Executive Search
Senior-level recruitment for Chief People Officer, VP, Director, and specialized HR leadership roles, handled directly by the Principal with focused attention and complimentary mentoring for placed candidates.
People Leader Accelerator helps organizations strengthen HR leadership, improve talent decisions, and hire senior people leaders with confidence. From executive search for Director, VP, and Chief People Officer roles to strategic planning tools, assessments, and mentoring, our faculty-led approach blends real-world HR expertise with practical frameworks built for high-growth, complex organizations.
Focused HR talent solutions for executive hiring, leadership assessment, strategic planning, mentoring, and people operations growth.
Senior-level recruitment for Chief People Officer, VP, Director, and specialized HR leadership roles, handled directly by the Principal with focused attention and complimentary mentoring for placed candidates.
Customized leadership and team effectiveness assessments using Lominger/Korn Ferry competencies, stakeholder interviews, Table Group methodology, CEO debriefs, and actionable improvement recommendations.
Selective 1:1 advisory support for HR leaders stepping into broader scope, first-time top-of-function roles, or high-visibility decisions with real organizational consequences.
Strategic workforce planning frameworks and templates that help HR leaders connect people priorities, organizational needs, and business goals in a practical planning structure.
Structured guidance for designing onboarding programs that help new hires and senior leaders integrate successfully, scale with growth, and deliver measurable impact.
Talent assessment tools using the classic 9-box grid to evaluate performance and potential, support succession planning, and clarify development priorities across teams.
Strong HR leadership decisions shape how fast and effectively an organization can scale. People Leader Accelerator brings together experienced operators, certified coaches, and academic experts to help companies recruit senior HR leaders, evaluate leadership effectiveness, and build stronger talent systems. Each solution is grounded in practical frameworks, selective advisory attention, and a clear connection to business outcomes.
See how practical frameworks and experienced guidance help HR leaders make stronger talent decisions.
"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 practitioner experience, academic rigor, and practical tools for better talent outcomes.
Learn from faculty with 25–30+ years in HR, talent, coaching, and leadership.
Executive searches are handled directly by the Principal, not passed to junior staff.
Frameworks connect HR priorities to growth, risk reduction, and business performance.
Faculty credentials include CECP, SPHR, Six Sigma, and executive coaching certifications.
Experienced faculty guiding strategic HR and talent 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.
HR talent focuses on attracting, selecting, developing, and retaining the people an organization needs to meet business goals. In practice, this can include executive search, succession planning, leadership assessment, onboarding, talent management, workforce planning, and people analytics. Strong HR talent work connects business strategy with practical people decisions that improve performance, reduce risk, and support growth.
Connect with our team for practical guidance on your next people decision.
Recognizes outstanding academic leadership and management expertise.
Executive compensation expertise supporting strategic rewards decisions.
Senior HR credential reflecting advanced human resources expertise.
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