PLA Mastermind
Join a curated small group of HR leaders in similar organizations for facilitated monthly discussions that support development, community, and stronger leadership judgment.
Join People Leader Accelerator for HR Leadership Summit — Connect & Learn, a focused experience for people leaders ready to sharpen strategic judgment, expand peer connections, and bring practical frameworks back to work. Led by seasoned HR practitioners, executives, and academics, the summit helps leaders move beyond transactional HR toward clearer business alignment, stronger influence, and more confident decision-making.
Connect with expert faculty, peer leaders, and practical resources for stronger strategic HR impact.
Join a curated small group of HR leaders in similar organizations for facilitated monthly discussions that support development, community, and stronger leadership judgment.
Attend an annual leadership development retreat featuring structured sessions, reflection, values work, panels, networking meals, and social connection for people leaders.
Receive selective 1:1 mentoring for broader scope, first-time top-of-function responsibility, increased visibility, and higher-stakes HR leadership decisions.
Develop leadership teams over an extended engagement through customized activities designed to improve readiness, alignment, execution, and business impact.
Evaluate leadership team or executive effectiveness through custom 360 surveys, stakeholder discussions, team effectiveness assessment, debriefs, and action planning.
Use downloadable guides, templates, and frameworks to connect people priorities with business goals, workforce planning, analytics, culture, and performance.
The best HR leaders need more than information; they need trusted peers, experienced mentors, and tested frameworks for moments that matter. People Leader Accelerator combines practitioner wisdom, academic rigor, and actionable tools to help people leaders clarify priorities, influence executives, and make better decisions in complex, high-growth environments.
HR leaders use People Leader Accelerator resources to build confidence, clarity, and stronger organizational influence.
"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 blends expert instruction, peer learning, and immediately usable HR frameworks.
Learn from faculty with 25–30+ years in HR, talent, coaching, and scaling organizations.
Apply templates and methods for planning, analytics, culture, compensation, onboarding, and organizational assessment.
Connect with HR leaders in similar roles through facilitated discussions and alumni relationships.
Focus on business alignment, executive influence, decision quality, and outcomes beyond transactional HR.
Learn from seasoned practitioners, coaches, and HR 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 Leadership Summit — Connect & Learn is designed for HR professionals and people leaders who want practical learning, meaningful peer connection, and stronger strategic influence. The experience reflects People Leader Accelerator’s broader approach: expert-led frameworks, real-world discussion, and tools leaders can apply to workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, people analytics, and executive-level decision-making.
Connect with the team for guidance on the best fit.
Recognized faculty expertise in executive compensation.
Senior-level HR certification held by faculty.
Academic leadership recognition for Brad Harris.
Share your leadership goals, questions, or interest in upcoming learning opportunities, and the People Leader Accelerator team will help you identify the right next step.
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To help us assist you faster, please include the reason for your message so the relevant team can reach out as soon as possible.