HR Consultants in Los Angeles to Watch for in 2025

Los Angeles HR Experts to Know in 2025

At Digital Reference, we believe HR consultants are more than just fixers—they’re architects of company culture, translators of vision into operations, and steady hands during high-growth or high-stress moments. And in a city like Los Angeles—where industries collide, creativity thrives, and scale happens fast—this work matters more than ever.

That’s why we’ve created this curated spotlight on LA-based HR consultants: from Long Beach to Burbank, from Anaheim to Inglewood. These are the strategists, coaches, and builders changing how work works—whether they're running their own boutique firms or embedded within larger teams. Some are compliance experts. Others are culture whisperers. All of them are shaping the next chapter of HR in Southern California.

How We Built This List

We don’t publish lists lightly. At Digital Reference, we invest time in deep research, ecosystem mapping, and ongoing conversations across industries. Our process includes:

• 🧠 Reviewing consultant portfolios and case studies
  
  
• 📞 Interviewing clients and colleagues to understand each consultant’s impact
  
  
• 📊 Analyzing alignment with future-of-work principles, including equity, inclusion, and people-first design
  
  
• 🌐 Mapping local HR networks across Los Angeles, Long Beach, and Anaheim to identify emerging and established leaders
  
  

Our lens is shaped by Digital Reference’s core values: surfacing operators who do the real work, championing clarity over clout, and elevating people-first talent strategies. Learn more about our POV in HR Consultants in the USA to Watch and What HR Consultants Really Do.

Now let’s meet the standouts.

Diana Steel

Founder, Diana Steel Consulting
LinkedIn | Website

Diana Steel is a business-focused HR consultant who helps organizations untangle complex people challenges with logic, compassion, and laser-sharp clarity. With a background in both HR and operations, she understands how to build people systems that serve the business—not slow it down.

Her services include:

• 🧭 Organizational assessments that cut through noise
  
  
• ✍️ Policy development and legal compliance with a human touch
  
  
• 🔄 Interim HR leadership for companies in flux
  
  

What sets Diana apart is her operational brain. She knows how to make HR scalable, efficient, and value-aligned—whether that means auditing your HRIS or supporting M&A transitions. Her clients include tech firms, nonprofits, and media companies navigating fast growth.

Tonyel Thompson

Founder, Real HR Hero
LinkedIn | Website

Tonyel Thompson isn’t just an HR consultant—she’s a self-described "HR hero" for a reason. With over 20 years of experience in workforce development, DEI, and HR leadership, Tonyel helps companies build fair, inclusive, and high-performing environments with confidence.

Real HR Hero is built on the idea that human-centered HR is strategic HR. Tonyel and her team deliver solutions that feel real: rooted in compliance, driven by equity, and personalized to fit the organization’s culture—not just the industry standard.

Clients turn to Tonyel for:

• 🦸‍♀️ Practical, no-fluff HR systems and handbooks
  
  
• 🌈 DEI strategy that centers impact, not just optics
  
  
• 📊 Workforce audits that go beyond the surface to reveal actionable insights
  
  

The Digital Reference Team had the opportunity to interview Tonyel Thompson to better dive into her firm's approach to HR.

Here are a few things we learned from our conversation with Tonyel:

At the heart of Thompson’s work is a clear belief: companies do better when they care—really care—about the people inside them. And she’s seen firsthand what happens when HR is done right.

“What I love about fractional HR is the variety. I get to support so many different kinds of people and businesses. But more than that, I get to help companies that want to do better. That’s who we’re looking for—clients who care.”

Why Toneyl Made Our 2025 List

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

• ✅ Founder, Fractional CHRO, and HR Consultant She leads her own firm but also has deep experience as a solo practitioner.
• ✅ U.S. Reach: Though based in Los Angeles, Tonyel supports clients everywhe
• ✅ Proven Expertise: Her HR background covers the gammut:

“Some of our clients want us to do it all,” she says. “From onboarding and payroll to benefits and compliance—we’re basically their full HR department. Others need more targeted help, like support during a performance issue or help offboarding someone. Every engagement is tailored.”

• ✅ Specialization: Tonyel combines leadership development with compliance ensuring clients stay compliant and human.

Whether it’s onboarding frameworks, leadership training, or helping founders navigate tough conversations, Tonyel shows up as a steady partner and a voice of clarity. She’s not afraid to ask the hard questions—or help you find the honest answers.

Tonyel is also featured as one of our Fractional CHROs Making Things Happen in LA.

Sabrina Baker

Founder, Acacia HR Solutions
LinkedIn | Website

Sabrina Baker is a national voice in small business HR strategy—and she’s based right here in LA. Through Acacia HR Solutions, she helps small businesses build practical, affordable, and scalable HR frameworks without bloat.

Her expertise includes:

• 🏡 Fractional HR support that mimics an in-house feel
  
  
• 🎤 Leadership training and workshops
  
  
• 💬 Ongoing HR advisory for founders and teams
  
  

Sabrina also shares insights widely through webinars, speaking engagements, and content. Her goal? To demystify HR for growing teams and empower businesses to operate confidently, even without full-time HR staff.

Mario Portugal

LinkedIn

Mario Portugal is a bilingual HR leader who knows how to meet organizations where they are—and move them forward with agility. With experience in hospitality, healthcare, and union environments, Mario specializes in employee relations and conflict resolution that rebuild trust and repair culture.

What makes Mario stand out:

• 🧩 Deep experience with complex labor relations and compliance issues
  
  
• 💬 Skilled in bilingual facilitation (English/Spanish) for inclusive workplace communication
  
  
• 💡 Strong focus on root-cause problem solving, not just surface-level fixes
  
  

Mario is known for helping organizations de-escalate conflict and find common ground. His calm, thoughtful demeanor makes him a trusted advisor to executives and hourly employees alike. In fast-paced, people-heavy industries, Mario is a go-to partner.

