Fractional CHROs in Seattle Making Things Happen

Seattle Interim Chief People Officers to Know

Seattle isn’t just a tech hub—it’s a culture lab. With global giants like Amazon and Microsoft, a thriving startup ecosystem, and a growing number of impact-driven orgs, this region is constantly experimenting with how people work, grow, and lead. And increasingly, that evolution includes fractional people leadership.

At Digital Reference, we’re watching the Pacific Northwest become a proving ground for flexible executive models. Seattle-based companies are tapping fractional CHROs and CPOs to guide them through hiring ramp-ups, hybrid transitions, DEI efforts, and org design—with speed and credibility.

Whether they’re helping Series A startups build foundational systems or guiding established teams through re-orgs and restructures, these professionals aren’t just consultants—they’re embedded partners in creating people-first companies.

Our Selection Process: How We Identify Seattle Fractional CPOs

Digital Reference spotlights leaders based on location, role alignment, and reputation. Each CHRO featured here:

• Is based in the Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue metro area or works with companies there
  
  
• Clearly works in a fractional, interim, or embedded Chief People Officer capacity
  
  
• Has a public-facing presence through LinkedIn or an advisory firm
  
  
• Brings experience across fast-growth companies, cultural transformation, or operational HR strategy
  
  
• Is known for delivering results and trusted by their clients
  
  

Our lens is always focused on execution and trust—not just titles.

Seattle Fractional CHROs to Know

🔹 Rebecca Weaver

Founder, HRuprise | Fractional CPO | Equity-Driven People Strategist
Rebecca Weaver launched HRuprise to help people navigate their careers—and help companies create workplaces where people actually want to stay. As a fractional CPO, she partners with companies in moments of cultural shift, expansion, or reset. Her human-first, equity-centered approach blends business goals with the people systems that support them.

🔍 Specialties: Culture transformation, employee relations, HR policy, DEI
📍 Based in: Seattle, WA

🔹 Julie Nyberg

Executive Coach | Fractional People Leader | Founder-Centric HR Partner
Julie Nyberg works with startups and scaling companies to install HR foundations and leadership capabilities that support healthy growth. With a background in enterprise and early-stage orgs, she brings the right blend of strategic structure and emotional intelligence. Her clients include founder-led companies and mission-aligned orgs navigating people and performance complexity.

🔍 Specialties: Talent development, executive coaching, growth-stage HR strategy
📍 Based in: Seattle, WA

🔹 Judy Iannuccilli

Strategic HR Executive | Fractional CHRO | HR Transformation Advisor
Judy is a senior HR strategist who helps companies transform how they manage talent, teams, and trust. She brings experience from high-growth tech companies and has served as a trusted partner to CEOs and boards. As a fractional leader, she focuses on implementing scalable HR systems and aligning people strategy with business vision.

🔍 Specialties: Organizational design, HR operations, executive alignment
📍 Based in: Seattle, WA

Why Seattle Companies Are Embracing Fractional People Leadership

Here’s the reality: hiring a full-time CPO takes time, budget, and executive alignment—luxuries that many high-velocity orgs can’t afford. But people leadership isn’t optional.

Fractional CHROs are the answer for:

• 💻 Hybrid work transitions that need culture and systems
  
  
• 📈 Rapid team growth outpacing internal HR capacity
  
  
• 🧭 Founders needing a strategic HR sounding board
  
  
• 🧰 Maturity upgrades—like implementing performance frameworks or equity plans
  
  
• 🔄 Re-orgs, M&A events, or restructuring initiatives
  
  

Seattle companies are choosing fractional over full-time not because they want less—but because they want the right fit, faster.

What to Look for in a Fractional CHRO

The best fractional people leaders bring:

✅ Strategic range—able to operate at policy, people, and board levels
✅ Empathy and directness—especially when guiding exec teams
✅ A playbook that flexes—not just “best practices”
✅ Commitment to reputation over resume

These CHROs get in fast, diagnose clearly, and help companies grow without breaking what made them special in the first place.

Related Digital Reference Insights

For more context on how to engage interim talent:

📘 How to Hire a Fractional Executive
A practical guide for founders and operators navigating interim leadership.

📍 The Importance of Professional References
Explore why third-party credibility is more critical than ever in today’s trust-driven hiring market.

📘 Collecting Professional References: The Dos and Don’ts
References are often the make-or-break element of your next opportunity. Yet many professionals still treat the reference process as an afterthought or, worse, scramble to collect them last minute.

📗 The Talent Ecosystem: Why Fractional Operators Are Reshaping the C-Suite
Explore the structural shifts behind the rise of fractional leadership and what it means for your next hire.

Final Thought: Seattle’s People Strategy Is Becoming More Strategic

In a city that builds for the future, how you hire matters. And for many companies in Seattle, the best way to get senior HR leadership isn’t to wait for a perfect full-time hire—it’s to bring in a fractional partner who can execute, adapt, and align people with purpose.

Rebecca, Julie, and Judy are already showing how that model delivers real results.

The future of work is already here. And Seattle’s people leaders are making it happen.

