HR Consultants in Seattle to Watch for in 2025

Seattle Area HR Experts to Know in 2025

Seattle has always been a city of builders—of ideas, industries, and inclusive communities. In 2025, as the city continues to thrive as a hub for tech, healthcare, aerospace, and mission-driven organizations, there’s a growing demand for smarter, more flexible people strategies. That’s where HR consultants step in.

From scaling startups to reimagining talent systems at enterprise level, Seattle’s HR consultants are shaping the future of work—one employee experience at a time. These professionals aren’t just checking compliance boxes. They’re embedding equity into hiring systems, redesigning organizational structures, and helping founders and CEOs translate their values into everyday operations.

At Digital Reference, we understand how critical the right HR partner can be. That’s why we created this list: a curated selection of top-tier HR consultants in the Seattle area who are setting the bar for excellence, trust, and transformation.

Before diving into the list, you might want to explore:

• HR Consultants & Talent Experts: What Do They Do?
  
• Human Resources Professionals: What Are They and What Do They Do?
  
• HR Consultants Near Me
  

Our Selection Methodology

Each professional featured here was selected based on:

• Local presence in the greater Seattle area
  
  
• Verified expertise in HR consulting or advisory
  
  
• Reputation, client impact, and public-facing credibility
  
  
• Thought leadership and/or specialization in areas such as DEI, change management, talent acquisition, or organizational design
  

These aren’t generic listings—they’re carefully vetted pros who align with our Digital Reference values: transparency, innovation, inclusivity, and practical outcomes.

Featured HR Consultants

Sarah Wilkins

Co-Founder & COO, Reverb
LinkedIn | Website

Sarah Wilkins complements Reverb’s impact with a deep background in operations, HR strategy, and scaling teams. She excels in designing internal systems that align mission with management. Sarah brings thoughtful leadership to everything from performance management to employee engagement.

Highlights:

• 🧾 Performance systems design
  
  
• 🛠️ Operational alignment
  
  
• 🌟 Employee experience strategy

Vea Young

Founder, Maryel Consulting
LinkedIn | Website

Vea Young brings over 20 years of HR experience to the table with a distinct focus on people-first transformation. At the helm of Maryel Consulting, she partners with organizations to design DEI-informed practices and build sustainable cultures. Vea’s work emphasizes authentic leadership and inclusive hiring, offering tools that integrate values with operations.

Highlights:

• 🎯 Strategic DEI integration
  
  
• 📊 Organizational culture diagnostics
  
  
• 🤝 Leadership coaching for equity
  

Lora Poepping

Founder, Plum Coaching & HR Consulting
LinkedIn | Website

Lora Poepping is a powerhouse in both career coaching and HR strategy. With deep roots in recruiting and leadership development, Lora's firm, Plum, supports executives and teams through career transitions, outplacement, and strategic HR planning. She’s especially known for her sharp insight into talent pipelines and people systems in fast-growth companies.

Highlights:

• 📈 Executive career strategy
  
  
• 🧭 HR program design for scaling startups
  
  
• 🌱 Outplacement with empathy and results
  

Suzan Sturholm

President & Founder, All Things HR
LinkedIn | Website

With decades of experience, Suzan Sturholm leads a team that lives up to its name: All Things HR. Suzan offers fractional HR services, training programs, policy development, and compliance audits. Whether you’re a five-person startup or a 500-person operation, Suzan brings a scalable, systems-based approach to human capital.

Highlights:

• 🛡️ HR compliance and audits
  
  
• 🧑‍🏫 Custom training and development
  
  
• 🧩 Full-spectrum HR support
  

Mikaela Kiner

Founder & CEO, Reverb
LinkedIn | Website

Mikaela Kiner is an executive coach and HR visionary who built Reverb to support high-growth companies in need of values-driven people strategies. She specializes in leadership development, culture change, and inclusive workplaces—particularly within tech and mission-driven sectors.

Highlights:

• 🚀 Culture transformation for startups
  
  
• 🧠 Leadership development and coaching
  
  
• 🌐 DEI strategy integration
  

Diane St. John

Founder, HR Northwest (HRPNW)
LinkedIn | Website

Diane brings heart and rigor to HR consulting. Through HRPNW, she supports companies with compliance, strategic planning, employee relations, and compensation programs. Her approach is both analytical and relational—making her a go-to for leaders navigating change and growth.

Highlights:

• ⚖️ Wage and compliance expertise
  
  
• 💬 Mediation and ER strategy
  
  
• 📌 Strategic HR planning
  

Shannon Kavanaugh

President & Founder, Archbright
LinkedIn | Website

Under Shannon’s leadership, Archbright has become a trusted HR advisory and employment law resource for Northwest employers. She leads with a data-informed, community-centered mindset, empowering clients with training, benchmarking, and risk mitigation.

Highlights:

• 📚 HR training programs
  
  
• 💼 Employment law compliance
  
  
• 🤓 Compensation and benchmarking tools
  

Amanda Mayo

Founder & Principal Consultant, FullyHR
LinkedIn | Website

Amanda offers fractional HR leadership, startup HR setup, and employee lifecycle strategy through FullyHR. She’s particularly effective with tech companies and remote teams, helping founders establish thoughtful HR infrastructure without overbuilding too fast.

Highlights:

• 🪜 Startup people systems
  
  
• 🔍 On-demand HR support
  
  
• 🧑‍💻 Virtual-first company readiness
  

Shannon Swift

CEO, Swift HR Solutions
LinkedIn | Website

Shannon Swift is known for working with venture-backed and growth-stage companies, delivering HR frameworks that accelerate readiness for funding or acquisition. She helps leaders embed structure without sacrificing culture—a key balancing act for scaling organizations.