Amoi Alawoya

Founder, Niche Unlimited
LinkedIn | Website

Amoi Alawoya is all about transformational HR strategy—and she’s built Niche Unlimited to serve organizations that want to rethink how they hire, onboard, and retain. With roots in recruitment, Amoi understands the power of the first impression and builds full-spectrum people strategies that center belonging.

Niche Unlimited is more than just a consulting firm—it’s a culture architect. Amoi leads with:

• 🧲 Candidate experience design that aligns with brand values
  
  
• 🪜 DEI strategy built into every layer of the talent lifecycle
  
  
• 🛠️ End-to-end HR system development for scaling startups
  
  

Clients consistently say that Amoi “brings humanity back into HR.” She’s especially impactful for early-stage companies that want to build a strong people foundation with purpose.

Shannon Taylor

Founder, Avec Coeur HR
LinkedIn | Website

The name of Shannon Taylor’s firm—Avec Coeur, or “with heart”—says it all. She leads her consulting practice with emotional intelligence, empathy, and a belief that culture can’t be an afterthought. It’s the core product.

Shannon’s strengths include:

• 🩺 Trauma-informed people practices
  
  
• 🧠 Executive coaching that blends EQ with performance strategy
  
  
• 🧰 Building equitable systems that scale with compassion
  
  

Clients rave about her ability to foster psychologically safe environments—even in high-pressure, high-stakes industries. With roots in education and social work, Shannon brings a community-centered lens to traditional HR tools. She’s especially sought after by mission-driven startups and nonprofit orgs.

Carolina Gallegos & Julianne Rodriguez

Co-Founders, Zenly Solutions
Carolina's LinkedIn | Julianne's LinkedIn | Website

Zenly Solutions is where HR meets behavior science. Founded by Carolina Gallegos and Julianne Rodriguez, Zenly provides HR consulting tailored specifically for organizations serving neurodiverse communities—including clinics, schools, and behavior health orgs.

Their services include:

• 🧠 Behavior-informed HR strategy and policy design
  
  
• 🔍 Performance management through a neurodiversity lens
  
  
• 📈 Scalable compliance systems for ABA-focused teams
  
  

Both founders have deep experience in HR and behavioral science, making their work especially relevant in healthcare, education, and nonprofit sectors. Zenly is more than a consultancy—it’s a values-driven partner for orgs that need people systems as unique as the populations they serve.

Katherine Haliski

Founder, Real Human HR
LinkedIn | Website

Katherine Haliski launched Real Human HR to do exactly what the name implies: help companies treat people like… people. With a strong background in tech and creative industries, she supports startups, agencies, and purpose-driven businesses that want to embed humanity into their HR systems.

What she offers:

• 💬 Founder-friendly HR coaching
  
  
• ⚖️ Balance of compliance and culture in early-stage orgs
  
  
• 📚 Systems for feedback, performance, and growth
  
  

Clients describe Katherine as a “translator” who helps founders and execs understand HR in a way that doesn’t feel robotic or risk-averse. Her work is thoughtful, grounded, and deeply collaborative.

Ebony McKnight

Founder, McKnight Resource Solutions
LinkedIn | Website

Ebony McKnight is a strategic HR consultant who blends tactical support with visionary thinking. At McKnight Resource Solutions, she helps organizations navigate the full employee lifecycle—from hiring and onboarding to development and retention—with clarity and intention.

Ebony’s core services include:

• 📜 Compliance and policy development
  
  
• 🔁 Talent development and performance management
  
  
• 🌱 Inclusive hiring and culture consulting
  
  

She has a deep background in higher ed, corporate, and nonprofit spaces, and brings a justice-oriented lens to her work. Ebony’s clients appreciate her directness, strategic thinking, and focus on building workplaces that last.

Taniesha Johnson

LinkedIn

Taniesha Johnson brings over two decades of executive-level HR experience to the table—along with an unmatched ability to create strategic alignment between people and business outcomes. Her background spans retail, healthcare, and the nonprofit sector, making her a dynamic partner for organizations facing big transitions.

Her expertise lies in:

• 🔄 Change management and culture transformation
  
  
• 🎯 Strategic workforce planning
  
  
• 🤝 Leadership coaching with an equity-first lens
  
  

Taniesha is a big-picture thinker who understands how every HR decision—from benefits to DEI to organizational structure—ripples through a company. She’s often described as a “stabilizing force” in moments of change, helping teams not just survive, but truly evolve.

SoCal HR Is Quietly Transformational

At Digital Reference, we say this often: you don’t have to be loud to lead. That’s especially true in the LA region—where HR consultants are transforming businesses, quietly but powerfully.

They’re helping startups get their first systems right. They’re guiding nonprofits through growth spurts. They’re teaching leaders how to build culture from day one. And they’re doing it in a city that thrives on creativity, scale, and reinvention.

A Note from Digital Reference

At Digital Reference, we exist to map the real talent ecosystem—one built not on buzzwords, but on outcomes. We elevate the quiet leaders: the HR operators, culture architects, and compliance whisperers who actually make businesses run.

We build with a research-first approach that’s rooted in interviews, network analysis, and clarity. If you want to learn more about what HR professionals actually do, or how to find the right one for your org, check out:

• HR Consultants in the USA to Watch
  
  
• What HR Consultants Really Do
  
  
• What Are Human Resource Professionals?
  
  

We’ll be updating this list over time. Know someone in the LA area we should add? Send them our way.

And if you’re an HR consultant doing the real work—building teams, solving messes, creating change—you’re already in the right place. 

‍