HR Consultants in the USA to Watch For in 2025

United States HR Specialists to Know in 2025

Let’s be real: HR is having a moment. From navigating return-to-office debates to leading DEI strategies and rewriting the playbook on employee engagement, the human resources field is transforming—and the people behind that transformation are more important than ever.

At Digital Reference, we’re all about pulling back the curtain on how work actually works. This list isn’t just a roundup of HR professionals with shiny titles—it’s a curated guide to the real experts leading the way. Whether they’re freelancers, solo practitioners, or leaders at small firms, these consultants are reimagining HR from the inside out.

Our Methodology

We built this list with care, because let’s face it—when it comes to people strategy, the details matter. Here’s how we decided who made the cut:

• Independent operators or key leaders at boutique HR consultancies
• A visible presence in the U.S., working with companies regionally or nationally
• Proven expertise—whether through client results, thought leadership, or credentials
• Specialization in areas like compliance, culture, DEI, recruiting, org design, and fractional HR leadership

We believe these professionals reflect where the HR function is going—more agile, more inclusive, and more human.

Meet the HR Consultants to Watch in 2025

‍Kayla Moncayo

Location: Austin, Texas
Specialization: Fractional HR leadership, compliance, culture, org design

Kayla Moncayo is the founder of Let There Be HR, a boutique consultancy that lives up to its name—bringing clarity, humanity, and structure to the often-chaotic world of people operations. Based in Austin, Texas and working nationally, Kayla is an ideal example of the kind of HR leader shaping the future of work on her own terms.

She’s not just an operator—she’s an HR architect for startups, small businesses, and nonprofits looking to grow with intention. Whether a company is hiring its first employee or scaling up through a growth round, Kayla helps leadership teams build systems that reflect their values and hold up to scrutiny.

Why Kayla Made Our 2025 List

At Digital Reference, we use a clear framework to identify standout HR consultants. Kayla checks every box:

• ✅ Independent Operator: As the founder and principal of Let There Be HR, Kayla leads engagements directly and brings hands-on, founder-level care to each client relationship.
• ✅ U.S. Presence: While headquartered in California, her work spans the country, particularly with remote-first and distributed teams.
• ✅ Proven Expertise: Her client portfolio includes high-growth startups and mission-driven orgs—each benefiting from her deep knowledge of HR compliance, onboarding, and organizational culture.
• ✅ Specialized Focus: Kayla’s consulting practice is known for its strengths in compliance, performance management, org design, and embedding HR systems that scale.

In an ecosystem where HR must be both strategic and operational, Kayla Moncayo stands out for doing both with heart, rigor, and modern sensibility. We’re proud to feature her on our list of HR Consultants to Watch in 2025.

June Stewart

June’s work at Amplify Partners is rooted in elevating DEI strategies and change management. She supports mission-driven companies and has a strong reputation for building inclusive hiring processes that actually stick.

Corinne Jones

Corinne founded CJC Human Resource Services to help employers navigate compliance, HR audits, and employee relations. Based in North Carolina, her practical approach is a lifeline for small businesses trying to stay above water.

Lisa Johnson

Location: San Francisco Bay Area, California
Specialization: HR compliance, employee relations, leadership coaching

Lisa Johnson—widely known as the Corporate Cowgirl—brings a bold, no-fluff approach to HR consulting. With over 20 years of hands-on experience across corporate, government, and small business environments, she helps leaders navigate the human side of business with clarity, confidence, and grit.

At the helm of her own consultancy, Lisa delivers tailored solutions in compliance, performance management, investigations, and leadership coaching. Her approach is both strategic and straight-shooting—making her a trusted advisor for companies that want their people ops done right and real.

Why Lisa Made Our 2025 List

Lisa exemplifies the qualities we look for in standout HR consultants:

• ✅ Independent Operator: She leads Corporate Cowgirl as a solo practitioner and trusted partner to founders and exec teams.
• ✅ U.S. Reach: Though based in California, Lisa supports clients across the country, particularly those in high-compliance or high-turnover environments.
• ✅ Proven Expertise: Her background in handling complex HR issues—like investigations, discipline, and coaching—makes her indispensable to organizations in transition or growth.
• ✅ Specialization: Lisa’s edge lies in combining compliance rigor with leadership development, helping businesses stay compliant and human.

