Startup CXO

Chapter 125Fractional Chief People Officer

Courtney Graeber

I've been working in human resources and operations for over 20 years and I feel like all the positions that I've been in have been positions of transformation, where a company would bring me in at the beginning of something that needed to be changed. Maybe it was with an early‐stage startup with no systems or processes in place, or a company that needed to pivot, or an organization that really wanted to do some kind of transformation of the business. What I've learned is that whether you're in a startup or in a larger organization that's looking for change, a lot of the characteristics and qualities are similar.

One thing I realized about myself is that what really got me excited was working with startups. I enjoy the infancy stages of a company and everything that goes along with it, like the wacky space, the weird furniture, and the people doing everything even though they don't know what they're doing. I'm excited by the messiness, the passion of the founders, and I just want to get in there and make it all work.

Fractional HR Tasks

I recently wrapped up an assignment with a startup that provides an example of what a fractional executive does and the value they can bring. I got a call from someone who I used to work with who started a company and said, “We're in big trouble and we need you to help us out.” Originally, they just wanted an HR presence that would help employees if there were any employee relations ...