Advance From HR Leader to

Trusted Business Partner

A rigorous, practitioner-led program for experienced people leaders who want sharper judgment, stronger influence, and lasting peer connection.

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Designed for Leaders Already at the Table - or About to Be

That can mean greater scope, more influence, and higher compensation - but more importantly, it means being trusted to shape decisions that matter.

People Leader Accelerator helps experienced HR leaders sharpen how they think, decide, and act in complex, high-stakes environments - alongside peers who are navigating the same challenges.

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About the Program

This is a 16-week, high-rigor program designed for experienced people leaders operating in fast-moving, ambiguous environments. PLA is not an academic exercise or a best-practices tour. It is a practical, peer-driven learning experience focused on real decisions, real tradeoffs, and real organizational impact.

Each cohort is limited to a max of 15 participants to ensure there is extensive personal interaction with peers and faculty. The depth and intimacy of the relationships we develop are different from any other professional community.  

Participants often see expanded scope, stronger executive trust, and career advancement - but the deeper outcome is confidence, clarity, and judgment that compounds over time.

View Full Curriculum

Exclusive, small-group virtual gatherings over 16 weeks, plus 1-on-1 executive mentoring.

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 Essential content includes:

  • Strategic Foundations - the most relevant management and organizational research, translated for real-world use

  • Applied Judgment - how to prioritize, sequence, and act when everything feels important

  • Operating the People Function - what actually matters at senior levels (and what doesn’t) 

  • Executive Influence - partnering with CEOs, founders, and Boards without formal authority

What Participation Looks Like:

  • Engage deeply with a small cohort of experienced peers (~5 hours per week)

  • Apply concepts directly to live organizational challenges 

  • Develop clearer thinking through structured reflection and writing 

  • Build trusted peer relationships that extend beyond the program

Considering PLA?

Pick your path below:

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  • Watch a brief video and complete a 5-minute application form.

  • You will then be prompted to schedule an application interview discussion.

Best if you already know you want to join.

Apply Now

Learn More

  • Brief call to get to know you and answer your questions.

  • After the call, if it’s a fit, you will be invited to apply.

Best for people who want to learn more.

Schedule Call

Being a People Leader Can Be Lonely

Senior people leadership can be isolating - especially when you’re expected to have answers, not ask questions. PLA was built to ensure you don’t have to navigate that alone.

Every Accelerator participant becomes part of a long-term alumni community designed to support ongoing growth, connection, and collaboration.

Inside you’ll find a network of experienced people leaders you can connect with, share challenges, and receive support from those who’ve walked the same path.

Our core faculty has over 60 years of HR experience and has held the top HR job 15 times. Plus, we have a “Who’s Who” list of world-class subject matter experts serving as adjunct faculty.

View Core Faculty

Beyond the Accelerator: The PLA Alumni Network

The Accelerator is the entry point. The real value compounds through continued connection with a trusted network of senior people leaders.

Monthly Virtual Workshops

Members-only workshops with the leading experts in the field. Never a presentation. Always interactive.

In-Person Gatherings

Dinners, happy hours, speaker events, and conference meet-ups. We get together in person in multiple venues throughout the year.

Library of Resources

An ever-growing online library full of templates, frameworks, articles, and research studies.

Private Online Community

An active and curated Slack community, just for PLA alumni - to discuss issues that matter to you.

Exclusive Mentorship

Get access to faculty members for ad-hoc advisory support.

Invite to Private Annual Retreat

Each year we gather in person for 2 days to connect, learn, sharpen our skills, and deepen our relationships.

Don’t Take Our Word For It

  • "PLA gave me what I'd been missing since grad school - real time application of strategic HR concepts with a community that challenges and supports. It's been transformational."

    Emily Sauey, Head of People Operations & Chief of Staff at Verto Education

  • "PLA offers a truly unique learning experience through its emphasis on reflection and practical application. Each week dives into a new People topic, with assignments designed to encourage deep reflection on how you've applied key concepts and how you'll implement them going forward. The assignments are incredibly practical and I continue to find myself revisiting PLA homework to use in my day-to-day. The live discussions provide even more value, by facilitating dynamic conversations around People topics. You're not only engaging with your cohort of experienced People Leaders but also learning directly from experts in the field. These discussions have given me countless actionable insights that continue to shape my approach and perspective."

