Tonyel Thompson: HR Consultant & Fractional CHRO in Los Angeles

Part of Digital Reference's series: HR Consultants to Watch & Fractional CHROs Making Things Happen in LA. The Digital Reference Team was privileged to interview Tonyel Thompson face-to-face in April 2025. Tonyel is an LA HR Consulting Firm Founder, Fractional CHRO, and HR Consultant to Watch.

In a city defined by reinvention, Tonyel Thompson is doing just that—but in the world of HR. Based in Los Angeles, Tonyel is the founder and principal of a fractional HR firm (Real HR Hero) that’s quietly transforming how companies build and support their people operations. Since launching her business officially in 2019 (after years of consulting on the side), she’s built a practice that blends deep empathy, operational rigor, and a sharp eye for modern workforce dynamics.

Making Fractional Work Feel Full-Service: How Tonyel Thompson Is Changing the HR Game in LA

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Tonyel isn’t just offering HR support—she’s building infrastructure that flexes with a business’s growth. And in a post-COVID, remote-first world, her model has become more relevant than ever.

“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.”

That flexibility is key. Thompson’s firm works primarily with companies between 25 and 250 employees—a sweet spot where internal HR is often underdeveloped but still mission-critical. These are businesses that may not be able to afford (or fully utilize) a senior HR team, but still need strategic support. For them, Tonyel offers the best of both worlds: fractional cost with full-spectrum service.

Beyond the Solo HR Consultant

One common misconception about fractional HR work is that it’s just one person parachuting in to fix problems. Not so in Tonyel’s case.

“Our clients aren’t just getting one HR professional. They’re getting a team,” she explains. “There’s a lead advisor, a backup, and a senior consultant for escalations and complex projects. That kind of redundancy is rare at our price point.”

The firm is largely virtual—an intentional choice from day one, not a pandemic pivot. While Thompson is open to onsite work for local clients, she believes strongly in the value of designing HR infrastructure that functions remotely.

“Even if you want someone at a desk in your office, your HR systems should work virtually. That’s how you future-proof,” she says. “And thankfully, more leaders are starting to see that.”

Serving the Right-Sized Clients

While Thompson’s team can support clients across industries, some are a better fit than others. Highly tactile environments, like manufacturing, often require full-time, onsite HR presence. But for companies in biotech, SaaS, creative services, or distributed teams—Tonyel’s model fits like a glove.

The firm’s value proposition especially resonates with founder-led or PE-backed businesses that need to grow fast without operational chaos. “We can drop in, stabilize things, and even help companies figure out when it is time to hire internal HR,” she notes.

Interestingly, she points out that many clients didn’t even realize HR could be outsourced until they were deep in a crisis or post-pandemic rebuilding phase.

“During COVID, people finally saw HR as more than paper-pushing,” she recalls. “They saw us as the risk managers, the culture carriers, the ones keeping things together. That changed everything.”

The Tech + Talent Conversation

Thompson is quick to acknowledge that new HR tools—AI, automation, virtual onboarding—have made it easier than ever to support clients remotely. But she’s equally clear-eyed about the platforms she sees as falling short. LinkedIn, for example, draws her ire.

“It’s expensive, clunky, and not built for true verification,” she says. “I once found someone using my photo to create a fake HR company. It took LinkedIn two months to take the profile down. That kind of delay erodes trust.”

Which is exactly why she’s intrigued by new approaches to digital reputation, like Digital Reference. The idea of using verified, structured data to build professional profiles—something closer to a portfolio than a resume—resonates deeply.

“There are all these tools for creatives and coders to show what they’ve built. But for HR leaders? For people people? We’re still on resumes. It’s outdated.”

She also offers sharp insight into how platforms could rethink verification:

“If someone adds an employer to their profile, the employer should have to verify it—or at least be given the chance to reject it. Otherwise, it gets auto-approved. That would make profiles way more trustworthy.”

A Human-First Approach to Growth

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.”

For now, she’s content to keep growing at a sustainable pace, serving the kinds of companies that value strategy and heart in equal measure. Her firm isn’t trying to be the biggest. Just one of the best.

“We’re not cold-calling, trying to replace someone’s internal HR person,” she says. “We show up when there’s a real need. And usually, that comes from a referral—from someone we’ve already helped.”

In a city that’s long celebrated reinvention, Tonyel Thompson is offering something rare: consistency, credibility, and care in an often-overlooked part of business. And she’s proving that when it comes to HR, fractional doesn’t mean fractional value—it just means smarter delivery.

Final Thoughts

HR Professionals are the glue behind many of LA's growing businesses. They help organizations transition, ensure compliance, and execute—all while working with flexibility and human intent.

Whether you’re preparing for Series A, downsizing, evolving your leadership team, or rethinking how your business runs— Tonyel and her team are the people you want on your team.

To help you find the right talent or get inspired by industry leaders, we’ve curated a growing list of local directories and market roundups that feature independent fractional CHROs and HR-focused agencies. Explore by location and find the professionals who are making things happen in your city—or in the cities where your business is growing.

