based frameworks for organizational success.
Core Faculty – HR Leadership & Executive Coaching
Carmela Krantz is a Core Faculty member at People Leader Accelerator, specializing in HR Leadership and Executive Coaching with an impressive 30 years of experience building and leading HR functions in rapidly growing businesses. A trailblazer in her field, Carmela has served as the first VP of HR at nine companies, including six start-ups, giving her unparalleled insight into the unique challenges of scaling people operations from the ground up. She is a certified executive coach and the founder of WOVEN. Carmela's practical wisdom and passion for developing HR leaders make her an invaluable resource for professionals seeking to accelerate their strategic impact within high-growth and entrepreneurial organizations across the United States.
HR excellence means building a people function that directly supports business performance, not just administrative compliance. It includes strategic workforce planning, data-informed decisions, clear communication systems, effective performance processes, thoughtful compensation practices, culture design, and leadership development. People Leader Accelerator helps HR leaders apply practical frameworks that connect people priorities to measurable organizational outcomes.
Connect with experienced faculty for practical next steps.
Recognizes standout business school faculty achievement.
Faculty credentials in senior HR leadership.
Executive coaching credentials from respected institutions.
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