Executive Search
Senior-level HR recruitment for Director, VP, SVP, and Chief People Officer roles, managed directly by the Principal with one search accepted at a time.
Strengthen senior HR hiring with recruitment support designed for high-stakes people leadership roles. People Leader Accelerator helps organizations identify, evaluate, and select experienced HR executives while pairing search expertise with practical onboarding, mentoring, and workforce planning resources that reduce hiring risk and improve long-term leadership impact.
Focused HR recruitment, onboarding, and workforce planning solutions for better leadership hiring decisions.
Senior-level HR recruitment for Director, VP, SVP, and Chief People Officer roles, managed directly by the Principal with one search accepted at a time.
Structured guidance for planning smooth transitions for executive and senior leader hires, helping organizations set expectations, milestones, and early relationship priorities.
A 62-page guide for designing, structuring, scaling, customizing, and measuring onboarding programs that improve integration and early employee success.
A comprehensive workforce planning guide that helps HR leaders align hiring priorities, people investments, and organizational goals through practical frameworks.
A decision-making flowchart that helps organizations classify workers appropriately as employees, contractors, temporary workers, or third-party payrolled talent.
A free calculator template for quantifying the financial impact of attrition, helping leaders understand replacement costs and retention priorities.
The engagement begins by clarifying the business context, leadership mandate, reporting structure, and success measures for the HR role. This creates a shared definition of the candidate profile before outreach begins.
See how structured HR leadership support helps organizations hire, onboard, and retain stronger people leaders.
"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 executive search discipline with deep HR leadership development expertise.
Every executive search is managed directly by the Principal, not delegated to junior staff.
Only one search is accepted at a time, creating focused attention for each leadership hire.
Faculty bring 25–30+ years of HR, talent, coaching, startup, and executive leadership experience.
Placements include complimentary mentoring to support transition, credibility, and early leadership impact.
Experienced faculty guiding strategic HR leadership decisions.
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.
A talent board is a structured group or review process used to evaluate people-related decisions, such as succession, hiring, promotion readiness, or leadership potential. In recruitment, it can help leaders compare candidates consistently, align on role requirements, and reduce subjective decision-making. Effective talent boards use clear criteria, documented evidence, and accountable decision owners.
Get practical guidance before your next critical HR leadership hire.
Recognizes advanced senior HR expertise.
Validates executive compensation knowledge.
Honors distinguished business school faculty.
Share your hiring challenge, role scope, timeline, and leadership needs. People Leader Accelerator will help determine whether executive search, onboarding, mentoring, or planning support is 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.