Her mix of candor and competence makes Lisa Johnson one to watch in 2025.

Tonyel Thompson

Founder of Real HR Hero, Tonyel is a trusted advisor for solopreneurs and small businesses. Her consultancy demystifies HR policy, compliance, and onboarding—with a strong commitment to keeping it human.

Allison Steinwand

Allison leads Fox Consulting with a focus on public sector HR needs, from compensation analysis to strategic planning. She’s a reliable partner for municipalities and nonprofits navigating complex people systems.

Mario Portugal

Mario’s LinkedIn presence is just the tip of the iceberg. He’s an HR operations expert with a sharp focus on organizational design and HRIS implementation, especially for fast-growing tech firms.

Scott Trossen

Founder of MI-HR, Scott is an HR strategist with a strong emphasis on compliance, audits, and risk management. His Midwest-based practice supports growing businesses in building sustainable and legally sound HR infrastructures.

Shazia Sultan

Through EmployZen HR, Shazia helps small and mid-sized businesses develop smarter, more employee-centric HR practices. Her consultancy focuses on HR transformation, performance management, and mindful leadership.

Jenny Batista

As her LinkedIn handle suggests, Jenny is all things people. From HR tech rollouts to performance management frameworks, she helps high-growth companies design systems that scale without losing soul.

Taniesha Johnson

Taniesha is known for her strengths in employee engagement, HR compliance, and recruiting strategy. She works closely with leadership teams to create scalable people operations that reflect company values.

Sylvia Donohoe

Sylvia brings decades of HR experience to her work, with a focus on labor relations, coaching, and strategic planning. Her background spans industries—and she’s particularly skilled in union environments.

TJ Jefferson

TJ is a certified HR leader with deep experience in talent management, compliance, and diversity strategy. He brings a strong coaching perspective to his client relationships and is often the steady hand in complex org transitions.

Jill Berti

Jill specializes in fractional HR leadership and employee relations. She supports startups and growth-stage businesses that need senior HR guidance but don’t need—or can’t yet afford—a full-time HR executive.

Ingrid Kessler

Ingrid brings a unique legal-adjacent lens to HR consulting, with strengths in compliance, internal investigations, and policy creation. Her work helps companies reduce risk and improve culture.

Leatrice Buck

Leatrice is a recruiting and talent acquisition specialist with a deep understanding of inclusive hiring. Her background in corporate and nonprofit settings gives her a well-rounded, equity-first approach.

Lora Hassani

Lora supports organizations with training, culture audits, and leadership development. She excels at aligning people operations with business strategy, especially for orgs in flux.

Eva Van Casteren

Eva is a sharp, SHRM-certified professional with a strong foothold in strategic HR planning and operations. She works with small businesses to align HR infrastructure with business goals.

Melissa Laney

Melissa brings a warm but firm presence to the HR world, especially in talent development and employee relations. Her style is rooted in trust-building—and her results speak for themselves.

HR in 2025: What’s Changing (and What’s Not)

The consultants on this list are operating in a moment of massive change. From AI-powered hiring tools to increased scrutiny on workplace culture, HR professionals are being asked to do more than ever.

But while tools and trends evolve, some things don’t change:

• People want to be respected.
• Leaders need honest, strategic HR advice.
• Compliance is non-negotiable.

The professionals above are balancing all three. That’s why they’re worth knowing.

Want to dig deeper into the evolving talent landscape? We’ve covered adjacent trends in:

• HR Consultants & Talent Experts: What Do They Do?
• Fractional CHROs in New York City
• Fractionals vs. Consultants
• Radical Authenticity: Brene Brown & Digital Reference
• Fractional CHROs Near Me

All of the pieces above provide insight into how businesses are rethinking full-time headcount in favor of flexible expertise and/or provide a directory of more HR Professionals.

A Final Word from Digital Reference

We’re not a talent agency. We’re a reference desk for the real world of work. Our goal is to help founders, HR leaders, and operators connect with the people who actually get things done.

This list of HR consultants isn’t exhaustive—but it’s a start. Keep it bookmarked. Share it with your ops team. And if you know someone who should be featured, hit us up ( hello@digitalreference.co ).

The future of HR is already here—and it’s fractional, flexible, and full of heart.

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