The people problems founders don't have time to figure out alone.
The people problems
founders don't have time
to figure out alone.
PULL UP A CHAIR.
Embedded People Advisor to Founders & Leadership Teams
I work alongside founders and leadership teams when people decisions get complicated, messy, or high-stakes.
Bring me the situation.
I'll help you figure out what's actually going on, what matters, what doesn't, and what to do next.
PULL UP A CHAIR.
Embedded People Advisor to Founders & Leadership Teams
I work alongside founders and leadership teams when people decisions get complicated, messy, or high-stakes.
Bring me the situation. I'll help you figure out what's actually going on, what matters, what doesn't, and what to do next.
About Iris
I work with founders and leadership teams as they grow, particularly during the moments where the people side of the business becomes harder to navigate.
The decisions get bigger.
The conversations get harder.
The team dynamics become more complex.
My role is to help leaders see what is happening beneath the surface, create clarity, and move forward with confidence.
This work is ongoing and relationship-based. I become a trusted partner who understands the realities leaders are navigating and helps them make thoughtful decisions as the business evolves.
Running a business gets complicated. Eventually, the people side does too.
Maybe you have a manager who isn’t quite cutting it.
Maybe you’re questioning a hire, dealing with performance, changing someone’s role, or trying to figure out how to handle a difficult situation.
Maybe your leadership team isn’t as aligned as it looks.
Or maybe nothing is technically wrong, but you know something isn’t working.
These are the situations that don’t always need another HR program, a giant policy manual, or someone sitting in an HR department all day.
Sometimes you just need someone experienced to sit down with you, understand the context, and help you work through it.
That’s where I come in.
You don't need more HR. You need someone who can actually help you figure it out.
People problems rarely exist in a vacuum.
There’s usually a history.
A personality.
A business decision.
Something that was said six months ago.
Something that wasn’t said at all.
A manager who is struggling.
A founder who is frustrated.
An employee who is telling you something, but maybe not in the way you expected to hear it.
That’s why I don’t start with a solution.
I start by understanding what’s actually happening.
Sometimes you need someone to talk something through with.
Sometimes you need someone to say:
“I don’t think that’s the problem.”
Sometimes you need a gut check.
Sometimes you need help having the conversation.
And sometimes you need someone in the weeds with you to get it done.
That’s the role I play.
Close enough to understand. Far enough away to tell you the truth.
One of the biggest advantages of working with an external advisor is that I’m not navigating your internal politics.
I don’t need to defend a decision I made six months ago.
I don’t need to protect a process because it took forever to build.
I don’t need to make something sound better than it actually is.
And I don’t need to tell you what I think you want to hear.
I can sit across from an owner and say:
“I wouldn’t do that.”
“I think you’re reacting too quickly.”
“I think you’re missing something here.”
“I think this employee is actually telling you something important.”
Or sometimes: “Yep. I think you’re right. Go for it.”
You get someone who understands your business and your people, but who is far enough outside of it to look at things clearly.
And I think that’s where a lot of the value lives.
Emma is someone I relied upon for advice and guidance with difficult people and cultural decisions. She is a trusted confidant with insights beyond experience. I feel fortunate to have had her on my team and look forward to continuing to work with her on future initiatives.
Emma is someone I relied upon for advice and guidance with difficult people and cultural decisions. She is a trusted confidant with insights beyond experience. I feel fortunate to have had her on my team and look forward to continuing to work with her on future initiatives.
Working with Emma is truly a dream! Her ability to engage an entire group on a personal level is just one of the many things that sets her apart from others. I look forward to continuing to work with her as we grow and change as a company. Emma undoubtedly has so much value to add to our organization!
Working with Emma is truly a dream! Her ability to engage an entire group on a personal level is just one of the many things that sets her apart from others. I look forward to continuing to work with her as we grow and change as a company. Emma undoubtedly has so much value to add to our organization!
Emma is a People & Culture superhero. She gets to know each person and arms them with the knowledge, skills, and habits that improve personal performance, reduce interpersonal issues, and enhance leadership capabilities. The result is an engaged and authentic group that gets more joy out of their work. I highly recommend her services.
Emma is a People & Culture superhero. She gets to know each person and arms them with the knowledge, skills, and habits that improve personal performance, reduce interpersonal issues, and enhance leadership capabilities. The result is an engaged and authentic group that gets more joy out of their work. I highly recommend her services.