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✅ Check Out Our Local Directories of Fractional CHROs & Interim Chief People Officers by City

This resource highlights city-specific guides to some of the most impactful interim and fractional Chief People Officers across the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. Each directory offers a look into the unique business culture of the region and the leaders driving people strategy forward.

• Atlanta
  Fractional CHROs in Atlanta Making Things Happen
  Atlanta’s talent leaders are shaping diverse, tech-forward workplaces in a city that’s become a magnet for startups, logistics firms, and entertainment enterprises. Fractional CHROs here are experts at managing rapid growth and culture change.

• Chicago
  Fractional CHROs in Chicago Making Things Happen
  In this powerhouse of industry and innovation, Chicago’s fractional CHROs help organizations scale intentionally—blending legacy systems with modern people practices in finance, healthcare, logistics, and tech.

• Columbus
  Fractional CHROs in Columbus Making Things Happen
  Columbus combines Midwestern values with high-growth potential, and its interim people leaders bring strategic clarity to fast-growing startups, educational institutions, and service-sector employers.

• Denver
  Fractional CHROs in Denver Making Things Happen
  Known for its entrepreneurial spirit and wellness-driven culture, Denver is home to CHROs who specialize in building values-aligned teams and sustainable HR infrastructures for growing businesses.

• Detroit
  Fractional CHROs in Detroit Making Things Happen
  In the heart of the Midwest’s manufacturing revival, Detroit’s people leaders are reinventing what workforce strategy looks like across automotive, tech, and nonprofit sectors.

• Houston
  Fractional CHROs in Houston Making Things Happen
  Energy, healthcare, and logistics dominate Houston’s economy, and the city’s CHROs are uniquely equipped to address complex compliance needs and workforce transformations.

• Indianapolis
  Fractional CHROs in Indianapolis Making Things Happen
  As Indianapolis grows into a regional tech and biotech hub, its interim HR leaders are guiding companies through strategic hiring, leadership development, and HR tech implementation.

• Jacksonville
  Fractional CHROs in Jacksonville Making Things Happen
  Jacksonville’s fractional CHROs serve fast-growing industries like finance, logistics, and healthcare—offering guidance on culture-building, operational scale, and remote workforce policy.

• Las Vegas
  Fractional CHROs in Las Vegas Making Things Happen
  Beyond hospitality, Vegas is growing its footprint in tech and healthcare—and its HR consultants are ushering in next-gen talent strategies in industries that rely on high performance and adaptability.

• Los Angeles
  Fractional CHROs in Los Angeles Making Things Happen
  In this entertainment and startup capital, LA’s CHROs specialize in hybrid teams, talent branding, and aligning creative and corporate cultures under fast-paced conditions.

• London
  Fractional CHROs in London Making Things Happen
  London’s fractional HR leaders support multinationals and scaleups across finance, fintech, and creative industries—navigating global labor trends and cross-border compliance with precision.

• Miami
  Fractional CHROs in Miami Making Things Happen
  Miami is a rising tech and finance hotspot with a diverse workforce—and its interim people leaders are fluent in multicultural management, bilingual team dynamics, and global HR systems.

• Naples
  Fractional CHROs in Naples Making Things Happen
  In Naples, fractional HR leaders help small to midsize companies and family-owned businesses build professionalized systems without compromising close-knit cultures.

• New York City
  Fractional CHROs in New York City Making Things Happen
  From Wall Street to SoHo startups, NYC’s fractional CHROs are masters of navigating complexity—balancing regulation, rapid scaling, and inclusive leadership in high-pressure industries.

• Orlando
  Fractional CHROs in Orlando Making Things Happen
  Tourism, healthcare, and education anchor Orlando’s economy—and its CHROs provide high-touch leadership solutions that prioritize retention, well-being, and frontline empowerment.

• Phoenix
  Fractional CHROs in Phoenix Making Things Happen
  Phoenix is booming in construction, healthcare, and tech—and local CHROs are helping businesses mature people operations while retaining agility in competitive labor markets.

• Raleigh
  Fractional CHROs in Raleigh Making Things Happen
  As part of the Research Triangle, Raleigh is home to biotech, education, and tech talent—and its HR leaders are supporting scaleups with science-backed people strategies.

• Salt Lake City
  Fractional CHROs in Salt Lake City Making Things Happen
  SLC combines entrepreneurial energy with deep-rooted values, and its fractional CHROs offer people solutions that honor both innovation and integrity.

• San Diego
  Fractional CHROs in San Diego Making Things Happen
  Life sciences, defense, and tourism converge in San Diego—where fractional CHROs are helping companies adapt to hybrid work and global growth strategies.

• St. Louis
  Fractional CHROs in St. Louis Making Things Happen
  This Midwestern city is home to major employers in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing—and its fractional CHROs support operational resilience and inclusive workforce planning.

• Washington, DC
  Fractional CHROs in Washington DC Making Things Happen
  In the nation’s capital, people leaders serve nonprofits, associations, and purpose-driven orgs—providing strategic clarity and DEI leadership in highly regulated environments.