Fractional CHROs in New York City Making Things Happen in 2025

New York City Interim Chief People Officers to Know

In the city where industries intersect and startups rise faster than the skyline, New York City has always been a place where top-tier talent meets bold ideas. It’s also a city that has embraced fractional leadership in a big way—and nowhere is that more evident than in the rise of fractional CHROs and interim Chief People Officers.

At Digital Reference, we’re driven by a mission to bring radical transparency and radical authenticity to the professional world. That means championing those who help shape teams, nurture cultures, and align people with business goals. CHROs—especially fractional and interim ones—are at the heart of that work.

This curated list highlights some of the most compelling independent CHROs currently operating across NYC and the surrounding Tri-state area. Whether they’re partnering with startups, leading change initiatives at nonprofits, or helping growth-stage companies scale with intention, these professionals are making work more human—and more strategic.

Methodology for Selection

We selected these leaders based on the following criteria:

• Active as an independent consultant or fractional executive
• Located in or serving clients within New York City and its surrounding areas
• A demonstrable background in executive HR leadership, often at the VP or C-suite level
• Alignment with the Digital Reference ethos of authenticity, verified experience, and talent ecosystem efficiency

Carol Fraser, Founder of C4Talent

https://www.c4talent.com/about-us

Carol Fraser is the founder of C4Talent, a boutique HR consultancy that provides fractional Chief People Officer services for early-stage and scaling companies. Carol brings a strategic and emotionally intelligent approach to HR, with a deep focus on building foundational systems that support long-term growth.

Why She’s On This List:

Carol is a go-to partner for founders looking to design culture and compliance infrastructure without sacrificing agility. Her work often includes people strategy, performance frameworks, and DEI planning.

Sharon Jacobs

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharon-jacobs-9a7151/

With decades of experience across corporate HR and executive coaching, Sharon Jacobs has carved out a niche as a trusted fractional CHRO in NYC. She is known for her work in change management, leadership development, and culture transformation, particularly during organizational shifts.

Why She’s On This List:

Sharon helps companies evolve with empathy and structure. Her ability to navigate both strategic planning and sensitive personnel matters makes her a rare dual-threat in HR consulting.

Ingrid Kessler

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ingridkesslerny/

Ingrid Kessler brings a mission-driven lens to HR strategy. She works with nonprofits, startups, and community-focused businesses across New York to develop high-integrity people practices. Ingrid blends executive-level thinking with on-the-ground people ops.

Why She’s On This List:

Her work bridges purpose and performance, helping values-aligned organizations scale in a sustainable way. She’s known for her talent lifecycle planning and conflict resolution expertise.

Sue Dabrowski

https://www.linkedin.com/in/sue-dabrowski-hr/

A self-described builder of HR systems, Sue Dabrowski brings a calm, operations-first approach to her fractional CHRO engagements. She specializes in helping fast-growing startups and mid-market companies implement the policies, tools, and frameworks necessary to support rapid growth.

Why She’s On This List:

Sue is a systems thinker with a people-first ethos. Her work ensures that growth doesn’t come at the expense of culture or compliance.

Stephanie I.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-i-9936b939/

Stephanie I. works at the intersection of people experience, diversity strategy, and executive enablement. With experience across tech, media, and creative industries, Stephanie brings a future-of-work mindset to all of her engagements.

Why She’s On This List:

Known for her candid communication style and nuanced approach to inclusion, Stephanie is a rising voice in NYC’s HR community. Her fractional CHRO work helps organizations align values with action.

Patrice Dudley Aviles

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patricedudleyaviles/

Patrice brings the weight of decades of experience in enterprise and high-growth environments. She currently advises startups and mission-based organizations as a fractional HR leader, with a strong focus on leadership alignment and risk mitigation.

Why She’s On This List:

Patrice is the person you call when you need HR leadership with boardroom confidence and operational savvy. She’s especially valuable during M&A, executive transitions, and periods of rapid scale.

Final Thoughts: Why NYC Companies Are Turning to Fractional CHROs

As the pace of innovation accelerates and business models evolve, companies in NYC are realizing they don’t always need a full-time CHRO—but they absolutely need strategic HR leadership. Fractional CHROs provide:

• Executive-level HR guidance without the overhead
• Support during key growth inflection points
• Flexibility to scale HR support up or down
• External perspectives grounded in real operational experience

These professionals are not consultants who dip in and out—they’re embedded allies, often becoming core members of executive teams, even if only for a season.

How Digital Reference Supports Fractional CHROs

At Digital Reference, we’re building a platform that helps fractional leaders stand out. We provide tools for:

• Verified reference collection and storage
• Shareable, SEO-optimized digital portfolios
• Video statements and structured summaries of expertise

Whether you’re a company searching for your next HR leader or a CHRO looking to build your brand, Digital Reference is where transparency meets talent.

Want to Be Featured?

Are you a fractional CHRO or Chief People Officer in NYC or the Tri-state area? Reach out to ryan@digitalreference.co to be considered for future editions of this list.

Together, let’s continue shaping the future of work—authentically and efficiently.

Looking for other Fractional Leadership?

Find Fractional CMOs here.

Find Fractional CTOs here.

Find Fractional CFOs here.

Find Fractional COOs here.

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