🚫 This is NOT a prank! We’re giving you a valid excuse to ditch your desk tomorrow. Join People Function and Sequoia for the ultimate Thursday afternoon upgrade at the Kimpton La Peer Rooftop. 🎾 The Vibe: Networking: Talk shop with Emma Leeds, M.S. HR (She/Her), Celeste Shields, Cris Cafiero, and LA's top founders and operators. Action: Pickleball, snacks, and drinks under the LA sun in 70-degree weather. Time: Tomorrow, Thursday | 2:00 – 4:30 p.m. What else are you doing on a Thursday afternoon? Exactly. ⚠️ ACT FAST: Spots are limited. RSVP at the link in the comments!
People Function
Human Resources Services
We support teams on the rise by building strong HR and People foundations backed by world-class, badass expertise.
About us
People Function is not just another HR consulting firm. We are a team of seasoned HR experts who embed seamlessly into your organization at any stage of growth. Whether you’re laying the groundwork for your first HR processes or scaling rapidly and need strategic people leadership, we provide a plug-and-play HR team built around your unique needs. Our approach is highly personalized, deeply collaborative, and grounded in real-world operating experience. We don’t offer one-size-fits-all solutions. Instead, we build and execute the right HR strategy for your business. From foundational policies to complex compensation design, from recruiting top talent to building culture, developing leaders, and advancing diversity and inclusion, People Function delivers end-to-end support that accelerates growth and strengthens your workforce. With expertise across HR leadership, systems, compliance, performance, learning and development, DEI&B, and recruiting, we help companies create people-first foundations that scale. That way, your teams feel supported, your leaders feel empowered, and your business thrives. Follow us on Instagram (@people_function) and TikTok (@peoplefunction)!
- Website
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http://www.peoplefunction.com
External link for People Function
- Industry
- Human Resources Services
- Company size
- 2-10 employees
- Headquarters
- New York
- Type
- Privately Held
- Founded
- 2021
- Specialties
- HR Consulting, Consulting, HR Business Partnership, Fractional People Leadership, Interim Head of People, People Projects, Learning & Development, Diversity & Inclusion, Compensation, Performance Management, and Total Rewards
Locations
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Primary
Get directions
New York, 11201, US
Employees at People Function
Updates
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Everything you need to know in HR this week, all in one place. 💌 From leadership philosophy to federal law, Issue #30 of The PFunc Pulse is here! Highlights include: ✳️ Emma Leeds, M.S. HR (She/Her) on why the girlboss is dead and what modern leadership demands. ✳️ Two federal HR compliance updates and an NYC change HR teams need to prep for immediately. ✳️ Debunking the narrative that most employees will quit over an RTO mandate and focusing on what drives employee retention. ✳️ Open roles at Inspiren, RADAR, and Allocate. Check it out at the link in the comments, subscribe, and tag someone who needs to read it!