    Elyse Wolin, Head of People at Future

  • "Every week I look forward to the PLA meetings and even get excited about the homework because I know the readings will provide valuable information to reflect on. What I have learned in PLA has helped build my confidence. It is not just the knowledge I've gained, but the connections I've built that I know will continue to provide support. Everyone in my PLA cohort is smart and has helpful perspective to share - there is so much we can learn from each other and bounce off each other. We are challenged to think critically and be assets to our companies by always thinking about how we can support the business. I approach my work differently because of PLA and am a more effective leader because of the program. I am so happy I decided to invest my own money in this program!"

    Jane von Halle, Director of Talent Development at Strive Health

  • "PLA provided me with exactly what I was looking for from this experience - a selection of practical tools, a great network, mentorship, confidence, and exposure to other thoughts, practices and ideas."

    Jamie Thorpe, SVP of People at Pursuit

  • “I left the PLA program with several key takeaways. First, the value of making time for your own thoughts. This program was great for structured reflection. Second, don’t over-engineer things, especially in growth companies. And finally, my biggest ‘takeaway’ from the PLA was really the new relationships. I’ve already found myself relying on them!”

    Jessica Tory, VP of People at Qualia

  • "PLA sharpened my focus on what truly drives business impact through HR - helping me lead with greater clarity, intentionality, and strategic value."

    Ryan MacPherson, Head of People at Stash

  • “I’ve worked with a number of rapidly growing companies, and most of them would benefit tremendously from the People Leader Accelerator. Helping HR Leaders better influence business decisions through both academic and practical training will make them more strategic and able to provide better value to their organizations.”

    Saydeah Howard, Chief Talent Officer at IVP

  • "PLA made me a better business leader through the people function. It's a must for anyone leading in a high-growth, investor-backed company."

    Sara Mejia, Head of People at CoreX

  • "PLA turned HR from an island into a village - equal parts learning, connection, and transformation. I left every week more empowered and supported than ever before."

    Ryan-Mae McAvoy-Pepin, VP People Operations at Blackthorn.io

  • "PLA gave me the challenge, connection, and real growth I'd been searching for as an HR leader. I came out the other side a stronger, more strategic version of myself."

    Amy Czyz, Head of People at Clubhouse

  • "PLA elevated my approach to People & Culture - helping me align leadership, data, and strategy to drive real impact."

    Brett Brawerman, Head of Culture at FDX

  • “Access to the smart and high impact team behind People Leader Accelerator, and getting time like this to have them help you build out the people function of your company - it’s just an invaluable opportunity.”

    John Lilly, Venture Partner at Greylock

SHRM Recertification Provider

People Leader Accelerator is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities.

FAQs

  • PLA is designed for experience HR leaders operating at - or preparing for - enterprise-level responsibility. Most participants are Heads of People, VPs, or Directors with significant scope or senior deputies preparing for a top role.

    We focus on HR leaders who want to become more successful, more influential executives, aligning their work with the goals of their business.

    So, the head of the function might be a good fit - as well as a direct report to the head of the HR function at a larger organization who is preparing to be a successor or considering a top job elsewhere.

  • Participants will spent ~5 hours per week over 16 weeks engaging with the cohort and the curriculum. This includes 1-2 hours of reading, 1-2 hours of homework and reading / responding to peers, a 30-minute dyad or triad meeting, and a 2-hour live group discussion. That said, you get out of PLA what you put into it. The more you engage with the community, the deeper the learning - and the deeper the relationships will be.

    After the 16-week program ends, there are numerous ways to continue to participate - from virtual workshops, our active Slack workspace, to in-person gatherings.

  • Program Fee: $10,000 USD.

    People Leader Accelerator is built for HR leaders operating — or preparing to operate — at enterprise scale.

    The investment to participate is $10,000 USD, which includes the full 16-week program and lifetime access to the PLA community. That community is an active, senior peer network that continues well beyond the formal curriculum and becomes a long-term source of perspective, challenge, and support.

    PLA is not a theoretical program. It is designed to change how you think, decide, and operate as a people leader — in real time, inside your organization.

    Flexible payment options are available, and employer sponsorship is common given the program’s direct relevance to executive leadership and organizational performance. Tax treatment may vary.

  • Most of our live group sessions will be on Thursdays between 1-3:00pm Pacific Time. Depending on demand, we may offer an additional live session between 9-11:00am Pacific.