Celena Bertone Consulting
For Funded Startups, 10-100 Employees
I build the People function that lets your team scale without breaking.
Most startups this size are growing faster than their HR infrastructure. Hiring is chaotic, compliance is an afterthought, and people problems are landing on the founders desk. That's where I come in.
Where the need shows up first
"We're hiring fast with no real HR system."
Full infrastructure from zero- HRIS, onboarding, comp, benefits.
"I'm the de facto Head of People and I don't have the bandwidth or expertise for it."
You get a senior operator who owns the function — not another task on your list.
"I have a people problem and no idea how to handle it legally."
ER, performance, and sensitive situations handled before they become legal ones.
"We've expanded states and don't know our exposure."
11 states, 14 countries navigated- a core competency, not a learning curve.
"I need a senior HR leadership but can't justify a full-time hire."
I operate as your Head of People, part-time, strategic and operational.
START HERE
One week · $2,500
The People Ops Diagnostic
Know exactly where your people risk is and what to fix first. Audit, ranked gap analysis, 90-day priority map, live founder readout. No retainer, no upsell pressure- the roadmap is yours either way.
Then, three ways to work with me
1. Ongoing · Part-Time
Embedded Leadership
Senior People ownership — strategy, ER, compliance, hiring infrastructure — without the cost of a full-time hire.
2. Fixed Scope · Fixed Fee
Project-Based
A defined build with a clear finish line: HRIS rollout, comp redesign, handbook, full People Ops buildout from zero.
3. On Demand · No Retainer
Advisory / Ad Hoc
For the moment that can't wait: a termination, an ER escalation, a compliance question with a deadline.
Core Services
People Ops buildout 0→1 • Interim Head of People•Multi-state & intl. hiring • ER & investigations • Performance & PIPs • Manager coaching • Comp benchmarking
Rippling · Gusto · Lever · ClickUp
Proven Results
| 0→100 | 11 | 14 | 96% | $2M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employees scaled in 12 months, from scratch | US states — multi-state compliance & hiring | Countries — international contractor infrastructure | Retention rate over 4 consecutive quarters | Cost savings via Fortune 100 reorg leadership |
Ready to find out which model fits?
Book a free 30-min discovery call
[email protected] | linkedin.com/in/celena-bertone-peopleoperations/ | Austin, TX · Remote