Highlights:

• 💰 VC-ready HR strategy
  
  
• 📦 Rapid growth organization scaling
  
  
• 🧭 Leadership team advisory
  

Grace Kuhnly

Independent HR Consultant
LinkedIn

Grace brings a deep background in healthcare HR, policy design, and employee wellbeing initiatives. While not affiliated with a firm, she’s a go-to consultant for mid-sized organizations seeking stability and strategic clarity.

Highlights:

• 🏥 Industry specialization in healthcare
  
  
• 🧑‍⚖️ Policy and risk management
  
  
• 🌿 Wellbeing and retention initiatives
  

Why Seattle’s HR Scene Is Special 🌲

Seattle’s HR landscape blends tech-forward ambition with values-driven leadership—a rare and powerful combination. As home to global giants like Amazon, Microsoft, and Starbucks, the city has long been a breeding ground for innovation. But it’s also defined by its vibrant ecosystem of startups, healthcare providers, nonprofits, and public institutions, all of which demand dynamic and inclusive people strategies.

In 2025, the city’s HR consultants are doing more than just managing compliance or refining job descriptions—they’re rearchitecting the employee experience from the ground up. From designing remote-first cultures to implementing inclusive hiring practices, Seattle’s HR leaders are helping companies adapt to shifting workforce expectations while staying true to their core values.

What makes Seattle especially unique is its progressive, equity-focused mindset, influenced by both its civic culture and its deep ties to the tech industry. HR professionals here often work at the intersection of people, purpose, and performance, creating scalable systems that reflect a commitment to sustainability, belonging, and human-centered leadership.

Whether it’s an aerospace firm navigating union relations or a climate tech startup building culture from scratch, Seattle’s HR consultants are central to how organizations evolve—and how they stay resilient in a world of rapid change.

Why Digital Reference Is Here for It

At Digital Reference, we’re on a mission to make hiring smarter, more human, and above all, trust-driven. In a hiring landscape where speed and volume often overshadow nuance, we believe it’s time to bring integrity and clarity back to the process. That starts with professional references—one of the most underutilized yet insightful tools in talent evaluation.

Our platform is designed to simplify the reference collection process without sacrificing quality or depth. We empower candidates to tell their full story through trusted, authentic endorsements—while giving hiring teams the insights they need to make confident, informed decisions. With easy-to-use tools, automated workflows, and built-in compliance features, we remove the friction from gathering references, making it a more seamless and strategic part of the hiring journey.

But our work doesn’t stop there. By spotlighting exceptional HR leaders in cities like Seattle, we’re also helping companies identify the right partners to design people-first systems, build resilient teams, and scale their impact. Whether you’re a founder seeking HR guidance or a recruiter striving for better signal in the noise, Digital Reference connects you with the expertise—and the context—you need to hire well.

Because when hiring is built on trust, everybody wins. ✨

Explore more:

• How to Hire a Human Resources Consultant
  
• About Digital Reference
  

✅ Check Out Our Local Directories of HR Consultants by City

• United States – Nationwide
  HR Consultants in the USA to Watch
  From coast to coast, this national roundup highlights HR consultants who are setting the standard across industries—from tech startups to manufacturing and mission-driven nonprofits.

• New York City
  HR Consultants in New York City to Watch
  In the city that never sleeps, HR consultants juggle complex compliance, diversity initiatives, and leadership development in finance, media, fashion, and beyond.

• Los Angeles
  HR Consultants in Los Angeles to Watch
  From entertainment giants to fast-growing creative agencies, LA’s HR scene blends culture-savvy consulting with innovation in employee experience and DEI strategy.

• Chicago
  HR Consultants in Chicago to Watch
  Known for its corporate headquarters and thriving startup ecosystem, Chicago is a hub for HR pros helping companies navigate scaling, restructuring, and workplace culture.

• Washington, DC
  HR Consultants in Washington DC to Watch
  In the heart of the nation’s capital, HR consultants support policy-driven orgs, nonprofits, and government contractors with people-first strategies and compliance expertise.

• San Francisco
  HR Consultants in San Francisco to Watch
  With a tech-heavy client base, SF consultants specialize in startup scaling, remote team management, and designing inclusive, innovative workplaces.

• Dallas
  HR Consultants in Dallas to Watch
  From energy to healthcare to enterprise tech, Dallas-based HR consultants are driving organizational growth across industries in this high-opportunity metro.

• Houston
  HR Consultants in Houston to Watch
  Houston’s HR experts serve major sectors like oil and gas, healthcare, and logistics—helping companies modernize practices while navigating complex labor environments.

• Boston
  HR Consultants in Boston to Watch
  Home to top universities and biotech firms, Boston’s HR consultants often work at the intersection of academic excellence, healthcare innovation, and startup acceleration.

• Toronto
  HR Consultants in Toronto to Watch
  Canada’s business capital boasts a diverse HR consulting scene that blends global perspective with deep local knowledge across tech, finance, and public service.

• London
  HR Consultants in London to Watch
  London’s HR consultants balance legacy financial institutions with rising tech and creative firms, offering strategic talent support across global markets.

• Sydney
  HR Consultants in Sydney to Watch
  In one of APAC’s most influential business centers, Sydney-based HR professionals help organizations scale sustainably while championing well-being and workplace equity.

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