🌎 Global & Country-Level Directories

Australia Fractional CHRO Services

• Top Outsourced Chief Human Resources Agencies in Australia
  https://www.digitalreference.co/insights/human-resource-professionals/top-outsourced-chief-human-resources-agencies-in-australia

Canada Fractional CHRO Services

• Top Outsourced Chief Human Resources Agencies in Canada
  https://www.digitalreference.co/insights/human-resource-professionals/top-outsourced-chief-human-resources-agencies-in-canada

United Kingdom Fractional CHRO Services

• Top Outsourced Chief Human Resources Agencies in the UK
  https://www.digitalreference.co/insights/human-resource-professionals/top-outsourced-chief-human-resources-agencies-in-the-uk

United States Fractional CHRO Services

• Top Outsourced Chief Human Resources Agencies in the USA
  https://www.digitalreference.co/insights/human-resource-professionals/top-outsourced-chief-human-resources-agencies-in-the-usa

🇺🇸 United States – Local City Spotlights

Atlanta
Fractional CHROs in Atlanta Making Things Happen

Atlanta's startup energy and legacy enterprise mix make it prime territory for CHROs who can scale culture across diverse teams—from fintech to film.

Chicago
Fractional CHROs in Chicago Making Things Happen

In the heart of the Midwest, Chicago companies thrive when people leaders bring structure, empathy, and strategy to complex workforces.

Columbus
Fractional CHROs in Columbus Making Things Happen

With a booming startup ecosystem and Fortune 500 roots, Columbus needs CHROs who know how to build HR functions from the ground up—with flexibility and foresight.

Denver
Fractional CHROs in Denver Making Things Happen

As more remote-first and hybrid teams settle into the Rockies, Denver’s businesses benefit from CHROs who know how to lead with wellness and autonomy.

Detroit
Fractional CHROs in Detroit Making Things Happen

In a city where reinvention is the norm, Detroit’s HR leaders must balance tradition with transformation—especially in manufacturing and mobility.

Houston
Fractional CHROs in Houston Making Things Happen

Houston’s energy, healthcare, and tech sectors demand CHROs who can align people strategy with highly regulated, fast-changing industries

Indianapolis
Fractional CHROs in Indianapolis Making Things Happen

Indy is growing fast in logistics and life sciences—and needs HR leaders who can help midsize companies grow without breaking what works.

Jacksonville
Fractional CHROs in Jacksonville Making Things Happen

In a rising business hub like Jacksonville, CHROs help translate big-city people practices into right-sized solutions for emerging teams.

Las Vegas
Fractional CHROs in Las Vegas Making Things Happen

Vegas isn’t just for entertainment—it's a growing business center where CHROs guide companies through seasonal hiring, retention, and workforce innovation.

Los Angeles
Fractional CHROs in Los Angeles Making Things Happen

From media to manufacturing, LA’s talent is creative and diverse. CHROs here need to balance equity, culture, and compliance in bold ways.

Miami
Fractional CHROs in Miami Making Things Happen

With global talent, vibrant startups, and new VC influx, Miami’s business leaders lean on CHROs to build inclusive, high-performance teams with Latinx-savvy leadership.

Naples
Fractional CHROs in Naples Making Things Happen

In this luxury-leaning market, Naples-based CHROs often focus on boutique firms and professional services where employer brand and employee experience are everything.

New York City
Fractional CHROs in New York City Making Things Happen

NYC businesses need CHROs who can manage pace and pressure—while scaling globally from the most competitive hiring market in the U.S.

Orlando
Fractional CHROs in Orlando Making Things Happen

Hospitality and tourism meet tech and healthcare in Orlando. CHROs here are experts at multi-industry people strategy and high-volume onboarding.

Phoenix
Fractional CHROs in Phoenix Making Things Happen

With its rapid population growth and affordable cost of living, Phoenix is drawing new HQs—and CHROs are laying the cultural groundwork from day one.

Raleigh
Fractional CHROs in Raleigh Making Things Happen

As a tech and research hub, Raleigh’s HR needs are advanced—CHROs here help build resilient teams in high-skill, competitive sectors.

Salt Lake City
Fractional CHROs in Salt Lake City Making Things Happen

Utah’s fast-growing business scene demands CHROs who bring both scalability and cultural sensitivity to family-run and venture-backed companies alike.

San Diego
Fractional CHROs in San Diego Making Things Happen

In this biotech and defense-heavy region, CHROs bridge technical expertise with forward-thinking workforce strategies that attract top-tier talent.

Seattle
Fractional CHROs in Seattle Making Things Happen

Seattle companies live at the intersection of tech, innovation, and progressive culture—CHROs help bring it all together with scalable, human-centric leadership.

St. Louis
Fractional CHROs in St. Louis Making Things Happen

In a city built on strong industries and Midwestern values, CHROs are modernizing legacy orgs while preserving what makes them special.

Washington DC
Fractional CHROs in Washington DC Making Things Happen

Government-adjacent orgs, policy think tanks, and NGOs rely on CHROs who understand compliance, clarity, and mission-aligned hiring at scale.

Looking for other types of Fractional Leadership?

Find Fractional CMOs here.

Find Fractional CTOs here.

Find Fractional CFOs here.

Find Fractional COOs here.

Explore their work. Connect. And when you’re ready to document your own professional story or discover your next operational partner—start with Digital Reference.

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