People Planning
A structured guide and framework for aligning HR priorities with organizational goals, workforce needs, and leadership expectations in growing companies.
Build, test, and scale stronger HR practices with HR Pilot Services from People Leader Accelerator. Designed for people leaders, HR executives, and growth-stage organizations, these services combine faculty-led expertise, proven frameworks, practical templates, and strategic advisory support to help you make better workforce decisions with less disruption, clearer alignment, and more confidence.
Focused HR advisory, assessment, planning, mentoring, and leadership services for strategic people leaders.
A structured guide and framework for aligning HR priorities with organizational goals, workforce needs, and leadership expectations in growing companies.
A comprehensive leadership or executive effectiveness assessment using custom 360 feedback, stakeholder discussions, team effectiveness surveys, and clear action planning.
Selective 1:1 mentoring for HR leaders stepping into broader scope, higher visibility, first-time top roles, or more complex business decisions.
Advisory support for high-stakes leadership decisions involving readiness, execution risk, keep-coach-move-exit choices, and incomplete or complex information.
A multi-month leadership development engagement designed to strengthen leadership teams through continuous development, practical activities, and real business application.
Senior-level HR recruitment support for Director, VP, and above roles, led directly by the Principal with complimentary mentoring for placed candidates.
We begin by clarifying the business challenge, leadership context, and people priorities. This helps determine whether the right pilot is an assessment, advisory engagement, template-led implementation, mentoring relationship, or structured leadership development pathway.
See how HR leaders use expert frameworks to improve alignment, decisions, and organizational outcomes.
"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 real-world HR experience with practical tools and strategic guidance.
Learn from faculty with 25–30+ years in HR, talent, coaching, and leadership.
Use templates, guides, and frameworks designed for immediate HR application.
Strengthen decisions with people analytics, assessments, and evidence-based leadership methods.
Access mentoring, mastermind groups, and alumni connections for sustained professional growth.
Expert faculty guiding strategic HR leadership growth.
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 Pilot Services help organizations test and refine people strategies before committing to broad implementation. A pilot may focus on workforce planning, performance management, people analytics, onboarding, culture design, leadership development, or decision support. People Leader Accelerator combines expert guidance with templates, assessments, and facilitation so HR leaders can move quickly while reducing risk.
Get practical guidance on the right pilot for your organization.
Recognized excellence in business education.
Senior HR expertise and professional standards.
Executive compensation expertise for people leaders.
Share your HR challenge, team context, or pilot goal, and the People Leader Accelerator team will help identify the right next step.
To help us assist you faster, please include the reason for your message so the relevant team can reach out as soon as possible.
To help us assist you faster, please include the reason for your message so the relevant team can reach out as soon as possible.