Helena F.

Helena F. is a global human resources executive, board advisor, and fractional CHRO with more than 25 years of experience guiding organizations through growth, transformation, and governance.

She partners with CEOs, boards, and investors, from private equity-backed companies and multinational organizations, bringing hands-on expertise in M&A, CEO succession, risk and compliance, and global workforce strategy across North America, Europe, Latin America, and APAC.

Experience

• CEO, Fractional CHRO, Board Member & Advisor – Human capital advisory firm specializing in governance, compliance, and organizational transformation
• Managing Director – Strategic advisory firm focused on governance, human capital, and enterprise value creation
• Senior Vice President, Human Resources (CHRO Level) – Private equity-backed, multi-location growth organization undergoing rapid expansion and acquisition activity
• Vice President, Global Human Resources (CHRO Level) – Global consumer products organization operating across North America, Europe, Asia, and Latin America
• Senior HR Consultant – International renewable energy and manufacturing organization
• Director, Human Resources – Global manufacturing/technology and high-growth technology organizations supporting international expansion

Accomplishments

• Led legal and compliance data coordination that helped secure one of the lowest PAGA mediation settlements on record ($190K)
• Centralized HR systems and vendor/benefit programs to deliver $2MM in annual cost savings and improved organizational alignment
• Built a people-analytics dashboard that identified turnover driving $5.8M in cost impact, then designed the training and onboarding fixes to address it
• Delivered a nine-week leadership certification program that cut turnover 20% and lifted operational metrics 15%
• Ran a companywide engagement pulse survey and built development programs that raised employee satisfaction 18%
• Led pre/post-IPO compliance audits and SWOT-based risk assessments, identifying $196K in potential penalty exposure and building the practices to minimize
• Delivered 75 signature workshops globally, with programs shown to lift team engagement 58% and reduce post-training turnover by 60%. She speaks and facilitates on:

  – Protect Your Profit Line — keeping leaders and companies out of legal and compliance trouble

  – Beyond the Org Chart — building trust, accountability, and team alignment

  – Move the Needle — moving leaders from task manager to strategic leader

  – Leading in the Age of AI — protecting your workforce and risk profile through change

  – From Deal to Done — people-plan design and M&A integration

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Science in Business Administration
• Global Professional in Human Resources® (GPHR®)
• Professional in Human Resources® (PHR®)
• Certificate in Private Company Governance
• Accredited Facilitator, The Five Behaviors®
• Professional Human Resources Management Certificate