I did some of my best work under the meanest boss I ever had. But I also did my absolute worst. In one of my in-house roles, I was a high performer who burned out in 10 months. I was sloppy. I was spread thin. I cried (in secret) daily. I was making mistakes because the "Girlboss" leadership style above me relied on intimidation and grueling hours rather than clear expectations and communication, support and understanding. Today is the final day of Women’s History Month. While the banners come down and the pink quotes fade, I’m talking about what true leadership actually looks like in 2026: ✅ Empathy as an ROI-driver. ✅ Direct feedback over passive-aggression. ✅ Mental health as a prerequisite for results. The "girlboss" gatekept. Real leaders empower. Get the full breakdown in today’s PFunc Pulse, link in the comments. People Function
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LA Leaders: We’re giving you permission to leave the office early next Thursday. 😉🤝 In partnership with Sequoia, we’re gathering LA’s top startup founders and VCs for a rooftop session. This isn’t a stuffy event–no BS or corporate jargon allowed! Just high-level peers having real conversations and making real connections. Details: ⏰ When: Thursday, April 2 from 2 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. 🥅 The Goal: Make new friends in the space while the sun is still up. ☀️ Where: Kimpton La Peer Rooftop, Los Angeles Join People Function’s CEO and Founder, Emma Leeds, M.S. HR (She/Her), Celeste Shields, and Cris Cafiero, Senior Business Consultant at Sequoia, for the best "work" afternoon of your quarter! Grab your spot at the link in the comments before the event hits capacity ✨ ✨
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The biggest gamble at Transform 2026? Waiting for AI to "fix" your company. 🫢🎰 Emma Leeds, M.S. HR (She/Her) and Diane Sadowski-Joseph are currently dodging corporate synergy buzzwords at Transform to bring you the real tea on the "Human + AI Equation." The consensus from Vegas? Most leaders are failing at AI because they’re waiting for a magic wand. If your current process is a disaster, AI just helps you create a faster disaster. In Issue #29 of The PFunc Pulse, they’re collaborating to break down the hard truths: 🛠️ AI doesn't fix a broken workflow. If it’s messy now, it’ll be a high-speed mess later. 🧠Beware of the shiny object whiplash. 📱Stop waiting for the "perfect" future version of AI tools. Use what’s out today, learn where it breaks, and upgrade later. 📉Ditch the ROI over-engineering. If a $25 license saves an employee one soul-sucking hour a month, it’s already paid for itself. The goal is to build a culture of identifying problems and outlining viable solutions. ALSO, if you’re in Vegas and want to talk about what’s actually happening (away from the boring pitches), join Emma and Diane for an UNSANCTIONED Expo Hall crawl this Wednesday at 10 a.m.! 👇 Check the first comment for the newsletter and the RSVP link! #HR #HumanResources #Transform2026 #AI #Founders #CEOs
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🎰 Vegas, we’re here! 🎰 The People Function team has officially touched down for Transform 2026! If you see Emma Leeds, M.S. HR (She/Her) or Adriana E. on the floor, come say hi! You know we’re not here for the content… we’re here for the connections & the vibes! We’re hosting two events to step away from the noise with intention: TUESDAY– 🫧🧹 Playing Hooky with Justworks at The Sphere at 4 p.m. We’re partnering with Justworks & Canapi Ventures for a VIP experience at the Wizard of Oz show! 🔗 This event is currently full, but you can request to join the waitlist in case a spot opens up: https://luma.com/uhuis1b2 WEDNESDAY– 🚶♀️➡️🕵️♂️ The UNSANCTIONED Expo Hall Crawl, starting at 10 a.m. No boring pitches. No corporate fluff. Join PFunc & Clarinet for a curated stroll through the floor with high-level peers to see who is actually innovating. 🔗 Link to register: https://luma.com/gj6f1doc Drop a comment below if you’re here! We'd love to connect ✨ #Transform2026 #PeopleOps #HRTech #VegasEvents #Networking
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We can't believe we have to say this in 2026, but stop promoting people based on "vibes." 🤦♀️ Or, worse, promoting the "office golden child" just because they have proximity to leadership and not because they're stepping up their performance–start rewarding the people who actually deliver! In light of Michael B. Jordan’s Oscar win, our very own Emma Leeds, M.S. HR (She/Her) is diving into why this moment was more than just a trophy but a long-overdue corrective measure for Hollywood and a wake-up call for corporate America. Are your promotion cycles meritocratic, or just a popularity contest? Read the full breakdown in the latest issue of The PFunc Pulse (link in the comments!). #HR #Promotions #CorporateAmerica
Michael B. Jordan's Oscar win over Timothée Chalamet still has me BUZZING! And for good reason. He deserved it. We just weren't sure he'd get it. And that tension is exactly what makes it so powerful. And honestly? We see this same dynamic play out in companies all the time - where the most deserving person gets passed over for accolades or a promotion simply because they don't fit the "mold". It's a pattern worth talking about. Dive deeper with me in this week's PFunc Pulse - link in the comments!
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People think HR sucks, but in reality, HR leaders are often scapegoated for delivering bad news when the C-suite wants to avoid taking responsibility for its decisions. 🫢 Emma Leeds, M.S. HR (She/Her) kept it real during Leapsome’s recent event, "Don’t Shoot The Messenger." Beyond just delivering hard news, Emma shared how HR can claim a seat at the table to shape the executive decisions that impact the entire company. Read the full recap in Leapsome's newsletter – https://lnkd.in/gjctS6iw
HR often gets the backlash, even when they didn’t make the decision 🤷♀️ When leaders avoid tough conversations, HR becomes the messenger. And over time, that erodes trust on all sides. Here’s what strong HR teams do instead: ✅ Push leaders to communicate their own decisions ✅ Add context, not just headlines ✅ Treat employees like capable adults ✅ Set boundaries to stay effective and focused ✅ Translate employee sentiment into real business impact Because being the messenger shouldn’t mean being the shield. Read the full framework on how Emma Leeds, M.S. HR (She/Her) (People Function), Melanie Naranjo (Ethena), and Steve Browne, SHRM-SCP (LaRosa's Pizzeria, Inc..) approach these situations in our newest newsletter 👉 https://lnkd.in/dqMZt7pJ
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Is your 2026 comp strategy built for a world that no longer exists? Comp planning used to be predictable. Today, it’s a complex mix of shifting laws, executive scrutiny, and a skeptical workforce. In the latest issue of the PFunc Pulse, our team answers what your company should know to build a winning strategy. Check out the carousel for the 4-pillar roadmap. 👇 In Issue #28, we’re also discussing: 🏆 Emma Leeds, M.S. HR (She/Her) shares why Michael B. Jordan's Oscar win was "a corrective measure for a frustratingly lopsided world." 🙄 Our take on Uber’s CEO expecting weekend work. 🗣️ Why we’re recommending ScaleJOY to our community. 💼 Open roles at Coder, RADAR, and Inspiren. Check out the full breakdown and the latest comp updates via the link in the comments! Don't forget to subscribe and send it to a friend 🫡
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What happens when your top performer is accused of misconduct? 🤨 It’s the ultimate leadership test. Unfortunately, most companies fall into the trap of looking the other way to protect the bottom line, but, as Emma Leeds, M.S. HR (She/Her), explains, "business as usual" is the fastest way to destroy your culture. Also in Issue #27, our expert comp team answers whether companies should conduct Cost of Living Adjustments during this review cycle, weighing in on the data-driven approach to pay vs. the reality of the current market. (2026 has been a tricky year!) Head to the latest issue of the PFunc Pulse to see what else Emma had to say. Stay tuned for another hot take in Tuesday's newsletter! (And if you haven't subscribed yet, what are you waiting for?) Watch Emma's breakdown below and read the full issue here: https://lnkd.in/gYMNM-VQ #HumanResources #Leadership #CompanyCulture #Compensation #PeopleFunction
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Is your "star player" actually a liability? ⚽️📉 In Issue #27 of the PFunc Pulse, Emma Leeds, M.S. HR (She/Her) breaks down "Benfica Math," the dangerous moment management chooses to protect a moneymaker at the expense of employee safety. We see this math in the office every day - leadership ignoring a high-performer’s misconduct to protect revenue. This tells marginalized employees that their safety is negotiable. (We’re looking at you and your $11.5 million discrimination settlement, SHRM). Elsewhere in this week's newsletter: 💰 Comp Deep Dive: The myth of the Cost of Living pay bump. 🤖 AI for HR: Gartner found nearly 50% of current HR activities could be automated... and we have thoughts! 💼 Career Moves: New job openings at Cocoon, RADAR, and Small Door. Link to Issue #27 in the comments. Subscribe and forward to a friend to catch these insights in your inbox EVERY TUESDAY! #HumanResources #Leadership #CorporateCulture #PeopleFunction #DEIB